Delaware News

Two Additional Youth at Stevenson House Test Positive for COVID-19

Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families | Date Posted: Monday, November 23, 2020



WILMINGTON – Two additional youth residing at Stevenson House Detention Center have tested positive for coronavirus, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families announced Monday, bringing the total secure care youth cases to four.

The Department received the test results over the weekend and immediately initiated cleaning and notification protocol and coordinated the care for the youth in a specialized COVID-19 care unit, which is a separate unit with a dedicated nurse and dedicated staff as well. Youth are monitored for symptom progression on this unit. Additionally, the Department has purchased handheld games for youth to help them get through this challenging time.

Of the four youth who have tested positive, two youth are asymptomatic and two are experiencing mild symptoms. In order to protect personal health information, the Department cannot disclose additional information on the positive cases.

Stevenson House, a secure care Level V facility, has been cleaned with a disinfectant fogger and continues to be disinfected daily. As part of the facility’s monthly testing protocol, youth will be receiving COVID tests today and all youth are being monitored for symptoms. Additionally, all Stevenson House staff are wearing personal protective equipment as a precaution and we are attempting to limit youth interactions in large group settings to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

Additionally, youth at all secure care facilities are required to wear face coverings at this time as a COVID precaution and rehabilitative services are being transitioned virtually.

“Throughout this pandemic, the safety and wellbeing of our staff and youth has remained our primary concern. We have implemented procedural changes to protect staff and youth and make our decisions by following the guidance of public health officials. We will continue those efforts to protect our staff and youth,” said Josette Manning, cabinet secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF), which oversees the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services. “We are in a time of overwhelming stress, and I want to express how grateful I am for our dedicated staff. They have reported to work under extremely trying times and continue to strive every day to help youth rehabilitate and move forward with their lives.”

The Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services’ response to coronavirus has been multi-pronged. The Division has implemented COVID-19 protocol in accordance to the Division of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Measures include:

  • Training on proper cleaning techniques and screening protocols
  • Providing personal protective gear to facility and community-based staff
  • Daily temperature checks for youth and staff
  • Staff and youth must wear face coverings
  • Youth are quarantined for 14 days upon entry to a secure care facility and monitored for symptoms
  • Special COVID-19 care units have been established in order to care for positive youth
  • COVID-19 testing is available to all youth monthly and all staff every two weeks
  • YRS has also purchased two disinfectant foggers to rotate between facilities for cleaning

Please visit our website kids.delaware.gov for information and a chart of secure care facility COVID-19 youth and staff cases. You can find the direct link here. It will be updated if needed based on Monday’s testing.

 The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance use problems, and/or have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Jen Rini, jen.rini@delaware.gov

 

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.

Two Additional Youth at Stevenson House Test Positive for COVID-19

Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families | Date Posted: Monday, November 23, 2020



WILMINGTON – Two additional youth residing at Stevenson House Detention Center have tested positive for coronavirus, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families announced Monday, bringing the total secure care youth cases to four.

The Department received the test results over the weekend and immediately initiated cleaning and notification protocol and coordinated the care for the youth in a specialized COVID-19 care unit, which is a separate unit with a dedicated nurse and dedicated staff as well. Youth are monitored for symptom progression on this unit. Additionally, the Department has purchased handheld games for youth to help them get through this challenging time.

Of the four youth who have tested positive, two youth are asymptomatic and two are experiencing mild symptoms. In order to protect personal health information, the Department cannot disclose additional information on the positive cases.

Stevenson House, a secure care Level V facility, has been cleaned with a disinfectant fogger and continues to be disinfected daily. As part of the facility’s monthly testing protocol, youth will be receiving COVID tests today and all youth are being monitored for symptoms. Additionally, all Stevenson House staff are wearing personal protective equipment as a precaution and we are attempting to limit youth interactions in large group settings to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

Additionally, youth at all secure care facilities are required to wear face coverings at this time as a COVID precaution and rehabilitative services are being transitioned virtually.

“Throughout this pandemic, the safety and wellbeing of our staff and youth has remained our primary concern. We have implemented procedural changes to protect staff and youth and make our decisions by following the guidance of public health officials. We will continue those efforts to protect our staff and youth,” said Josette Manning, cabinet secretary of the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF), which oversees the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services. “We are in a time of overwhelming stress, and I want to express how grateful I am for our dedicated staff. They have reported to work under extremely trying times and continue to strive every day to help youth rehabilitate and move forward with their lives.”

The Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services’ response to coronavirus has been multi-pronged. The Division has implemented COVID-19 protocol in accordance to the Division of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Measures include:

  • Training on proper cleaning techniques and screening protocols
  • Providing personal protective gear to facility and community-based staff
  • Daily temperature checks for youth and staff
  • Staff and youth must wear face coverings
  • Youth are quarantined for 14 days upon entry to a secure care facility and monitored for symptoms
  • Special COVID-19 care units have been established in order to care for positive youth
  • COVID-19 testing is available to all youth monthly and all staff every two weeks
  • YRS has also purchased two disinfectant foggers to rotate between facilities for cleaning

Please visit our website kids.delaware.gov for information and a chart of secure care facility COVID-19 youth and staff cases. You can find the direct link here. It will be updated if needed based on Monday’s testing.

 The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance use problems, and/or have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.

Media Contact: Jen Rini, jen.rini@delaware.gov

 

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.