Grace/Snowden Cottages
Grace/Snowden Cottage residential treatment programs are designed to address the needs of adjudicated adolescents that are having difficulty successfully completing community-based services. Because we now have our own Level IV programs in Delaware , we can keep these youth closer to home. They will receive education, individual and family counseling, psychological/psychiatric services, aftercare and transition services, outside programming, and gender specific programming.
The Milieu Management System uses a social skills-based behavioral modification system out of Boys/Girls Town located in Nebraska . The system focuses on the teaching and generalization of social skills in which youth learn alternative, more appropriate ways of behaving. The system provides a positive, systematic approach for staff, to reinforce appropriate behaviors, correct inappropriate behaviors and deescalate crisis/out of control behaviors in a caring, respectful and non-punishing manner.
Grace and Snowden Cottages offer after care and transition services. Referrals and recommendations related to drug/alcohol treatment or specific mental health treatment services are made as appropriate and established within the youth’s aftercare plan. The probation officers partner with staff in the program and the families of the client while in the program to ensure a seamless transition and follow through with after care plans and community-based linkages.
The Psychological and Psychiatric Services program has a full time Psychologist who completes a Needs Assessment on all youth admitted to the program. The Psychologist works closely with a contracted Psychiatrist to evaluate medication and mental health service needs of the youth. Individual diagnosis related to treatment planning and interventions are coordinated through the program Psychologist and the assigned FCT.
The program has a variety of community partners who provide additional programs/activities to the youth in our care. Current outside programming includes:
- Each One Teach One – Allyson Lang (Sex Education & HIV/AIDES Awareness)
- Women In the Law – Headed up by Family Court Judge Barbara Crowell
- Speakers Bureau. – Departmental Staff and Others (Speak on a variety of youth oriented topics and spiritual/inspirational information sharing)
- Drug and Alcohol (Psycho-educational Group) – Child Mental Health
- Victim Sensitivity Group – Delaware Center for Justice
All youth admitted to the program are assigned a Family Crisis Therapist (FCT) who conducts comprehensive home assessments and facilitates individual and family counseling sessions. The FCT works closely with the program psychologist, probation officers, educational staff and treatment specialist staff to ensure the implementation of a child focused system of care. They also work collaboratively with the Office of Prevention and Early Intervention unit to link families to a variety of services offered through Promoting Safe and Stable Families program.
Students receive education in the core courses through self discovery and investigation using a variety of resources and curriculum models. Each resident will develop an educational portfolio to assist in transition to a school or work placement.
NCCDC along with DJC obtained a grant through the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund for the purpose of assessing and developing comprehensive, gender responsive continuum of services for at-risk girls in Delaware who are in the juvenile justice system. As part of this initiative, the youth at Grace Cottage participated in a focus group surrounding gender specific programming and service needs. Gender specific program will be incorporated into programming at Grace as it is developed.
Resident Characteristics
Typical Characteristics of the Level IV Female in Delaware
- Between 16 and 17 years old
- Two-thirds are minorities
- Serious health problems
- Failure in school
- Unstable home life
- Involvement with DFS and/or CMH services
- Sexually and emotionally abused
- History of runaway behavior
Typical Characteristics of the Level IV Male in Delaware
- 16.5 years old
- Failure in school
- Unstable home life
- Two-thirds are minorities
- Involvement with DFS and/or CMH services
Visitation
Phone Privileges
Mail
Grace and Snowden Cottages Contact Information
Mailing Address: 1825 Faulkland Rd , Building 3, Wilmington , DE 19805
Email: yrs.dscyf Facsimile : 633-2647
Program Manager: Stephanie Guiswite Telephone: 302/633-2530
Family Crisis Therapist Supervisor Renee Iacovelli Telephone: 302/633-2530
