Improving DYS: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
In my blog post A Parent’s Suggestions for Improving the Division of Youth Services, I outlined several areas DYS needs to improve upon. The fourth area is mental health and substance abuse services, which I believe can be improved in the following ways: The most glaring take-away from our family’s two-year involvement with DYS is that kids who are committed…
Improving DYS: Security Measures
In my blog post A Parent’s Suggestions for Improving the Division of Youth Services, I outlined several areas DYS needs to improve upon. The third area is security, which I believe is severely lacking. DYS can improve security in its facilities by doing the following: End contracts with private companies for greater control over and consistency among facilities Implement the…
Improving DYS: Hiring and Training Requirements for Staff
In my blog post A Parent’s Suggestions for Improving the Division of Youth Services, I outlined several areas DYS needs to improve upon. The second area is the hiring and training requirements for staff, which I believe need to be more comprehensive. DYS can improve the environment inside its facilities by making these changes to its hiring and training practices:…
Improving DYS – Family Involvement
In my blog post A Parent’s Suggestions for Improving the Division of Youth Services, I outlined several areas DYS needs to improve upon. The first is facilitating family involvement, which I believe can be accomplished in the following ways: Family relationships are the most important part of a child’s life. Helping to foster and repair those relationships is vital to…
A Parent’s Suggestions for Improving the Division of Youth Services
After two years in various Division of Youth Services (DYS) facilities, I am happy to report that my daughter has returned home, and things are going well. Now that we have our daughter back and we’ve had some time to adjust to life as a family of four again, I’ve been reflecting on our difficult two-year involvement with DYS. For…
Melissa Marscellus
A writer, a mom, and an advocate for mental health and juvenile justice reform, Melissa shines a light on our youth in crisis. Read full bio