Inside OYA. Meeting is a first for treatment managers. Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect

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Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect Meeting is a first for treatment managers Inside OYA With so much going on in the world of facilities, we

McClellan and facility Chief of Operations Erin Fultz shared with TMs the draft Why statement recently developed by superintendents and camp directors.

1 Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect Meeting is a first for treatment managers Inside OYA With so much going on in the world of facilities, we figured now was a good time to bring the treatment managers together in one place to exchange ideas and increase the level of communication and collaboration between all of us, said McClellan. McClellan and facility Chief of Operations Erin Fultz shared with TMs the draft Why statement recently developed by superintendents and camp directors. The statement seeks to capture the essence of why people work in facilities: We believe we can equip and empower ANY youth to improve his or her life. Roles and challenges of treatment managers By CJ Drake, OYA Communications September 30, 2014 Treatment managers from across the state recently gathered as a group for the first time to discuss their role as leaders and to help prioritize critical issues facing facilities. McClellan reviewed a long list of initiatives and projects currently underway or planned for facilities, including: Ongoing Quarterly Conversations and planning for Positive Human Development (PHD) training Continued compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act Creating a master plan for high school and vocational education Implementing a comprehensive behavior management strategy Developing leadership skills for treatment managers TMs are key players in the operation of any OYA facility. They work directly with youth and supervise their treatment programs, which are essential to helping them lead productive, crime-free lives after they depart OYA. TMs also are responsible for managing day-to-day living unit operations and creating a supportive work environment for their staff. Assistant Director for Facilities Clint McClellan wanted all TMs to meet in one place for an in-person discussion on the facility strategic plan and to get feedback on their roles and challenges. Superintendents and camp directors also attended the meeting. Seven TMs were recognized with certificates for outstanding service. The meeting was held Sept. 25 in Salem. Operations Policy Analyst Nick Sotelo (center) leads a priority-setting exercise as Riverbend s Gary Lillard (left) and Hillcrest s Marcus Bigelow (right) offer suggestions. 1

McClellan and Fultz also discussed the importance of making PHD a daily practice when dealing with youth.

PHD doesn t apply only to high tag youth or when someone is in a positive place, said Fultz. It really makes the most difference with youth who are struggling.

It was nice to see and connect with my peers as a group, which hasn t ever been done before to my knowledge. It was good for us to have direct access to people like Clint and Erin.

2 McClellan and Fultz also discussed the importance of making PHD a daily practice when dealing with youth. Along with the superintendents, they shared examples that illustrated the levels of the PHD pyramid, including lessons learned from recent youth disturbances at Hillcrest, MacLaren and Eastern Oregon. PHD doesn t apply only to high tag youth or when someone is in a positive place, said Fultz. It really makes the most difference with youth who are struggling. The meeting ended after TMs presented the results of a prioritysetting exercise, which they conducted in small groups. Hillcrest TM Marcus Bigelow said of the meeting: I thought it was beneficial. It was nice to see and connect with my peers as a group, which hasn t ever been done before to my knowledge. It was good for us to have direct access to people like Clint and Erin. Treatment managers are the main connection between Central Office facility leadership and our largest group of employees, so I hope it was helpful to hear straight from us. I thought the afternoon session of identifying and prioritizing issues was a great idea, and I hope our recommendations are seriously considered. Added McClellan: Some people say that PHD is not compatible with safety, but the fact is that it s all about safety. Angelina Hinojos, a treatment manager from Hillcrest, said that PHD was contributing to a better environment for youth. PHD is making a difference, she said. The kids are feeling a difference in their lives. I m already feeling a difference. The Positive Human Development pyramid At the Sept. 25 retreat, seven treatment managers received certificates honoring exemplary service. From left to right: Jim Sapper, North Coast; Delvena Torrez, Hillcrest; Wyatt Mann, Oak Creek; Scott Barnett, Tillamook YCF; Mike Rau, MacLaren; and Keith Rigaud, Camp Tillamook. Not pictured is Dan Howard, Tillamook YCF. One concern raised at the meeting was balancing requests for information from Central Office and elsewhere in the agency with time spent managing youth. We spend a lot of time generating data, but we need to make sure the data serves us, not us serving the data, said one TM. Hillcrest Treatment Manager Delvena Torrez (center) leads a priority-setting exercise for her group. 2

