Faith-based group finds calling at detention home

When Kimberly Y. Moore quit her job as a Verizon Wireless executive to start a faith-based organization to mentor youths incarcerated at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home, she did not think she was qualified but still felt a calling.

“At first, I thought the kids didn’t really connect, but they seemed to enjoy it,” said Miss Moore who founded Urban Passage Inc. in 2003.

She wrote out a plan and took it to the volunteer-services coordinator at the detention center, hoping he would say “now is not the time.”

“Instead, he got really excited,” Miss Moore said.

Three months after the meeting, volunteers began working with juveniles in a post-dispositional program at the detention center called New Beginnings. The detention center serves about 60 teens from Arlington County and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church.

The juveniles have had their sentences suspended by a judge who gives them a “prescription” of classes and community projects that must be met before they can be released from the program.

Each month, the teens have to meet with a judge to show their progress to stay in the program. The alternative for many is remaining in custody until they are 21.

“For me, the Urban Passage is the place where I can pick up the phone when I need something, and the answer is always ‘yes, we’ll try,’ ” said Sandy Stephenson, the New Beginnings treatment coordinator for the past three years. “It has been a godsend as far as bringing in opportunities for our kids.”

Most of the teens at Urban Passage are male, and almost half have been charges with noncriminal offenses, such as truancy, missing curfew or failing to attend counseling programs. Others are in trouble for school violence or drug abuse.

“Our greatest responsibility is to put adults in front of them who are not like other adults in their lives,” Miss Moore said.

Urban Passage volunteers must step through secured doors and metal detectors at the detention center several times each week to lead discussion groups or teach Bible studies and classes in such subjects as fitness and career skills.

Miss Moore said area churches help provide speakers and worship leaders.

The teens take their high school classes at the detention center and can earn passes for home visits. Staffers also take them on field trips and community-service projects.

Fighting, sexual conduct, trying to run away while on field trips and not participating in activities can lead to expulsion.

“Traditionally, these kids have been targeted as not useful and not willing to serve,” Miss Moore said. “Once you’ve earned the right to be heard, you can engage them.”

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