In response to a series of incidents and critical reports regarding practices at the Johnson Youth Center Treatment Unit (JYCTU), a secure juvenile correctional program in Juneau, the Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) initiated efforts to transform the culture of the institution into a less punitive environment. The instrument selected, the Youth Competency Assessment (YCA), was developed specifically for use in juvenile justice settings. Early results suggest that the adoption of this strengths-based assessment protocol was the catalyst for an improvement in institutional climate as perceived by both youth and staff. Many changes in the treatment unit occurred as a result of the introduction of the assessment. It has provided an excellent foundation for line staff in shifting to a case management role, especially in regards to initial treatment planning and case planning meetings. The other noticeable enhancement in services is that staff now spends more time interacting with the residents rather than directing them. There has been a marked decline in critical incidents and complaints in the months following the training, and significant improvements in several aspects of the social climate have been observed; complaints from youth and parents/guardians as well as behavioral incidents at the facility have also declined markedly. Although not all of the original treatment unit staff embraced the new perspective, as evidenced by high turnover, leadership at JYC and DJJ remains committed to the transformation process. Tables, notes, references