1 Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Inside OYA Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect Rogue Valley honored with Director s Award Superintendent Ken Jerin (center) accepts the

Director s Outstanding Service Award at a celebration at the facility Sept. 30. significant impact on staff and youth.

3 1 Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Inside OYA Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect Rogue Valley honored with Director s Award Superintendent Ken Jerin (center) accepts the Director s Award from Director Fariborz Pakseresht (left) and Assistant Director for Facilities Clint McClellan By CJ Drake, OYA Communications October 3, 2014 Rogue Valley YCF formally received the Director s Outstanding Service Award at a celebration at the facility Sept. 30. significant impact on staff and youth. Staff displayed outstanding teamwork in responding to the immediate problem and provided on-going support for colleagues and youth affected by the event. After the incident, staff developed unique and creative incentives for non-violence, leading to a safer and more secure facility. Pakseresht praised Rogue Valley employees for their resilience in the face of adversity and their efforts and commitment to develop a positive culture for themselves and the youth they serve. The celebration also honored individual facility staff for their exemplary service and contributions. The Safety Committee Parking Spot was awarded to Bob Page for his continued commitment to safety awareness. Jerin singled out staff Tristan White, Cathy Byrne, Gale Barlow and Jaime Garibay for helping make the Sept. 30 celebration a success for staff, youth and guests. The four recipients of this year s Director s Award were announced August 14 and two staff from Rogue Valley traveled to Salem to take home the plaque on behalf of their facility. However, Director Fariborz Pakseresht and Assistant Director for Facilities Clint McClellan scheduled a special visit to Grants Pass to formally present the honor to Superintendent Ken Jerin and his staff. On behalf of all of our dedicated professionals here, I want to thank you for recognizing the quality of our facility, said Jerin. All of us are honored to serve the at-risk youth who are committed to Rogue Valley. Our job is to make sure that after each youth leaves here, he can live as a productive, crime-free citizen in his own community. All of us work hard toward that goal. Rogue Valley experienced a serious group disturbance in October The incident caused major damage to a facility living unit and had a Director s Coin Award was presented to QMHP Steve Mounce, Ph.D. (left) for his creative approach to engaging youth in positive activities and treatment. Photo gallery on page 2.

4 2 Honoring other Rogue Valley staff Certificates of excellence were presented to (above, right to left, top to bottom) Cherri Herrman, Rob Geiser, Anthony Fierro, Vince Lackey, Frazier Fes Lellis and Jeff Jarvis for their contributions to facility safety.

Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Inside OYA Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect Doctors inspired to volunteer at Hillcrest clinic things up, said Dr.

