The Division of YouthServices .,-----------~ Annual Report Fiscal Year 1988 STATE OF GEORGIA Joe Frank Harris GOVERNOR Department of Human Resources James G. Ledbetter, Ph.D. Commissioner Division of Youth Services MaIjorie H. Young Director Georgia Department of Human Resources James L. Fisher, M.D. Chairman Bev Long, R.N. Vice Chairman H. Gordon Davis, M.D. Secretary Dewitt C. Alfred, Jr., M.D.* Helen G. Byars* Robert L. Carmichael* Thomas E. Farr James K. Davis* Robert H. Herndon* Joseph V. Morrison, Jr., M.D. Benjamin B. Okel, M.D. Harold L. Smith* Laura S. Vann* Solomon W. Walker, II -Members of Youth Services Committee 878 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. / ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30309 October 21, 1988 James G. Ledbetter, Ph. D., Commissioner Georgia Department of Human Resources 47 Trinity Avenue, S.W. AtLanta, GA 3D334 Dear Dr. Ledbetter: In compLiance with the ChiLdren and Youth Act of 1963, the Division of Youth Services is submitting to you its report regarding program operations and accompLishments during fiscaL year 1988. During the past year we experienced increases in case Loads and popuLations in a number of program areas. Court Services cases increased by 18%. RYDC admissions increased by 1D%. Attention Home referraLs increased by 31%. Commitments increased by 5% to a record high of 2,697. Despite the high commitment rate, DYS staff were abLe to divert 61% of committed youth to aLternate pLans. Significant increases are continuing into FY89 and are creating pressures for additionaL resources. An important first step was taken with the appropriation of one miLLion doLLars by the 1988 GeneraL AssembLy for the expansion of community aLternatives. This was an encouraging beginning in our pursuit of a compLete continuum of services for the youth we serve. I am proud to submit these accompLishments of our dedicated staff throughout the Division. SincereLy, ~~~. Marjorie H. Young, Director Division of Youth Services AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Director's Letter 1 Role of the Division 1 Detention Programs 2 Regional Youth Development Centers 2 Attention HO'llles 5 Treatment Programs 6 Non-Residential Prograrn.s 6 Court Servi..ces 6 Community Treatment Center 7 Day Centers 8 Residential Programs 9 Youth Development C"enters 9 Group HO'llles 11 Contract Horn.es 12 Wilderness Youth Development Program 13 Specialized Residential Servi..ces 15 Short-Term Treatment Program 16 Project Challenge 17 Investigations Unit 18 COID.m.itlD.ents 19 Appendix 21 Budget 23 Commitments l>y County : 2Li Map 27 T he parent agency of the Division of Youth Services was created by law in the 1963 Session of the General Assembly (Act No. 55, H.B. No 5). The purpose of the act was to provide for the "protection, care, training and supervision of certain children and youth of the state and to define powers, duties and functions of the Division' the Board and the officials thereof." The title of the act was the Children and Youth Act. Organizationally, the operations of the Division are carried out by four sections: Institutional Services, Field Services, Administrative Services, and Program Support and Staff Development. Number of youth served in fiscal years 1987 and 1988 D.Y.S. Programs Number served fiscal year 1987 1988 Detention programs: Regional Youth Development Centers 12,224 (11.795) Attention Homes 582 13,394 (12.923) 686 Treatment Programs: Non-Residential Programs: Court Services 19,538 Community Treatment Centers 1,043 Day Centers 239 Residential Programs: Youth Development Centers 1.792 ( 1,091) Group Homes 67 Contract Homes 712 SpeciaUzed Residential Services 100 Wilderness Youth Development Frog. 101 Short-Term Treatment Program 59 Project Challenge 51 Investigations Unit: 965 Interstate Compact 1,438 Unduplicated Estimate: 25.600 23.094 1.073 227 1,756 (1.106) 59 670 144 91 100 50 1.087 1,621 29,600 ( ) Admissions 1 TI5)lt@ ltfi@@ WIT@[IT)]]l~ T he Georgia Juvenile Proceedings Code, as amended, provides for the taking into custody and detention of a child prior to a J uvenUe Court hearing if (1) secure detention is required to protect the person or property of others or of the child, (2) the child may abscond or be removed from the jurisdiction of the court, (3) he has no parent, guardian or custodian or other person able to provide supervision and care for them and return him to court when required, or (4) an order for his detention or shelter care has been made by the court pursuant to this Code. The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Youth Services, through a cooperative effort with the local courts, has developed a statewide system of secure and nonsecure detention services for juveniles. Regional Youth Developlllent Centers R egional Youth Development Centers (RYDCs) are secure detention centers which serve most geographical areas of the state. Their purpose is the temporary, secure detention of youth who are alleged to be delinquent or who have been adjudicated delinquent and who are awaiting disposition of the court or transfer to another jurisdiction or agency. Some of the regional centers operate a short-term, structured, residential treatment program for committed youth as