Delaware

2022 LGBTQ Individual Participant: Blake Denney

Contact:

Blake Denney, Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Impact Life

Capstone Description:

The issue that my capstone project seeks to address is a successful aftercare program for those in the LGBTQ+ community after being released from treatment. Whether that be a drug/alcohol impatient stay or a juvenile secure care facility for those deemed as serious and/or chronic repeat offenders posing a risk to themselves or others. 

Capstone Update (March 2023):

My progress on my action steps, to date, currently are monthly youth LGBTQ+ groups being ran. Some barriers that I have had are getting some constant contacts with individuals attending group. Success I have had is good feedback from those that have attended and positive feedback from handing out my flyers in high schools while in there working in my harm reduction roll for Impact Life. In the next 6 months my goal is to have a building where I can have constant participation and connections with individuals. I believe I will be archiving my goal as Impact Life will be receiving a grant for a clubhouse come January 1st, 2023.

2016 SJP Delaware Team

Contacts:

Heather Alford, Administrator of Office of Evidence-Based Practice, Division of Family Services, DSCYF

Barbara Crowell, Judge, State of Delaware Family Court *Note: Judge Crowell retired in June 2019 and is no longer involved in the team's Capstone Project.

Eliza Hirst, Deputy Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate

Rachael Neff, Court Improvement Coordinator, Family Court

Kirsten Olson, Chief Strategy Officer, Children & Families First

Trenee Parker, Deputy Director, DSCYF/DFS

Megan Pell, Instructional Coach, University of Delaware

Capstone Description:

To reduce out-of-school discipline in target schools within the Brandywine School District and improve educational outcomes for systems involved youth through training, developing MOU for data sharing, and connecting at-risk youth to school staff.

Capstone Update (2019):

Brandywine School District now embeds trauma-informed trainings with all their staff routinely and continues to evaluate staff regarding their use of trauma-informed approaches and knowledge. The evaluations are institutionalized through their district-wide multi-tiered systems of support and PBS efforts. The team has also been working closely with four schools to become trauma responsive. Since inception of the Capstone Project, the team has launched the Delaware Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative, organizing trainings for educators and professionals in child-serving fields, and helped organize a Compassionate School summer symposium to provide TA and support to schools that have begun to create a Compassionate School Framework. In addition, some members of the Capstone team also facilitated the creation of a Comprehensive Student Report, which tracks students' education outcomes as well as early warning signs for drop out. This report will be provided to the court during dependency/neglect proceedings. In conjunction with the team's work on trauma-informed environment, the Delaware Governor signed Executive Order #24 in 2018, which encourages state agencies to become trauma-informed and to support youth and families who have experienced trauma. Through grant support of Casey Family Programs and the implementation of Compassionate Schools Project, the team has found preliminary success. More specifically, youth in foster care has experienced a significant decrease in their average out-of-school suspensions. In 2014, students in foster care experience on average 3.3 out-of-school suspensions, compared to 2.19 for non-foster students. In 2016, the average out-of-school suspension rate per foster student dropped to 2.44, compared to 2.15 for non-foster students.

2013 YIC Delaware Team (State-wide)

Contacts:

Tanya Banks, Acting Assistant Superintendent - State of Delaware, Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services

Susan Burns, Region Manager - Delaware Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services

Nancy Dietz, Director of Youth Rehabilitative Services - State of Delaware

Alison McGonigal, Deputy Director - State of Delaware

Raheem Perkins, Superintendent - State of Delaware, Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Families

Rebecca Richmond, Licensed Psychologist - State of Delaware, Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Families

Thomas Spell, Acting Superintendent - State of Delaware

Capstone Description:

Develop integrated case management for youth transferring from residential treatment to community.