5 Oregon Youth Authority Communications Office Inside OYA Integrity Professionalism Accountability Respect Doctors inspired to volunteer at Hillcrest clinic things up, said Dr. Hale during a break in treatments at the clinic, where six youth were waiting to have tattoos removed. I think it s very much a physician s duty to take care of those who aren t in a position to take care of themselves, said Dr. Harold Hal Boyd, a retired orthopedic surgeon who also volunteers to help the homeless. I like the idea of giving young people a second chance. Left to right: Laser technician Steve Harris, Dr. Harold Hal Boyd, Dr. Michael Wicks, Dr. Carolyn Hale and Dr. J. Mark Roberts. By CJ Drake, OYA Communications October 28, 2014 Inspired by recent media coverage, six new medical professionals have volunteered to help remove tattoos from at-risk youth at the Hillcrest YCF clinic. Three of the professionals all retired medical doctors from Marion County were at Hillcrest Friday for training to remove tattoos with a laser. The doctors say they volunteered after recently reading a profile of Dr. Carolyn Hale in "For Your Health," a health care magazine published by the Salem Statesman Journal. Dr. Hale is a dermatologist in Keizer who started the tattooremoval clinic at Hillcrest with a former medical colleague. Youth from various OYA facilities who want tattoos removed visit the Hillcrest clinic. Dr. Hale uses a medical laser she donated to the clinic to remove the tattoos. Until now, she was the only one qualified to use it, which limited the clinic s operation to one Friday a month. We currently have a backlog and if we could do this once a week or even every other week instead of once a month that will really speed After reading the profile of Dr. Hale, removing tattoos from atrisk youth just struck me as an underserved area and I felt moved to volunteer, said Dr. Michael Wicks, a retired family physician from Silverton. It will help kids in a unique way to get a fresh start. I d like to see them have a chance to start over. As they waited in the hall outside the treatment room, several youth said they wanted their tattoos removed so they could get a fresh start in life. One youth wanted to join the military after OYA, but was told to get his tattoos removed first. Another youth, whose left arm was tattooed by his uncle and his right arm by a tattoo artist, was about to be paroled from OYA and thought that the markings would hinder him from finding a job. Almost all youth interviewed at the Oct. 24 clinic said they were under the influence of drugs, alcohol, peer pressure or all three when they were tattooed. Steve Harris, a registered nurse and nationally recognized expert on medical lasers, traveled from Alabama to Salem last week to instruct the new volunteers on how to remove tattoos. Since nobody needs a license or even professional training to ink a tattoo, there is no consistency to the expertise and materials used in their application, and that complicates their removal. Harris spent several hours explaining the laser s operation to the three doctors before they went to the clinic to see their first patient. Only licensed medical professionals are allowed to use the laser, which gradually breaks down the tattoo ink in the skin. 1

Griselda Solano Salinas with the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR) coordinates the tattoo-removal clinic at Hillcrest. She was aided Friday by Rolando Ramirez, also with OIIR.

After each treatment, the skin subjected to the laser is bandaged by volunteer nurse Jan Verser. Most youth say they feel a mild stinging during and immediately after the treatment.

She truly is dedicated to helping our youth get a second chance. OYA thanks our new volunteers (in alphabetical order): Harold Hal Boyd, M.D. Sandra Cradit, R.N.

6 Griselda Solano Salinas with the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations (OIIR) coordinates the tattoo-removal clinic at Hillcrest. She was aided Friday by Rolando Ramirez, also with OIIR. Almost all youth who seek tattoo removal must undergo several laser treatments before the ink starts to fade, and keeping track of them and their documentation is the responsibility of Salinas. After each treatment, the skin subjected to the laser is bandaged by volunteer nurse Jan Verser. Most youth say they feel a mild stinging during and immediately after the treatment. I want to acknowledge Griselda s relational leadership skills as the glue that brought all the people and elements together, said Maria Chavez-Haroldson, OIIR director. She truly is dedicated to helping our youth get a second chance. OYA thanks our new volunteers (in alphabetical order): Harold Hal Boyd, M.D. Sandra Cradit, R.N. Curt Hawkinson, physician assistantcertified J. Mark Roberts, M.D. Malcolm Snider, M.D. Michael Wicks, M.D. Dr. Carolyn Hale (left) discusses laser techniques with Steve Harris, who traveled to Oregon from Alabama to instruct the new volunteer doctors on how to remove tattoos. Harris is a national expert on medical lasers. Griselda Solano Salinas (center) with the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations discusses tattoo removal with Dr. J. Mark Roberts (right) and technician Steve Harris. Nurse Jan Verser bandages the finger of a youth who underwent his second treatment Oct. 24 to remove several small tattoos from his hands. Four more treatments will be needed to remove the tattoos. 2

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