TRANSITIONING IN MARYLAND Walter E. Varner State Coordinator, Neglected & Delinquent Programs Maryland State Department of Education 2004

The Problem The Maryland State Department of Education was concerned about changes in the Department of Juvenile Services incarceration policies and the impact those policies changes would have on local school systems

The Changes in Policies The Department of Juvenile Services would incarcerate only juveniles who commit category three offenses: Arson Hate Crimes Manslaughter by Motor Vehicles Robbery Controlled Substances

Impact 1 Juveniles who previously would have been incarcerated for committing other offenses will primarily be given home or community detention

Impact 2 Local school systems would have students who would have been in a Department of Juvenile Services facility

Impact 3 School enrollment and attendance is a requirement for most home or community detention and probation cases

Concerns Educational Services that juveniles receive in Department of Juvenile Services facilities Student records do not often follow the student Special Education Services were not being provided in a timely manner Systems needed to ensure that students returning from Department of Juvenile Services facilities are appropriately placed within the public school system

Spring 2002 Superintendent of Schools requested each local school system to form a central interagency team The purpose of the team is to focus and facilitate the return of the youth from the Department of Juvenile Services facilities to their respective schools through information sharing and comprehensive case management

Spring 2002 (cont’d) Teams would benefit from the expertise and resources of the Department of Education and the Department of Juvenile Services Teams would provide appropriate diagnostic placement Teams would monitor services for juveniles transitioning between public schools and Juvenile Services facilities

Team Compositions At A Minimum Student Services which include Pupil Personnel, Guidance, School Health and School Psychology Special Education Curriculum and Instruction Department of Juvenile Services Representatives for “Wrap Around Services” Social Services Core Services Agency Department of Health Local School System Court Liaisons

Team will Provide single point of contact for the Department of Juvenile Services Facilitate the placement of all involved students Provide Case Management Review Educational Records for incarcerated students Monitor placement and work with the Department of Juvenile Services to ensure appropriate services during incarceration Monitor students on home or community detention

Interagency Transition Team Administrative Meetings - Regional Model Programs are presented Discussion of what’s working Discussion of what’s not working Identification of barriers to interagency teaming Identification of strategies to overcome barriers Delinquent, Title I Requirements for Neglected or Delinquent Students

First Transition Conference Scheduled for May 21, 2004 Focus: Role and Functions of Court Liaison Workers Large Counties Medium Counties Small or Rural Counties

The Department of Juvenile Services Operates 13 Youth Centers – State Agency Programs 1. Cheltenham Youth Facility, Prince George’s County 2. Alfred D. Noyes Center, Montgomery County 3. J. De Weese Carter Center, Kent County 4. Thomas J.S. Waxter Center, Anne Arundel County 5. Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School, Baltimore County

The Department of Juvenile Services Operates 13 Youth Centers – State Agency Programs (cont’d) 6. Thomas O’Farrell Center, Carroll County 7. Western Maryland Children’s Center, Washington County 8. Eastern Shore Structured Shelter Care, Dorchester County 9. Lower Eastern Shore Children’s Center, Wicomico County

The Department of Juvenile Services Operates 13 Youth Centers – State Agency Programs (cont’d) 10. Baltimore City Juvenile Services Center, Baltimore City 11. Maryland Youth Residence Center, Baltimore City 12. William Donald Schaefer House, Baltimore City

Centers (cont’d) 13. Youth Centers Backbone Mountain, Garrett County Meadow Mountain, Garrett County Savage Mountain, Garrett County Green Ridge, Allegany County

Title I, Part D, Subpart School Year Delinquent Children Allegany County 43 New Dominion School Baltimore City 359 Public School 370 Baltimore County 87 Baltimore Detention Center Carroll County 99 Bowling Brook Prep Sykesville Shelter School Dorchester County 101 Maple Shade School

Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 (cont’d) School Year Delinquent Children Kent County 9 Kent Youth Center Montgomery County 88 Various Organizations Prince George’s County 5 St. Anne’s High School October 2002 Count 791

To Be Continued With Adult Correction Transition Program

Contact Information Walter E. Varner, Specialist Homeless Education & Neglected & Delinquent Education Maryland State Department of Education Division of Student & School Services Program Improvement & Family Support Branch 200 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD Phone:(410) Fax:(410) marylandpublicschools.org