The Delaware Children's Department, Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services was recently honored with the prestigious Barbara Allen-Hagen Award for improving the conditions of confinement and the quality of life for youths in secure placements. The award is given in three categories: juvenile correction facilities, detention/assessment centers, and community residential programs and are judged on exemplary commitment to Performance-based Standards to best serve youths, families, and staff. 

One winner in each category was selected and honored at the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators and Performance-based standards Awards Night in Boston, MA on August 2, 2019. Stevenson House Detention Center in Milford was selected as the winner in the detention/assessment center category for effectively reducing confinement by modifying the behavior management system in the facility. System improvements at Stevenson House have reduced the use of isolation from an average of 131 per month in 2017 to 11 per month in 2019. 

Ferris School for Boys was also honored for winning the group performance category of the Performance-based Standards 'Kids Got Talent' contest. The competition had over 62 submissions from facilities across the nation. The Ferris School entry, an original music video "What You Know," was fully written and produced by students Jamir Goldsborough, Isiah Lecompte, and Zyaire Martinez. The winning video was created through a new music program initiative at Ferris School that was developed by supervisors Richard Booker and Joshua FIelds. "This was an amazing opportunity for our students," said John Stevenson, Director of the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services. "We are very proud of their accomplishment in winning this national talent contest and that their hard work has been noticed." 

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Earlier this year, Governor John Carney on Tuesday announced two new initiatives from the Family Services Cabinet Council to implement Executive Order 24, which launched efforts to make Delaware a trauma-informed state. The Family Services Cabinet Council – a cabinet-level group reestablished by Governor Carney in February 2017 to coordinate public and private services for Delaware families – will promote Trauma Awareness Month throughout Delaware during May 2019 and launch the Compassionate Champion Award, a recognition program for champions of this work.

“We need to do everything we can to support children and families in Delaware who are affected by trauma in their lives,” said Governor Carney.

“Delaware has many dedicated, boots-on-theground workers and organizations that are practicing trauma-informed care and helping
Delawareans get the services they need. We are committed to working together to support, promote, and recognize more of these efforts to help build stronger, healthier and more traumainformed communities across our state.” 

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The Prevention Resource Center (PRC) holds a collection of psycho-educational materials includes books, research and science-based curriculums, videos and DVDs that are available for loan. In addition, the Resource Center distributes informational brochures and pamphlets to the public that focus on substance abuse, violence, child abuse and neglect prevention as well as other related issues, such as, mental health and juvenile justice issues.

K-5 Early Intervention Program
The K-5 Early Intervention Program is a voluntary program managed in partnership with the Department of Education and participating local school districts. The program employs Family Crisis Therapists statewide to work with children and families identified as “at-risk” by the school principals. Family Crisis Therapists assigned to designated elementary schools provide a range of interventions designed to remove barriers to academic and social success. Program staff provide interventions within a system of care framework and enhance collaboration among state agencies and communities to meet the needs of children and their families. The K-5 Early Intervention Program expanded from serving nine schools in 1996-97 to current fifty-four elementary schools in fourteen school districts and five charter schools statewide.

Access Unit - This unit provides central intake support and receives referrals for services beyond the routine outpatient level of care. It processes requests for service, and passes the referrals to Clinical Services Management for more intensive follow-up.

Child & Family Care Coordination Unit - The Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services (DPBHS) is a care assurance program offering assessment and management services to seriously affected Medicaid and uninsured children and youth who are experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. We offer a five-tiered level of service and care coordinator intensity model. Most of our behavioral health services are offered by local community providers who contract with DPBHS. Children and youth with behavioral health needs requiring services more intensive than outpatient, and who are found eligible, may be assigned to our Child and Family Care Coordination Team (CFCCT).

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