Community Services Division
General Information
The Community Services Division at D.Y.S. develops and supports community-based services. It does this by monitoring private provider contracts and by licensing all juvenile facilities, including detention centers, group homes, and other residential programs. This division is also responsible for PREA certification and compliance for community residential programs. It oversees federal program monitoring, takes part in Multi-Needs Facilitation teams, and monitors diversion programs that are residential, educational, or community based. The Community Services Division works with the D.Y.S. Institutional Services Division to help meet the placement needs of all D.Y.S. youth.
D.Y.S. GRANT FUNDING
” Helping Our Youth Stay in the Community “
Residential Contract Services and Community Based Diversion Programs
Residential Contract Providers
Detention Centers
D.Y.S. provides annual licensure for detention centers. Each county also receives a subsidy through a line item in the D.Y.S. General Fund budget. Funding is allocated using a formula created by the Legislature in 2015, as outlined in Act 2015 540.
Federal Programs
The Federal Programs staff provides oversight, training, and technical help to contract providers who use the Alabama Medicaid Rehabilitative Services option through D.Y.S. The Medicaid Federal Programs Reviewers, called F.P.R’s, also help the Federal Programs Division monitor Medicaid eligible providers. The F.P.R’s are contracted through Troy University and are supervised by the Director of Federal Programs. The Federal Programs staff and the F.P.R’s work with D.Y.S. approved Medicaid providers to help eligible youth receive needed medical and rehabilitative services.
F.P.R’s review the records of youth served in specific community programs to check for compliance with Chapter 105. They review documents such as intake forms, treatment plans, and other service records. F.P.R’s report their findings to D.Y.S. staff. They are also expected to share any concerns about service delivery, record compliance, and the overall quality of care for the youth.
Licensing & Standards General Information
D.Y.S. serves as the licensing agency for residential programs that work with youth involved in the justice system. When approving facilities for licensure, D.Y.S. follows the standards of the American Correctional Association (ACA). There are 62 licensed programs in the state, and each one follows ACA standards when creating policies and procedures. The monitored program categories include contract providers, detention facilities, short term detention centers, residential facilities, day treatment programs, and outdoor adventure programs.
Each year, D.Y.S. conducts a licensing audit to check compliance with the ACA standards listed in the official ACA publication and its updates. Programs seeking licensure must buy the correct ACA publication from the ACA website so they can prepare for the audit.
Christopher Narcisse
Deputy Director of Community Services
1-(334) 215-3822
PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA)
All licensed detention centers in Alabama are now PREA certified. Our residential facilities and all licensed training schools have also passed their PREA audits. We are pleased to report that PREA compliance is maintained and supported across the entire state.
