Read Our Employee Interview
Juvenile Justice Spotlight
Melissa Fernandez
Director of Juvenile Youth Services
Agency: Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF)
Office Location: Detroit, Michigan
1. What is it that attracted you to the Juvenile Justice field?
“I received my Masters in Social Work and Minored in Psychology. I initially wanted to work in mental health with adults but decided I wanted to work with a population where I felt I could make more of a long-term impact, so I began working with System involved Juveniles.
I ultimately wanted to work with people who I could make a difference with. As the first person to go to college in my family, I had to overcome a lot of challenges during my childhood as a lot of these kids have, so felt this was a great fit.”
2. What about your job that gets you out of bed in the morning?
“Knowing that we have the opportunity to impact the future of young people. It’s challenging most days but I’m working toward changing the narrative of what juvenile detention is, wanting to make it more about rehabilitation. There’s a lot of work to do but understanding what must be done, though it will take some time, is what gets me going.”
3. With your work with Wayne County JDF, what exciting changes do you see happening?
“We’ve made so many changes. Going from a stabilization strategy to a rehabilitation strategy is one. We’re working on changing the focus and posture to a coach-based system. We’re also very excited about our response team. They’re certified in trauma and infant mental health.”
4. Who were/are your mentor(s) in the field? What is something that they taught you?
“Dr. Nancy Calleja at the University of Detroit – she has mentored me for about 20 years now. She talks with me about being confident in the field. She’s very supportive of my intuition and about how to be a confident voice in the field.”
5. So, I've decided I'd like to make working in juvenile justice my life's work. What advice would you give somebody just starting out?
“When you work in Juvenile Justice and young people, put aside all the training you’ve received and really stop and get to know the young person. Shift the way you speak to young people. Ask them about their story. Don’t worry about what a file might say, ask them to teach you about themselves. Also, make sure to have that human element and not to be fixated about the charge. We have to look at what I call, ‘P.I.E. – Person In the Environment’.”
6. I'm sure you've had many memorable experiences, but is there one that stands out as your most memorable?
“Wow, there are so many. Running into young people in the community later in life…which is so weird because I swear, I started in the industry when I was 10 (laughs). It’s a great feeling with people still sending me letters years and years later, thanking me for the support I was able to give them.”
7. What words of wisdom do you find yourself consistently giving to those you work with in the JJ system?
“I have a really great team, having started out with it being just me. I tell them that you have to make sure you take care of yourself. If you have to go, I’ve got you. Self-care is so important.”
8. As you see it from your role as Director, how can the current state of Juvenile Justice improve?
“The State of Michigan has made great strides in Juvenile Justice reform. One way is through the use of data and who we have in the system. We’re utilizing more of grass roots support in the communities and our understanding that there still are kids who need rehabilitation. We need to be less transactional and more transformational in our approach. We need to look more at the person as a whole.”
9. What major contribution do you feel you have made in Juvenile Justice?
“The major contributions have been really driving the idea, that every idea, is an opportunity for rehabilitation and support. We always want to change the culture and the way people think to a more wholistic trauma-informed system.”
10. When you're away from work, what do you enjoy doing?
“I love to travel. I have a husband and two small children that I love spending time with. I am a lover of the arts, theater, and the outdoors. I also love to hike.”