Goshen Secure Center is located approximately 50 miles northwest of New York City in Orange County, New York.
Youth are in living units on four wings off a centralized building that also contains academic classrooms, vocational shops, health services, dining room and kitchen, chapel, commissary, gym and indoor recreational area. Football, soccer and baseball fields, as well as a basketball and handball court, are also on the campus.
The youth served at Goshen are male, juvenile offenders who while under the age of 16 committed certain violent felonies and were convicted and sentenced in adult criminal court. Depending upon the sentence, youth may remain in OCFS custody until the age of 21.
Juvenile delinquents under the jurisdiction of the Family Court may also be placed at Goshen if they have been reassigned or "fennered" from a limited secure facility for violent behavior. Juvenile delinquents may remain in OCFS custody up to the age of 18 depending on their placement order. This facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association.
Counseling: Youth counselors, mentors and clinicians conduct weekly, individual counseling sessions with each youth. Group counseling is daily. Support teams meet monthly to develop plans and review each youth's progress, focusing treatment on identified areas of need. Individualized counseling addresses all interpersonal relationships, independent living, pro social skills, nonviolent alternatives, issues related to trauma, victim awareness and substance abuse issues. Counseling programs available to all youth include the following: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - A therapy designed to help people suffering from mood disorders as well as those who need to change patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse.[1] This approach works towards helping people increase their emotional and cognitive regulation through 4 main strategies (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal effectiveness, and Emotion Regulation). DBT assumes that people are doing their best but lack the skills needed to succeed, or are influenced by positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement that interferes with their ability to function appropriately. Victim Awareness Training - This allows youth to examine the psychological, social and financial impact on their victims and other implications of having been victimized. This curriculum encourages youth to empathize with their victim’s thoughts and feelings and it addresses the youth’s understanding of antisocial behavior and its consequences. Independent Living Skills - A program comprised of several modules. These include Employment, Housing and Home Management, Relationships, Parenting, Health, Leisure and Media Literacy, Money Management, Cultural Awareness, Transportation, Law and Related Education. Innervisions for Youth - This is a comprehensive prevention program targeting alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. This curriculum tests the youth’s knowledge of substance abuse and the effects on themselves, relationships and others. Substance Abuse Treatment - "Seven Challenges" is designed for adolescent and young adult substance abusing and substance dependent individuals to motivate decisions and commitments to change. Once such decision’s and commitments are made, the program guides young people toward success in implementing the desired changes. Education: The facility provides educational programming for youth per New York State Education Department requirements. The Committee on Special Education (CSE) addresses special education needs for classified students and Individual Education Programs (IEPs) are developed for students with disabilities. State assessments, including Regents Examinations and Regents Competency Tests, are also provided to eligible students. Qualifying youth may also enroll in the Alternative High School Education Programs and pursue a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC). Opportunities involving collaboration with several local community colleges may permit students to take some college coursework. Academic and vocational courses are offered so students can earn credits which can be applied toward a high school diploma upon a student’s return to a community school. Students also complete a “portfolio,” which provides a summary of relevant documentation, outlines work history, any certifications earned, and experiences gained. Vocational Opportunities:
Religious Services: The religious program is a voluntary program that offers youth the opportunity to worship their faith. The services offered are based on the needs of the youth.
Pre-Release Orientation: Release planning begins at intake. The facility support team members work closely with residents, parents and community service team (CST) members to ensure that residents and their families receive the support needed for a timely and successful return to the community.