The Office of Residential Services, headed by Mat Fonseca, oversees the following departments:

• Detention Programs (Acting Executive Director - Derrick Goins Witherspoon )
• Treatment Services​ (Executive Director - ​Robin Brady-Slifer)
• Somatic Health Services (Medical Director - Dr. Jennifer Maehr)​
  
• Behavioral Health Services​​​ (Executive Director - vacant)
• Residential Services Inno​vation Teams (Executive Director, Systems Transformation - Nel Andrews)

Mat Fonseca
​Acting Deputy Secretary of Residential Services

Mat Fonseca, Acting Deputy Secretary for Residential Services, began his career in 1995 as a Youth Counselor at the Victor Cullen Academy. In 1999, he joined the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) as a Case Management Specialist in Howard County, Maryland. Over his 26-year career with DJS, he has held various roles in both community and residential programming.

In Residential Services, he served as a Group Life Manager and Assistant Superintendent at the Victor Cullen Center during its reopening in 2006 and later as the Executive Director of Detention and Committed Programs. In the community, he worked directly with youth and families as a Case Management Specialist, Case Management Specialist Supervisor, Regional Director, and Executive Director of Community Services.​​​

Most recently, as the Chief of Design and Facility Management, he developed a deep appreciation for the importance of communication and collaboration between all departmental units. This experience reinforced his commitment to fostering a safe, supported, and caring system for youth, families, and frontline staff.

Mat holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Frostburg State University.​​​

Derrick Goins Witherspoon
Acting Executive ​Director of Detention Programs

The Acting 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 and transportation services.

Derrick Goins Witherspoon is the Acting Executive Director of Residential Services - Detention. He started his career at Victor Cullen Academy in 1996 as a youth counselor. During his 29 years of service, he has worked as a trainer, facility administrator, and regional superintendent. Derrick has worked in the states of Maryland, Virginia, Texas, Iowa, Florida, and Tennessee, to name a few. Derrick is committed to working with staff and youth to empower them to feel supported, valued, and respected. Derrick holds an M.Ed. from Goucher College and a Master of Science from the University of Baltimore.

Robin Brady-Slifer​
Executive Director, Treatment 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, Somatic Health ​​Services​

Dr. Maehr has been the Medical Director for the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) since 2006. As the Medical Director, she oversees all medical and dietary services for youth in DJS facilities. Dr. Maehr holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science from the University of California, Davis, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of California, San Diego. She completed a pediatric residency at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, and an adolescent medicine fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is board certified in pediatrics and adolescent medicine, has several publications in medical journals and textbooks, and has been a speaker at conferences and webinars for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, among other organizations. Prior to DJS, Dr. Maehr was the medical director for the Prince George’s County school-based wellness centers and an adolescent medicine physician at the University of Maryland and Children’s National Medical Centers. Dr. Maehr serves as the DJS representative on the Maryland Overdose Response Advisory Council and the Montgomery County and State Child Fatality Review Teams. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and previously served on the Maryland Assembly on School-Based Health Care Board and the Montgomery County School Health Council.

Executive Director for Behavioral Health Services (vacant)​

The Executive Director for Behavioral Health and Dietary Services'​ 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.