DSCYF - New Castle County Detention Center(NCCDC)

March 21

Ongoing Programs and Activities: Creating Lasting Family Connections presented by First State Community Action Agency, encourages strengthening family relations and making the right decisions. Potter's Wheel Ministries sponsored by our volunteer Chaplain, Mike Felin provides community activities by inviting various groups to come in and interact with the residents. Keys to Innervisions is an outcropping from other groups offering residents skills to change particular behaviors through role playing. Phoenix Mental Health continues to come in every Friday to provide drug and alcohol education.

Guest Speakers: Several individuals and organizations will be coming in throughout the upcoming months to address the residents on various topics. SLAM, Students Learning About Mortality, sponsored by New Castle County Police Department addresses drinking and driving. February, Black History Month provided for many speakers on Black History. March is Women's History Month and we will have several female guest speakers including Secretary DeSantis.

Annie E. Casey Delaware Collaborative Update: This collaborative effort is having a positive impact on detention in Delaware . Magistrate and Family Court Directives ensure that the courts are following the criteria for detention established by Bill 509. A new Risk Assessment Instrument has been developed to provide Magistrates and Family Courts with improved criteria for determining which youth require secure detention. In addition all youth placed in detention who are 13 years old or younger, requires an immediate call to DFS to determine if the youth needs to be placed in their custody.

Grace and Snowden Cottages: Both programs opened on January 18, 2005 , and are located on the Ferris campus. Grace, 14 beds and Snowden, 16 beds, operate under the Boys Town model.

Security Improvement: We have implemented a self-inspection tool under the guidance of the Youth Law Center's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. A team has been developed to conduct an audit producing a corrective packet so the facility can develop an action plan to correct deficiencies. The National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS) through its Center for Research & Professional Development (CRPD) at the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University will conduct security assessments of all three DSCYF facilities during the week of April 18-22, 2005 . David Roush, Ph.D. and Larry Miesner will submit their findings and corrective action will be taken to address any concerns.

Child Mental Health: Dr. Doris Lauckner is now occupies an office on site. Dr. Lauckner will perform complete evaluations, court ordered psychologicals and assist with youth in crisis. Our request for our own facility psychologist was cut from the budget.

Staffing: All YRC, YRC Supervisor, Teacher and Principal positions have been filled. Two C/S YRC vacancies still exist. Assistant Superintendent interviews have been scheduled.

Open Discussion
- Mr. Pippin asked about drug screenings for new hires. The Local 2004 Vice President made a request last year that random drug testing be implemented. Staff have formed a committee and the request will be revisited. The cost involved in mandatory new hire and random testing would require legislation to implement.
- Mr. Pippin requested our Community Advisory Board Policy and Procedure be reviewed by ACA to ensure standard compliance.

June 20

Ongoing Programs and Activities: Creating Lasting Family Connections presented by First State Community Action Agency, encourages strengthening family relations and making the right decisions. Potter's Wheel Ministries sponsored by our volunteer Chaplain, Mike Felin provides community activities by inviting various groups to come in and interact with the residents. Keys to Innervisions is an outcropping from other groups offering residents skills to change particular behaviors through role playing. Life Skills are presented in-house by an YRC Supervisor and YRC III.

Guest Speakers: Several individuals and organizations have been coming in to address the residents on various topics. "Women and Social Change" with Dr. Marie Laberge sponsored by Delaware Humanities. SLAM, Students Learning About Mortality, sponsored by New Castle County Police Department addresses drinking and driving. Jeffrey Dean is a nationally renowned motivational speaker. Cabinet Secretary Cari DeSantis, "Women In Leadership and Politics" spoke on her personal experiences. Salisbury Zoo presented "Zoo-2-U" brining in live animals. Dr. Adrienne Bey assisted by Miss Mercedes Fields presented "Gun Violence Prevention". We held a Career Day, however, turnout was not very good. H.E.R.O.I.N. Hurts Inc. came in on June 4 ^th.

Annie E. Casey Delaware Collaborative Update: Dover PD may provide a site for a Dover Reception Center . Rather than take a youth directly to court resulting in detention, the youth would go to the Reception Center . A crisis counselor would be available and the family contacted.

Old Stevenson House Facility: A space study will be conducted with the first meeting taking place on June 30 ^th. The building is being considered for possible office space.

Drug Court: Judges are sentencing youth to detention for short term commitments. This is causing some concern because it violates the mixing law and youth are not supposed to be committed to detention. The Department is trying to resolve this issue through Ann E. Casey since the Chief Judge attends the meetings.

Dental Services: We are in the preliminary stages of securing on site dental services. Patterson Swartz Inc. may have monies available to pay for services.

Open Discussion:
- Mr. Pippin stated that Delaware needs to be represented at the NJDA conferences and that OJJDP has training funds available.
- NPJS Inspection was completed on April 18 ^th and 19 ^th. The two primary concerns were the lack of a video camera in the large recreation yard and the sally port door leading to commodity storage. A camera has been requested and staff are not permitted to carry keys to the sally port door.
- Mr. Pippin asked if staff were receiving training. Theme training is being provided on a monthly basis. All staff have attended CPR/First Aid and Suicide training. Refresher physical restraint training is being offered this month.
- Warren Morgan is now Vice President of Local 2004.
- The Nurse Practitioner has recently resigned and we are in the process of finding a replacement.

Last Updated: Thursday, 22-Mar-2007 14:42:59 EDT