Juvenile Dept. Director Takes On Challenges
Some how I lost this post and thanks to my good friend Durano, He let me know. Not sure what happned, but our local newspaper did a spread on me a couple of weeks ago!
By Tammy Malgesini
The East Oregonian
Sitting on Tom Meier’s desk is a plaque that says, “The surest way to not fail is to determine to succeed.”
After assuming the juvenile director position in Morrow County just over two months ago, Meier is determined to help the youth offenders he works with to do just that.
He’s looking at instituting a system of graduated sanctions, recruiting and setting up community accountability boards and opening shelter placement homes.
Meier said it’s important to have graduated sanctions because “one size doesn’t fit all.”
“Our role is to evaluate each case individually and make recommendations,” he said.
Meier touts the value of community accountability boards.
“(They) are based on the premise of a community response to a community problem,” he said.
Not all offenses would be eligible to be diverted to the boards, which would be made up of community volunteers. They would need to demonstrate an ability to treat each case individually and without prejudice and maintain confidentiality.
“The main goal of the board is to help young offenders re-establish a sense of community values and of personal responsibility for their actions,” Meier said.
The concept of shelter placement homes is to fill the gaps for youths who don’t qualify for other services or juvenile detention - youths with low-risk behaviors that don’t fall under regular sanctions or other systems in place.
Meier said it would include short-term placements - no more than 14 days - for certain “out of control” behaviors such as running away from home, non-violent law enforcement referrals, and acting beyond parental control.
Meier stressed the voluntary program isn’t jail or a foster home placement.
A mental health evaluation would be completed within 36 hours and then the youth, parents and Meier would coordinate and develop a plan.
People interested in providing shelter placement would need to gain state certification and would receive some pay.
“You really have to be interested in dealing with these kids on a regular basis and you have to have a desire to do it,” he said.
Meier heard about the juvenile department opening while working as a part-time paralegal with the Department of Human Services - Child Welfare.
He worked in Umatilla and Morrow counties.
Meier worked with Carolyn Holt, his predecessor, for a few days before taking the helm in February.
“Carolyn built a wonderful department here and did excellent work, especially with community partners,” Meier said.
Rounding out the team at the juvenile department are John McCabe, juvenile assistant; Rita Woolsey, office secretary.
Meier, who grew up in Eastern Oregon, graduated from Weston-McEwen High School.
“I don’t say that very loud because I’m in Mustang country now,” he said.
After graduating from Whitman College with a degree in history, Meier said happenstance resulted in a career in juvenile services.
“I came back home and I was looking for any type of job,” Meier explained.
After applying at Umatilla County’s juvenile detention facility, he was put on an on-call list to cover shifts as needed. A year later, Meier was sworn in as a juvenile probation officer. He was there for 13 years.
His wife, Heidi, is a parole officer with Oregon Youth Authority.
For more information about the accountability board or shelter placement programs, contact Meier at (541) 676-5643 or tom_meier@class.oregonvos.net.
