Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections on the move: quarterly newsletter

              The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, investigation of the Arizona
Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) Black Canyon, Adobe Mountain and
Catalina Mountain Schools, pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons
Act (CRIPA), continues to be a main focus for the Agency. Many of the findings
continue to be dealt with by the Agency. The formal Agreement between the
State of Arizona and the U.S. Department of Justice has been finalized, detailing
the remedies that will be addressed by ADJC in the near future. On September
15, 2004, Governor Napolitano and federal officials will sign the Agreement at a
ceremony in the State Capitol. Once the Agreement is in effect, the Agency will
create a standard monitoring process for each point to be acted upon. The Agree-ment
will be available on the morning of September 15, 2004 for review on ADJC’s
public website: www.azdjc.gov.
Key Accomplishments To-date:
• Secure facility renovations in FY ’03 and FY ’04, - total $1,738,330
• Secure facility renovations planned for FY ’05, - total $501,520
• CRIPA Budget Allocation from the Legislature for FY ‘05 - $5,117,710 for
facility renovations, and 73.5 additional staff in facilities, education, behav-ioral
health and medical services
• Compliance with the requirement to develop Individual Education Plans
(IEP’s) for all special education students, as mandated by the Department
of Education
• Established ‘Project Zero Tolerance’ - an agency-wide reporting system
that encourages all staff to report incidents of abuse immediately to the
Director and Investigations and Inspections Unit
• Hiring of a Clinical Director to integrate medical and mental health services
and treatment programs
If you are interested in obtaining a brochure that offers a chronology of the
U.S. Department of Justice Investigation and Highlights of the Agreement,
please contact Sandra Gonzalez, Communications Administrative Assistant, at
602-364-4051.
ADJC Honors Courage, Commitment and Generosity
We were pleased to host our first Annual ADJC Honor’s Ceremony held on July 30,
2004 at the Herberger Theater. This event recognized staff, along with volun-teers,
interns, and community partners for outstanding service to the Agency dur-ing
the past fiscal year, July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.
In total, over 175 individuals were recognized. Categories included the Director’s
Merit Award, Lifesaving Award, Exceptional Service Award, Outstanding Supervi-sors
Award, Certificate of Recognition, Director’s Team Spirit Award and service
awards for staff who reached the milestones of 20, 25, 30, and 35 years in state
service.
Special recognition was given to the Arizona Department of Corrections for their
assistance in the development of ADJC’s Service Dog (K-9) Unit. In addition,
Phoenix Police Officers Jason Schechterle and Jeff Kozel were honored for allowing
our Agency to name our service dogs “Scheck” and “Hunter” - in recognition of
Officer Schechterle’s bravery on the job and in memory of Officer Kozel’s canine
partner that died in the line of duty.
CRIPA Update
Vision
Safer Communities
Through Successful
Youth
Mission Statement
ADJC enhances
public protection
by assisting in the
changing of delin-quent
thinking
and behaviors of
juvenile offenders
committed to the
Department.
Volume 1, Issue 1
September 14, 2004
New Clinical
Services
2
Aegis
Program
2
Director’s
Corner
2
This Issue
I am pleased to introduce the revised look and features of the Agency’s Newsletter, “On
the Move”. The new name underscores my commitment to staff and youth in our care
to move ADJC forward into the future while rebuilding trust with parents, juvenile justice
stakeholders and our communities.
On October 1, 2003 I began with ADJC as Interim Director. Nearly one year later, after
confronting many challenges, I am confident that we are headed in the right direction —
with safety and treatment of youth at the forefront of our priorities. Although the fed-eral
investigation prompted many of our transformations, I continually remind staff that
CRIPA is part of our response, not the driving force for change. Change must be inte-grated
and sustained long after the settlement agreement with the federal government
expires. Our collective will to succeed with youth is our ongoing and enduring motiva-tion.
I want to thank the Governor, the Legislature, and all our partners who have an interest
in strengthening our Agency. I am heartened by those who have taken time out of their
busy schedules to visit our facilities and to talk with youth and staff. Learning about our
daily work and providing feedback is readily welcomed. Collectively, we will make the
Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections the best juvenile correctional agency in the
nation.
At any time, feel free to contact my office at 602-542-4302 or reach me via email at
mbranham@azdjc.gov.
Page 2
In August, Catalina Mountain School, ADJC’s Tucson juvenile correctional facility, began
a new behavioral management program in their Aegis Unit. This program is designed
for male youth that display chronic disruptive behaviors within ADJC facilities. Examples
of such behavior include assaults, failing to program, and causing other youth to fail in
their treatment. Superintendents from each of the three boys’ facilities can make
referrals to the program.
The 18 youth that are currently in the program previously averaged 129 Incident
Reports for April, May and June of this year. For the month of August, they averaged
only 18 Incident Reports. Staff attribute this dramatic turnaround to the increased
clinical intervention. Results will be continued to be tracked so that program efficacy
can be appropriately evaluated.
ADJC is pleased to welcome Kellie Warren, Psy.D, as the Agency’s new Director of
Clinical Services. Dr. Warren assumed her responsibilities as of August 9, 2004 under
the direction of Deputy Director Dianne Gadow.
Dr. Warren previously worked in Newark, New Jersey at the Community Education
Center where she was the Director of Treatment for Lipman Hall, a state-of-the-art
children’s residential treatment facility and on-site school, which serves up to 212
adolescent males between 12-21 years of age with serious behavioral, severe mental
health, sexual offending, fire-setting and developmental disorders. Dr. Warren was
responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive quality
treatment program designed to meet the clinical needs of all residents.
Dr. Warren’s other previous work entails working at the Ohio Department of Youth
Services providing treatment services to juvenile sex offenders. Her professional
experience includes work as a Treatment Administrator, Clinical Administrator,
Psychology Assistant, Mental Health Therapist and Psychology Trainee. Dr. Warren
holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Central State University, and a Doctor of
Psychology degree from Wright State University.
Director’s Corner
ON THE MOVE Quarterly Newsletter, September 14, 2004
SUCCESS STORY OF
YOUTH
Adan, age 15, was
committed to ADJC on
April 21, 2003 for 2
counts of aggravated
assault. He was
sentenced to Adobe
Mountain School where
he completed his
treatment plan and
released on Parole on
December 22, 2003.
Adan conducted himself
in a very positive manner
since his return back to
his family in Yuma. He
had no violations of his
Parole, and he and his
family successfully
completed Functional
Family Therapy. Adan
has refrained from
associating with negative
peers and has
successfully passed all of
his classes at school.
Adan has also completed
8 hours of community
service, completed his
Personal Goal and
Independent Living Plan,
and continues to succeed
academically in school.
He is proud of having
changing his negative
behavior and has good
family support.
Adan was given absolute
discharge from ADJC on
August 4, 2004.
Catalina Mountain Aegis Program Shows Signs of Success
ADJC Hires New Clinical Services Director