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Safeguarding our youth: Community connections forged to aid local juvenile services reform

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Twenty-five representatives from various organizations gathered at Neland Avenue Church to collaborate and share about local efforts to safeguard our youth (Courtesy, iCI Nation)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Jennifer Franson, Founder and Executive Director of iCI Nation (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Wyoming resident and founder of iCI Nation, Jennifer Franson, is dedicated to strengthening communities by building relationships and trust between local police and community members. This mission is achieved through the work of iCI Nation on a daily basis.

Franson hosted an informal meet and greet in August with Kent County Juvenile Services (KCJS), the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) South Service Area and various nonprofit organizations in the South Service Area.

The idea was born from an iCI Nation Lunch N Learn event in March featuring KCJS and the GRPD.

“I learned about Juvenile Services and how they are changing their system, looking to be much more reformative with kids, and looking to change and work with the community in new ways,” said Franson.

Knowing KCJS staff would benefit from knowing more about resources and nonprofits already available in the community, Franson began doing what she does best – forging connections.

“We want them to be able to learn about all of you,” Franson said during the meet and greet introduction, “but also, we’re going to learn about each other. If nothing else, this is encouraging for us to see and learn all the good that’s happening in our city.”

Creating partnerships

Twenty-five representatives from various organizations gathered at Neland Avenue Church to collaborate and share about local efforts to safeguard our youth.

“We are all here because we are all protecting and serving the city,” said Franson. “You guys are invested physically, mentally [and] financially in protecting and serving the city.”

Awareness of community resources allows for multiple avenues of reform (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Jana Forner, Captain of the Grand Rapids Police East Service Area, echoed Franson’s sentiments, saying that being aware of services available in the community helps law enforcement determine whether a situation is best resolved with reformatory action, connections to resources or enforcement action.

“Bringing everyone together regularly helps you serve the community, us serve the community, and then create partnerships to help our communities,” said Forner. “In this case, juvenile justice. This is just the first step in making sure we all can collaborate now and in the future.”

Intentional and focused efforts

Chris Burgess, Community Probation Supervisor for Kent County, highlighted several areas of reform currently happening in the court system due to juvenile justice reform legislation passed in 2023 by the Michigan State Legislature. The legislation gave courts increased opportunities to incorporate community-based services that are research-driven, evidence-based and culturally appropriate.

Intentional programming and positive interactions help keep youth on the right path (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

“Programs that qualify underneath those different labels and documents are really what the state is looking for to evolve our kids in the community and provide rehabilitative services and potential alternatives for those kids so that we don’t keep them in detention,” said Burgess.

The court’s efforts have become much more intentional and focused on putting forward principles and programming that generate quality interactions and help youth build skills to cope with certain aspects of life, find resources, navigate the decision-making process and be solution-oriented.

After-school and evening programming that provide positive activities and interactions are essential to helping youth stay on the right path.

(Left to right) Chris Burgess, Frank Briones, Sandra Vanderhyde and Cara Lemmen (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Frank Briones, Program Director for Kent County Juvenile Services, develops this programming through collaborations and partnerships with community businesses and organizations. But developing relationships with our youth, Briones said, is the most essential component.

“Trust, rapport, and respect is big for us in building those relationships with our kids. Having that trust, having that rapport is huge.”

Protecting and serving…together

Building relationships and trust, Franson said, is vital for any reform to be successful.

“This is our government partnering with you because they want to better serve everybody and call out the value in everybody – even our troubled youth,” said Franson. “The system isn’t perfect, but we’re here and excited to partner with them.”

Building relationships and trust is vital in generating change (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

Among those looking to provide positive life-changing resources and programming and help eliminate barriers for youth were representatives from several local nonprofits.

Information and resources offered by these nonprofits can be found at the links below:

Progress, not perfection

GRPD Captain Jana Forner (left), Jenn Franson and Amanda Afman (Courtesy, iCI Nation)

For Franson, the identity of a city is not one of perfection.

Looking at event participants, Franson said, “It’s this. It’s people who [say]: ‘We are a community, we’re a family and we’re going to do what we can, even sacrifice ourselves, our time, our talents, our treasures to benefit the city and everybody.’

“This really calls out the value of everyone…and I thank you all for protecting and serving together to make this city great.”