We changed our name!

Journeying in Jesus-led relationships with our youth who have been incarcerated.

Pray for:

• Pray for all our youth who have been incarcerated. The holidays can be a rough time and full of extra stress and longing for family.

• Several of our youth are close to getting out. Pray that they will continue in a healthy direction and that they will continue to pursue God.

• Our young people who have been released. Many face life-threatening temptations, like returning to gang/street activities, drug and alcohol abuse, etc.

• Our staff, volunteers, and all the staff at juvy, Echo Glen & Green Hill who interact with our youth. Pray for the families of our staff & family members who have been sick.

OUR STORY

BACKGROUND

After a sharp increase in youth violence in our community in 2008, local Christian leaders in and around South Seattle gathered to pray and discern steps of action. This group felt a definite sense of urgency as too many of our young people were dying. Soon after, the organization who had been providing chaplaincy services in the youth detention center, decided to withdraw their direct services and approached our group of leaders to see if there could be some type of hand off.

BIRTH

In 2009, we started with the name King County Youth Chaplaincy (KCYC) and began our mission to support and love youth who have been incarcerated. Ministry leaders gathered to support KCYC's vision with a governing board. KCYC also became a "strategic initiative" of Urban Impact (a community development organization with the similar focus on youth development and breaking cycles of poverty in the Seattle area). With much community support, teams of believers began Jesus-based relationships with youth in the detention center.  

In 2025, We changed our name to UNLOCKED. In 2024, we became a full program and ministry of Urban Impact. Click Here to learn more about Urban Impact.

GROWTH

Since 2009, we have been ministering in the King County Juvenile Detention Center through chapel services, one-on-one chaplaincy with youth, and supporting the young people through their journey. Our staff and volunteer team has steadily grown over the years. We are so thankful for our dynamic team who love and support our youth in very relevant and tangible ways.

As our work continued, we have learned that the scope of chaplaincy reaches far beyond juvy. So we have extended our mission to the long-term state youth facilities, group homes, and treatment centers where some of our youth are sent. We also continue to walk with youth when they exit incarceration with ongoing mentoring relationships and helping them connect to needed services.

I M P A C T

Below are just a few examples of how God has impacted our young people. For more stories of impact, click here.

Marcus

Marcus rediscovered his faith in juvy. He has left his gang-affiliated ways and mindset and has committed his life to the ways of Jesus. While he still faces many temptations to go back to his old ways, he is persevering in his faith and we are blessed to be a part of his life.

Denise

Denise started a mentoring relationship with one of our female chaplains. She also started a relationship with Jesus in juvy, and has grown in her faith outside of detention. She has a steady job and is excited about her future. She has stated, “You all help turn my life around.” 

James

James met Chaplain Jon in juvy at the age of 13, and continued to be in touch when he was sent to other facilities. God renewed his faith before being released and he is continuing to mature and grow. As we walk with James (now in his 20’s!) in his life journey, we are confident that God will continue to grow him into the man God is calling him to be.

For more stories of impact, click here.