Executive Office
General Information
The Executive Office is comprised of the Executive Director, the Executive Assistant to the Director, and an Executive Administrative Assistant. The Executive Director provides leadership for the department’s goals and initiatives and is directly responsible for the administrative supervision of daily operations. Strategic planning and organizational management is accomplished through the DYS Executive Staff. The Executive Staff includes the Executive Assistant to the Director, the Deputy Directors of Institutional, Community, and Administrative Divisions, the DYS School District Superintendent, the General Counsel, and the Director of Quality Assurance and Public Information. In addition, the Executive Assistant to the Director is responsible for overseeing specific offices which include the Office of Screening and Placement, Advocacy, and Training and Staff Development. Together with the Director, the Executive Staff compose the DYS Executive Leadership Team.
Advocacy
Committed to ensuring an open and transparent process for youth to express concerns regarding their participation in Alabama Department of Youth Service’s (DYS) programs, DYS maintains an Advocacy unit to respond to concerns and grievances from youth in DYS custody. This problem solving process provides an opportunity for youth to grieve any action, incident, living condition, dispute, or application of any departmental policy or practice which they believe to be unjust, detrimental, or a violation of their rights. The Advocacy unit consists of Advocates who are responsible for visiting each DYS and DYS contract facility to respond to, report, and follow up on verbal and written complaints/grievances. Advocates report to the DYS Chief Advocate who oversees the Advocacy unit. Youth may also use the advocacy process to recognize staff or program personnel who they feel have been helpful to them in their rehabilitation efforts.
Public Information
The Office of Public Information is responsible for communicating information on important issues related to the agency to both internal and external stakeholders. The Office of Public Information is also responsible for overseeing Department publications, managing the Department’s website content, responding to external information requests, coordinating and participating in community events, and writing press releases and other media content when needed.
Office of Quality Assurance
The Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) believes in delivering effective and safe rehabilitation and reentry services for youth in custody. The DYS Office of Quality Assurance is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the agency’s quality control measures to increase accountability, accurate data reporting, and transparency. The overall goal for the office is to ensure agency goals are met and that all programs consistently provide effective services that help our youth achieve meaningful outcomes.
Information
Works collaboratively with the data management team to verify the accuracy and quality of the information contained in the various DYS databases;
Checks and Balances
Provides an objective view of operations, processes, policies, and procedures for increased checks and balances agency-wide;
Identifies potential issues before significant systemic problems occur and determines the level of changes needed to correct the deficiencies;
Improves Work
Informs decisions
Performance-based Standards (PbS) is a data-driven improvement model grounded in research that holds juvenile justice agencies, facilities, and residential care providers to the highest standards for operations, programs, and services. The Alabama Department of Youth Services strives to meet the PbS standards and commitment to treating all youths in custody as one of our own.
Newsletters
The PbS Data-Driven Improvement Model Provides:
Goals & Standards
PracticeS & Policies
A blueprint of best practices and policies to implement to meet the standards.
Information architecture
Improvement Planning
Improvement plans guiding the steps necessary to use the outcomes and information to create successful and sustainable reforms.
Networking
A national network of professionals sharing information, tools, and approaches to provide the highest quality of life and services.
PbS INTEGRATION
DYS Executive Staff
Steven Lafreniere
Executive Director
Dr. Shannon Weston
Executive Assistant to the Director/ Director of Quality Assurance / Public Information Officer
1-(334) 215-3804
Dudley Perry
General Counsel
Christopher Narcisse
Deputy Director of Community Services
1-(334) 215-3822