The Youth Services Institute (YSI) is committed to serving youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Housed within UA’s School of Social Work, YSI is one of 30 research centers/facilities at The University of Alabama.

The institute oversees the operation of three juvenile justice programs — the Working On Womanhood (WOW) program, the Accountability Based Sex Offender Program: Continuum of Care (ABSOP: COC) and the Multidisciplinary Abuse Prevention Services (MAPS) Program. Through agreements with the Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) and the Tuscaloosa Children’s Center, YSI provides assistance in the areas of:

  • Program development and implementation
  • Training needs assessments and the provision of training sessions
  • Diversion grants and requests for proposals
  • Program evaluation

The institute also assists with the facilitation of several other projects that impact adjudicated youth.

Read about YSI’s history

YSI Programs

Working on Womanhood (WOW) Program

WOW is an intervention-based program that provides services to a specialized population of adolescent females who have been committed to DYS and meet specific admission criteria.

ABSOP: Continuum of Care

The Accountability Based Sex Offender Program: Continuum of Care (COC) is a community-based program designed to rehabilitate three populations of youth with sexual behavior problems.

Multidisciplinary Abuse Prevention Services (MAPS)

The MAPS: Navigating a Safer Community Program provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment services to youth with sexual behavior problems, their families and their victims.

Contact US

Youth Services Institute, The University of Alabama, 205-348-5721 (fax)

Youth Services Institute

Jill R. Beck, JD
Director
Youth Services Institute
The University of Alabama, School of Social Work
Box 870316
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0316
205-348-2992
Jrbeck2@ua.edu

WOW Program

Jacalyn Tippey, Ph.D., LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC
Program Director
Working on Womanhood Program
Girls Intensive Education and Treatment Facility
The University of Alabama, School of Social Work
Box 870317
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0317
205-343-2880
Jackie.tippey@dys.alabama.gov

ABSOP: COC Program

Angelia Gaddis
Phone: 205-348-6625
Email: agaddis@sw.ua.edu.