Health & Wellness

Somatic health services

Youth in DJS detention or treatment programs receive comprehensive, integrated, quality health care and nutritional services from the DJS Somatic Health Services Unit.

Each facility has 24/7 access to health care services on-site or off-site to meet the health care needs of the youth, including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Optometry
• Laboratory
• Pharmacy
• Dietetic services 

Screenings

When youth are admitted to a facility, they receive:

• A current nursing assessment
• History and physical examination
• Vision screening
• Dental screening
• Testing or screening for anemia and infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, COVID-19, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV

Immunization records are requested for all youth, and DJS makes every effort to fully immunize youth who are not up to date on recommended and required vaccinations. DJS participates in the Federal Vaccines for Children Program.

COVID-19  and vaccine info

DJS continues to track Covid-19 cases and recovery of juveniles, staff, and contractors in the facilities. Here are the latest tracking and management reports:

• COVID-19 Cases To Date - PDF - 335.23 KB
• DJS Quarantine Tracking - Recent School Status - PDF - 165.38 KB
• Contract Providers Stats - PDF - 253.25 KB

COVID-19 resources

• Maryland COVID-19 Vaccination Site Locator (interactive map)
• ​COVID-19 - Maryland’s hub for information about COVID-19
• State of Maryland COVID-19 FAQs

Visit the COVID-19 Daily Reports page to view previous reports. ​​For more informati​on related to COVID-19 testing and vaccines, please visit the Maryland Department of Health's COVID-19 page.​

Continuum of care

Youth receive developmentally appropriate care, preventative care, as well as care for previously unmet health care needs and for acute and chronic health care conditions identified upon admission or during their stay. Five facilities offer separate infirmary care for youth with higher acuity health needs. 

Obstetrical, gynecological, and other reproductive health care is provided either on-site or in the community in order to meet individual needs.

For emergency room, in-patient, surgical, or other specialty care, youth are transported to community providers as needed.

Standards of care 

Health services at DJS detention and treatment facilities meet the standards of the:

• National Commission on Correctional Health Care
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• Centers for Disease Control
• Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences

The care and services delivered are continually monitored by the Somatic Health Services Unit in order to ensure compliance and optimal quality of care.

Behavioral health services

DJS has a staff of licensed and certified staff counselors and contractors in the Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Unit. We provide assessments and necessary services in detention, including:

• Integrated mental health and substance use disorder screening
• Assessments
• Short-term crisis services in DJS detention facilities  

For youth who are pending placement in detention, BHS provides individual and family therapy in order to prepare youth to transition to a treatment program. This allows youth the opportunity to begin working on treatment goals and begin learning dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills.

Within seven days of admission the youth is assessed by a qualified behavioral health professional for urgent behavioral health concerns. The screening consists of an interview, the administration of tests as appropriate, and the review of any prior assessments or records (such as, psychosocial or clinical assessments). 

If the initial behavioral health screen reveals mental health concerns, more in-depth evaluations or additional services are recommended. These evaluations, conducted by psychiatrists, social workers or licensed psychologists, examine the emotional, adaptive, and cognitive functioning of detained youth.

Additionally, counselors and other behavioral health staff screen and assess youth in detention and determine appropriate levels of substance use treatment. This information assists case managers in linking youth with appropriate community and residential services.  Behavioral health staff work closely with the Department’s medical director for those youth requiring medication management as a result of their drug addiction.

Recreational services

Structured recreation programs are available to all youth in detention and treatment programs. The recreation program provides a variety of activities promoting physical health and wellness. DJS programming exceeds the minimum one hour per day required by policy.

Changing Habits and Making Progressive Strides (C.H.A.M.P.S.) is an incentive-based program that provides youth opportunities to compete with other facilities through recreation, arts, athletic, and academic events.