an alternative to a State Youth Development Center placement. All Regional Youth Development Centers provide care in a therapeutic setting for youth who are detained. Programs at each RYDC vary, but most include remedial education, individual gUidance and counseling, indoor and outdoor recreation and arts and crafts. Many Centers have behavior management or token economy system. Each Center is required to have weekly religious services for any youth desiring them. Clothing, meals, medical and emergency dental services are a part of each Center's basic care program. In addition to the state-operated centers, one county (Fulton) has its own detention facility. The Division contracts with Fulton for services. Regional Youth Development Centers Trends FY 88 The 20 RYDCs admitted 12,923 youth in FY88, a 10% increase over the FY87 total of 11,795. The availability of secure and nonsecure detention resources resulted in low utilization of adult jails for juvenile offenders. Only 252 youth were reported as held in adult jails statewide in FY88. As recently as the early 1960's, an estimated 7,000 juveniles were jailed annually in Georgia. One new center, DeKalb, opened in FY 88. Claxton and Thomasville opened in FY 87. 2 Youth admitted to Regional Number of youth (thousands) Youth Development Centers 14 12,923 12 11774 :1 10632 .::::! 10 8897 \ t \98:0: 6: .19416 . I :: .: 8 6 4 2 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 Fiscal year New RYDC staff are shown above receiving CPR training. which is part of a comprehensive one-week basic training course. Training is one area of emphasis as the RYDCs continue progress toward achieving accreditattonjrom the American Correctional Association (ACA). 3 R.Y.D.C. Catchment Areas 4 Attention HODles T he Attention Home Program provides an alternative to detention in a Regional Youth Development Center or jail. Attention Homes divert selected offenders from any contact with secure confinement. Attention Home bed spaces are located throughout the state in private homes or community facilities. This program provides 24-hour emergency care for youth needing a temporary place to stay until they can return home or until a suitable placement can be made. The Division also operates a statewide referral system for youth who reside in counties where there are no Attention Homes. The Attention Home Program and RYDCs have brought about the virtual elimination of the use of adult jails for juveniles. Attention Homes Trends FY88 Attention Homes served 686 youths In FY88, a 31% Increase over the FY87 total of 582. Number Youth served by Attention Homes served 1400 1200 1000 800 : ~!:!~. iii i i j : i ~ I : ! 686 i 600 400 200 .~ If l r ..[. ..!.. .L r '. Fiscal year 5 1rIT@ 1tmID@w1t IPIT@tITmID ~ Non-Residential Prograllls T he Court Services Program is a statewide delinquency program, established in 1963. Court Service Workers maintain a working relationship with the Juvenile Courts and the local communities. This program provides intake, probation, counseling, case management, supervision, detention planning and aftercare supervision in most counties of Georgia. In some areas intake and probation services are prOVided by county staff, or there is a shared services arrangement. Intake is the decision-making point at which a youth is either diverted from or formally processed into the juvenile justice system. During the intake process, emphasis is placed on resolving the youth's problems without court processing, especially for first time and minor offenders, including status offenders. Should a youth be adjudicated and placed under probation, the Court Service Worker, 6 Court Services serving as probation officer' pursues a plan of action which assists the youth in meeting the terms of the court order. The Court Service Worker may also be involved in obtaining support services, job seeking or training, and maintaining a probationer in school. Once a youth is committed, case management services and aftercare supervision are provided to youth upon return home from a residential program. For committed and noncommitted youth, the workers often provide individual, group or family counseling. Court Services Trends FY88 The Court Services program served 23,094 youth in FY88, an 18% increase over the FY87 total of 19,538. The average daily caseload was 47.2 per worker. Youth receiving court services Number of youth (thousands) 1I1i 18 15~8 18 14899 14 III 11I7S8 10 8 8 4 n n ~ ~~~M ~~~~~~ Fiscal year Community Treatment Centers C ommunity Treatment Cen- ters are relatively small, non-residential, commu- nity-based programs for delinquent and unruly of- fenders. Small caseloads of 8-12 youth per worker permit an intensive, structured treatment for- mat. Although staffed by DYS workers, each Com- munity Treatment Center is an integral part of the local community. Link- ages with private and public sector agencies are promoted in order to in- crease services to youth and integrate them suc- cessfully into the larger community. Recreation pro- grams are established to promote physical fitness and appropriate leisure time pursuits. Group counseling deals with problems experienced by these adolescents, (e.g., family relationships, peer