The Office of Residential Services, headed by Adina Levi, oversees the following departments:
- Detention Programs (Executive Director - Rainier Harvey)
- Office of Residential Services (Acting Executive Director - Lisa Steeple)
- Office of Residential Services (Executive Director, Treatment Services - Robin Brady-Slifer)
- Office of Medical and Dietary Services (Medical Director - Dr. Jennifer Maehr)
- Office of Behavioral Health and Dietary Services (Executive Director - Patti Cleaver)
- Residential Services Innovation Teams (Executive Director, Systems Transformation - Nel Andrews)
- Residential Services Innovation Teams (Special Advisor - Joel Castón)
Adina Levi
Deputy Secretary of Residential Services
Adina Levi is the Deputy Secretary of Residential Services. Adina has a Bachelor of Sociology Degree with a minor in Urban Policy studies and a Master of Community Counseling Degree from Roosevelt University. She has served in executive positions in both the public and private sectors. Adina previously worked at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), serving as the Chief Program Manager for Community Programs before being promoted to Deputy Director of Secure Programs. She also served as Executive Director at Recovery Centers of America, overseeing the operations of the 140-bed residential and outpatient substance use treatment facility in the state of Maryland.
Rainier Harvey
Executive Director of Detention Programs
The Executive Director of Detention Programs with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) oversees the programming, safety, and security for the Department of Juvenile Services' detention facilities, along with the Foster Grandparents Program and CHAMPS.
Lisa Steeple
Acting Executive Director, Office of Residential Services
This unit oversees the programming, safety and security, education, and transportation for the Department of Juvenile Services' commitment facilities.
Robin Brady-Slifer
Executive Director, Treatment Services, Office of Residential Services
Robin Brady-Slifer is the Executive Director, Treatment Services, for the Office of Residential Services. Robin has a bachelor’s degree in business management. Previously, Robin held the position of the Inspector General for DJS, starting in 2017. She managed the Investigation Unit, Licensing & Monitoring, Youth Advocates, Quality Assurance, Internal Audits, and PREA, which created awareness of how the facilities operate.
Robin began her career with DJS in 2001 as an investigator and then advanced to the Director of Investigations, which included background investigations and gang investigations. Prior to coming to DJS, Robin was a law enforcement officer with the Brunswick City Police Department. Robin started off in patrol, worked with the community, and became a part of the DARE Program. This is where she became aware that she wanted to work with youth.
Robin fosters a positive work environment and heartily promotes the professional development of staff. Fiscal responsibility for the functionality of the region as well as policy development and compliance, crisis management, advocating for the needs of juveniles while in the care of DJS and after their release, representing the organization at community events, and promoting compliance of juvenile treatment issues are key functions vital to Robin’s position.
Dr. Jennifer Maehr
Medical Director, Office of Medical and Dietary Services
The Medical Director oversees the provision of medical and dietary services to youth in DJS facilities throughout the State of Maryland.
Patti Cleaver
Executive Director for Behavioral Health and Dietary Services
Patti Cleaver is the Executive Director for Behavioral Health and Dietary Services. This unit administers the behavioral health service program in all DJS facilities. These services include: mental health, behavioral health counseling, mental health treatment, and substance abuse treatment. In addition, this unit oversees implementation and fidelity of DJS Evidence-Based Treatment Services through individualized treatment and service plans that are developed for each youth.
Nel Andrews
Executive Director, Systems Transformation, Residential Services Innovation Teams
Nel Andrews, Executive Director, Systems Transformation, for the Residential Services Innovation Teams, has centered her 23-year career around a commitment to racial justice and advancing equity and inclusion in systems and organizations. Prior to joining DJS, she worked as an independent consultant and coach where she leveraged her experiences in non-profit leadership and large-scale public system reform efforts. Her work includes having led a team to design and create a specialized unit for young adults for the NYC Department of Corrections. Nel also worked at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, participating in long-term systems change engagements at the state and local level in various places across the country. Nel earned a Master of Science in Justice, Law, & Society from American University, a Bachelor of Arts in History from Guilford College, and her coaching certification from Coach Diversity, an approved International Coaching Federation trainer in Washington, DC.
Joel Castón
Special Advisor, Residential Services Innovation Teams
Joel Castón is the Special Advisor of the Residential Services Innovation Teams. Joel brings a powerful perspective shaped by over 27 years of lived experience within the criminal justice system. As the first incarcerated person ever elected to public office in Washington, DC, he is committed to creating positive change.
Drawing on wisdom gained on both sides of the bars, Joel has collaborated closely with advocacy groups, policymakers, and government agencies to reform the culture of mass incarceration. He co-founded, helped design and ran the acclaimed Young Men Emerging (YME) unit at the DC Jail, a specialized treatment unit serving young adults 18-25 years of age and he also was on a team that designed and created a specialized unit for young adults for the NYC Department of Corrections.
Since his release in 2021, Castón has continued making an impact through roles as Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, Re-Entry Program Director, Co-Chair of DC’s Redistricting Task Force, and providing financial literacy programming for youth through his Currency Catchers curriculum. While incarcerated Joel studied Government and Law with Georgetown University, and has also completed certificates in business and investing, including becoming a certified health and life insurance agent.
