Prairie Vista Youth Service Center

The **Adams Youth Service Center (AYSC)**, located in Brighton, Colorado, is a secure residential facility operated by the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Division of Youth Services (DYS). Unlike a traditional academic school, it functions as a juvenile detention and commitment center. It serves as a secure holding facility for youth who have been charged with or adjudicated for offenses, providing a structured environment intended to balance public safety with the rehabilitation and behavioral development of the residents.

Education at the facility is provided through an integrated school program tailored to meet the state-mandated requirements for incarcerated youth. Because the students are in custody, the school focuses on credit recovery, literacy, and vocational skill-building to ensure that they do not fall behind in their academic progress while awaiting court dates or serving time. The curriculum is designed to be flexible, allowing for the transient nature of the population, while prioritizing a safe, trauma-informed learning environment that supports the overall mission of transitioning these young people back into their communities.