Executive Office Division

General Information

The Executive Office includes the Executive Director, the Executive Assistant to the Director, and an Executive Administrative Assistant. The Executive Director leads the department and oversees daily operations. The D.Y.S. Executive Staff helps with planning and managing the organization. This staff includes the Executive Assistant to the Director, the Deputy Directors for Institutional, Community, and Administrative Divisions, the DYS School District Superintendent, the General Counsel, and the Director of Quality Assurance and Public Information.

The Executive Assistant to the Director also supervises several offices. These include the Office of Screening and Placement, the Office of Advocacy, and the Office of Training and Staff Development.

Together, the Executive Director and the Executive Staff form the D.Y.S. Executive Leadership Team.

Advocacy

D.Y.S. wants youth to have a clear and fair way to share concerns about their experience in D.Y.S. programs. To support this, D.Y.S. has an Advocacy Unit that listens to and responds to concerns and grievances from youth in DYS custody.
This process allows youth to report any action, incident, living condition, disagreement, or policy they believe is unfair or harmful.

The Advocacy Unit is made up of Advocates. They visit every D.Y.S. facility and every contract facility to receive, document, and follow up on both verbal and written complaints. The Advocates report to the D.Y.S. Chief Advocate, who leads the unit.

Youth can also use this process to recognize staff or program workers who have supported them in their rehabilitation.

Public Information

The Office of Public Information shares important agency information with people inside and outside the Department. This office also manages the Department’s publications, updates the website, answers requests for information, helps with community events, and writes press releases and other media content when needed.

Public Information Contact

Office of Quality Assurance

The Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) works to provide safe and effective rehabilitation and reentry services for youth in custody. The DYS Office of Quality Assurance makes sure the agency’s quality standards are followed. This office checks that programs are accountable, report data correctly, and operate openly. Its main goal is to ensure the agency meets its goals and that all programs give youth the support they need to achieve positive and meaningful outcomes.

Resources

Helps all divisions and facilities work more efficiently.

Information

Shares information between divisions to support the quality assurance process.

Data Management

Works with the data management team to make sure the information in DYS databases is correct and up to date.

Checks and Balances

Reviews operations, processes, policies, and procedures to strengthen checks and balances across the agency.

Identifies Needs

Finds training needs and best practices across different areas of the agency.

Identifies Issues

Looks for potential problems early and recommends changes to prevent bigger issues.

Improves Work

Suggests ways to improve the work environment and employee morale in order to reduce turnover.

Informs decisions

Provides accurate data analysis that helps leadership make informed decisions at all levels.

PERFORMANCE-based STANDARDS

Performance-based Standards (P.b.S) is a research-based system that helps juvenile justice programs improve their services. It uses data to measure how well agencies, facilities, and residential care providers meet high standards for safety and care. The Alabama Department of Youth Services works to meet these P.b.S standards and is committed to treating every young person in its custody with respect and care.