pressures, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.). Group activities provide structured learn- ing experiences in the areas health, olfaws-erxelaetdeudceadtuiocan~ tion and other life skills areas. Special emphasis is placed on employability skills, stressing the be- havior and skills neces- sary to obtain and retain jobs. In some areas, actual work experience programs are a part of the Community Treatment program. Parents are involved in family counseling or parent effectiveness training at some Community Treatment Centers and through other local agencies or private resources. Centers are located in the following counties: DeKalb (2), Fulton (2), Bartow, Chatham, Clayton, Cobb, Colquitt, Coweta, Floyd, Glynn, Gwinnett, Hall, Houston, Bibb, Muscogee, Richmond, Spalding, Upson, Walton and Whitfield. ......_-T1IE TWELVE STEPS 1........... """" .....- ... 2.c..w,w ..,,...- .. -....s0llW '''''.IIUll1f 3JWn __ It. . . . .IIII1._ _ ltdltc:n .11~_ ...J............. - SJ6ljbN"tl a_id_....,,.,_. 1I_11~~. CI'Cs offer a wide range of communtty-based seroices. Winifred. Rush, a Court Seroice Worker with the North DeKalb CI'C. is shown during an alcohol and drug counseling session. Community Treatment Trends FY88 The Community Treatment Centers served 1,073 youth In FY88, a 3% Increase over the FY87 total of 1043. Number served 1400 1100 1000 800 800 100 ft ft U " ft n u ft ~ m gUM M M ~ M FtIlCll1 year 7 Day Centers D ay Centers are nonresidential, community-based alternative schools for delinquent and unruly offenders. Linkages are developed with local community resources and, in particular, with the local school system in order to increase services to youth and facilitate their reentry into the educational system. Youth referred to the Day Centers spend a short period of time (usually less than six months) acquiring the academic and social skills necessary to successfully reenter an educational setting. Life skills education in law related, health and career education are included in the curriculum. Group, individual and family counseling are focused on resolving the underlying causes of school-related problems (non-attendance, suspension, etc.) and/or law violative behavior. Recreational and cultural activities are established to promote physical fitness and appropriate leisure time pursuits. Day Centers provide intensive alternative educational services. A typical classroom is slwwn above. Youth served in Day Centers ~ n n ~ n MmM~ M M MMM Filcalyear Day Center Trends FY88 The Day Centers provided services for 227 youth in FY88 compared to the FY87 total of 239. There are centers located in Chatham, DeKalb and Fulton counties. 8 Residential PrograDls Youth Development Centers S tate Youth Development Centers are residential institutions providing rehabilitation and treatment for those youth committed to the Division of Youth Services by Juvenile or Superior Courts of Georgia. All four centers provide academic, vocational, medical. counseling and religious services. These placements are for youth for whom no alternate plan is available or considered desirable. The Atlanta YDC with a capacity of 100, serves males who have been assessed as having low public risk ratings, who live within a 100 mile radius of the YDC, and whose residential support needs have been assessed as being high. The center's program calls for a good degree of cooperation and involvement with the youth's Court Service Worker and the youth's family. The Augusta YDC serves males who have been assessed as having medium public risk ratings; youth with high mental health needs; and youth who have significant prior histories or previous YDC placements. The Augusta YDC has a capacity of 240. The educational program includes introductory vocational courses such as small engine repair, brick masonry and fast food service. The Macon YDC serves females and has a capacity of 80. The therapeutic milieu provides individual and group counseling, academic and pre-vocational education, career education and recreation. Students who qualify are able to participate in and complete the Center's Nursing Assistance and High School programs. The Macon YDC is accredited by The American Correctional Association (ACA). The Milledgeville YDC, with a capacity of 240, serves males who have been assessed as having a high public risk rating; a history of aggressive and/or assaultive behavior; escapees, high alcohol and drug rating; and high medical needs. Program goals include helping youth develop impulse control and appropriate decision- making skills. Because the median age of the youth served in 16.5 years, the Center places emphasis on career education and its community (off campus) work program. The Milledgeville YDC is the most secure of the state YDCs. Youth Development Centers Trends FY88 The four YDCs admitted 1106 youth in FY88, a 1% increase over the FY87 total of 1091. Center to- tals were as follows: Atlanta 230 Augusta 432 Macon 112 Milledgeville ~ TOTAL 1106 9 The YDCs are makmg ongoing efforts to meet state and national accreditation standards. During FY 88 the Augusta YDC school was awarded accreditation by the Georgia Accrediting Commission. Teacher Martha Rucker is shown above in a computer-assisted mathematics class. Number of youth