Mental Health
The Juvenile Hall, in collaboration with Behavioral Health Services provides mental health care for the youth. Mental Health services are provided seven days a week, eight to twelve hours a day, with the exception of some holidays and vacation days. Two full-time and one half-time Therapist cover these hours and a psychiatrist conducts medication evaluations twice a week, as well as being available for emergency consultation. An average of 17 Juveniles per month are prescribed for psychotropic medication while housed at Juvenile Hall. During an average week Mental Health Therapists conduct 24 intake assessments, 56 individual counseling sessions and 2 psycho-education groups. On occasion, Mental Health staff provides training to the sworn staff on relevant mental health issues.
A high number of mentally ill youngsters in our Juvenile Hall create a number of challenges for the staff. These minors often require a great deal of attention, and alter the social dynamics of the facility, For example, mentally ill minors are frequently placed on specialized programs to maximize the time spent out of their rooms and minimize time spent alone. This is often seen as inherently unfair to the other minors, who in turn, can act out in a hostile manner toward the mentally ill youngster. Further, the behavior of mentally ill minors can disrupt regular programming and results in other minors spending more time in their rooms while the problem is resolved. The challenge for the staff in these instances is to strike a balance between the needs of the mentally ill minor creating the disruption, with the needs of the other minors whose behavior is for the most part, compliant and pro-social. However, this dynamic also provides a learning opportunity for other minors in the area of diversity and understanding differences, as well as accepting the concept that minors detained in the Juvenile Hall may all be treated fairly, but not necessarily in the same way.
The Probation Department, in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, Behavioral Health, and Family Care Network continue to work to meet the treatment needs of these minors. However, the lack of community treatment resources continues to be a gap in services for our youth.
Health
The Juvenile Hall, through the Health Department, employs two full time correctional nurses, and one nurse practitioner. Nursing care is available to the minors in custody 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (Eight of the 24 hours are covered by the nurse who works at our County Jail). This care includes: physical exams, eye exams, STD screening, hearing and dental exams, immunizations, acute illness and injury triage, daily wellness examinations, and monitoring of ongoing medical problems as needed. Additionally all minors going into out-of-home placement receive a health and education passport, which includes their health and educational histories. The Juvenile Hall nursing staff is also actively involved in nutritional planning and monitoring, as well as general wellness and illness prevention, and staff training.
Typically, Juvenile Hall nurses treat colds, flu-like symptoms, minor orthopedic injuries, and provide basic physical examinations and immunizations. The nurses also provide a vital triage service intended to identify potentially serious medical conditions before they become critical. During 2005, several staff infections and one case of pneumonia were successfully treated in the Juvenile Hall, thus preventing costly hospitalization. According to Head Nurse, Maralyn Shaw-Renken, "The Nursing/ Medical staff has not been able to accomplish these successes on our own. It has been a wonderful union with the Probation Department that has allowed this to happen. We've been given all the encouragement, support and appreciation we could hope for . . . Not to mention the equipment and supplies we’ve requested. What a wonderful environment in which to work and what wonderful folks to work with."