Welfare Watch - June 1, 2010 - DJJ Board Meets

Commissioner Garland R. Hunt, the new Commissioner of DJJ, was not able to make his first official Board meeting.  Rob Rosenbloom, Deputy Commissioner represented the Commissioner in his absence.  Several important announcements were made at this board meeting. 

DJJ Reorganizes - Effective May 14th, DJJ reorganized around three divisions versus four formerly. 

• Division of Youth Services will include all of  the former CSI, Community Services and Intake, as well as the Office of Secure Campuses, responsible for the operation of the Youth Development Campuses. Also reassigned to this Division will be The Office of Classification and Transportation.  This division will have the responsibility of all 28 DJJ facilities and community operations. Rob Rosenbloom will lead this division.
• Offices of Behavioral Health, Education, and Health Services will report to Deputy Commissioner Amy Howell in the newly named Division of Programs and Support Services.  Programs and Support Services will maintain responsibility for legal services, investigations and training.
• Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services - Deputy Commissioner Jeff Minor will maintain supervision of his existing and renamed Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services.  This division will also assume responsibilities for the Office of Human Resources which will now include the Criminal Records Office.  This division continues to have responsibilities including Budget Services, Financial Services, Technology and Information Services, and related offices and programs.

Residential Placement down, strategy for community based services - The population in residential placements has reduced over the last months and a strategy to access more community mental health services has allowed DJJ to remain within its budget constraints.  A juvenile justice symposium is being planned and sponsored by the First Lady’s Children’s Cabinet.  It will focus on the best approach for low risk offenders and program approaches for juvenile offenders in their local communities. 

Steve Herndon Retires - DJJ announced the retirement of Steve Herndon, Deputy Commissioner and Director of the Division of Programs and Secure Campuses.  He was responsible, also, for the Offices of Education, Medical, Secure Campuses and Behavioral Health.  These responsibilities will be transferred to Amy Howell and the Division of Programs and Support Services. 

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Welfare Watch, an email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes
and Services for Children
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Normer Adams, Editor
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