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DYS reports fewer commitments, new treatment unit and peer-support pilot
Summary
Michael Crump, director of the Division of Youth Services, told the committee quarterly commitments declined (81 in the most recent quarter) and described a newly created treatment unit that completes a 14-day intake assessment to deliver individualized treatment plans. Peer recovery support specialist Bonnie Stribbling described using lived experience to engage youth and connect them to aftercare.
Michael Crump, director of the Division of Youth Services, presented the division—s quarter 3 and quarter 4 reports and described organizational changes intended to individualize treatment for committed youth. Crump said commitments to DYS have declined in recent years and that the most recent quarter showed 81 commitments. "You could see a decline from 02/2017 of a 21 commitments to DYS... and in 02/2019, down to 81 commitments," he said, attributing part of the decline to adoption of a validated risk-assessment tool used by judges.
Crump described a structural change that creates a treatment unit responsible for assessing a youth during the first two weeks in custody and assembling a multidisciplinary team (behavioral-health clinicians, education specialists, independent-living specialists, probation officers and case coordinators) to produce an individualized treatment plan. "Our treatment unit is responsible for bringing the kids when they come into our custody of spending the right amount of time assessing each child to give them an individualized treatment plan," he said, noting the unit aims to complete assessments and deliver a plan within 14 days.
Bonnie Stribbling, a peer recovery support specialist, told the committee how peer staff meet youth during the intake/assessment period, help them tell their story for the record and then follow them through placement and aftercare to promote continuity. "When the youth come to DYS... I'm able to meet with them during that time," Stribbling said, adding peer support helps youths identify treatment needs and link to community aftercare and support groups.
Crump said the division is also building a legal operations unit to improve court communications and will provide contact information for assistant director Cheryl Grappay for legislators who have constituent concerns. Committee members asked whether assessments and treatment reviews are performed by state staff or contractors; Crump replied that DYS employees conduct assessments and that DYS will monitor and hold providers accountable.
The committee thanked Crump and Stribbling and had no further immediate actions; members asked for contact points and additional DYS-specific reporting in future quarterly packets.
