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DHS to find alternative placements for Iowa Juvenile Home Youth

TOLEDO – The Iowa Department of Human Services is finding alternative placements for 21 youth currently served by the Iowa Juvenile Home and Girls State Training School in Toledo.

Director Charles M. Palmer announced the decision on Monday based on recommendations from the Iowa Juvenile Home Protection Task Force. Guidance from the task force, appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad in August, included defining the mission of the home, and exploring other options for care.

“This was a difficult decision. After a thorough examination of the task force recommendations, we believe finding appropriate alternative placements is in the best interest of the youth,” Palmer said. “Serving these children in licensed and/or accredited settings was an important goal set by the Governor and his task force, and we are moving quickly to ensure it is achieved.”

In its report, the task force noted that the mixed population of youth served at Toledo – delinquent girls, and boys and girls who are Children In Need of Assistance (CINA) – made it difficult to achieve licensure and/or accreditation of the facility and its services and programs. The task force recommended that the boys be moved from campus, and that DHS explore alternative placements for the girls.

The Department determined that other state facilities and community-based, private providers can suit the treatment needs for both CINA and delinquent girls. This will be done in settings which can receive matching federal funds to assist in providing services.

At full capacity, the Iowa Juvenile Home could serve 57 youth ages 12 to 18, by employing a staff of 114. Its $10.5 million SFY14 budget came almost entirely from the state general fund. Currently, there are 21 girls on the campus – 9 CINA and 11 delinquent, 1 evaluation – served by 93 employees.

With approval from the courts, many of the delinquent girls will likely be served in a high level of care at the state’s psychiatric medical institutes for children (PMIC). A handful of others will find treatment through community-based providers. Palmer noted that, for years, the majority of Iowa children adjudicated delinquent have been served by private providers who have demonstrated the capacity and ability to successfully offer treatment.

“We will work with our state facilities and community-based providers who can offer a variety of services and supports which would not be available on the Toledo campus if it were serving only a very small number of delinquent girls,” he said.

Joint treatment planning teams have been formed to evaluate the mental health and behavioral needs of each youth, and ensure the most appropriate placement for their individual needs. These teams can include social workers or juvenile court officers, private providers, contractors, parents and/or guardians ad litem.

Court approval must be obtained to move any child to a new level of care, and the majority of youth will be served in-state. An out-of-state placement could be appropriate in a small number of cases.

The Iowa Juvenile Home’s use of seclusion and restraint as emergency measures for children with severe aggressive, self-injurious, combative or destructive behavior has been under examination. New methods of de-escalating behavior through relationship building, behavior analysis and trauma-informed care resulted in a 93 percent reduction in the use of seclusion measures from October 2012 to October 2013.

“While the Iowa Juvenile Home staff worked to address the serious mental and behavioral health needs of these youth, we believe that these children will be served most successfully through court-approved alternative placements,” Palmer said.

Layoffs will be effective January 16, 2014. The state’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will be available to staff, and officials will work with them to pursue other job opportunities.

DHS social workers, juvenile court officers and licensing and accreditation agencies are responsible with ensuring that the youth continue to receive the services they need at their new placements.

“We will work with state facilities and community-based providers to ensure each youth is given the safe, quality care they deserve within licensed and/or accredited settings,” Palmer said.

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The Iowa Juvenile Home/Girls State Training School (IJH/GSTS), recognizing its role in the continuum of statewide delivery, will provide effective intervention for the most troubled youth in the state of Iowa. Staff acts as a positive change agent, providing therapeutic programming, to assist youth in successfully moving to a less structured environment. Building on the strength of families, in collaboration with the support of communities, staff strives to make a difference in the lives of the youth served.

By working in an environment which values teamwork, excellence and respect for one another, staff provide effective services for youth in an effort to successfully reintegrate them into community living.

Iowa Juvenile Home Protection Task Force:

Governor Branstad created the Iowa Juvenile Home Protection Task Force with Executive Order Number 82. The Task Force is comprised of five members appointed by the Governor which includes the Iowa Department of Human Services Director and four individuals with expertise in child advocacy, special education, behavioral issues and other relevant experience. The Task Force shall hold four public meetings in order to reach goals and objectives as identified in Executive Order 82.

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