Incarceration is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) for every youth in juvenile detention. The emotional and physiological benefits of expressive writing and drawing can assist youth in processing ACEs and developing a healthier sense of self. PCPL desired to create an ongoing program that would allow youth to access the benefits of journaling throughout their detention. If youth are to realize these benefits, we recognized that detention staff must be included in the Field Notes development and rollout process.

The detention Librarian-in-Residence collaborated with Tucson writer Marge Pellegrino to create Field Notes: Exploring You.
• Field Notes was designed for detained youth but can be used in any library teen program.
• Journal prompts include the voices and works of local writers and artists.
• Detention staff and youth themselves were included in the process.
• We produced a video for detention staff to introduce benefits of incorporating into daily routines
• The Librarian-in-Residence personally distributes and introduces journal to each new youth.

• At the six month mark, we anticipate that the Field Notes program will result in noticeable emotional and social benefits for detained youth as reported by youth and detention staff.
• We anticipate that detention staff will view Field Notes as a helpful activity and actively encourage its use, much like they currently do for reading, generally.
• We expect Field Notes to be used in at least two non-detention PCPL programs for tweens/teens.