DJJOY Regional Facilities Listing - New York State Office of Children & Family Services

Description:

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.

Services:

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:

On-the-job Training is a job-readiness program that allows designated youth the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in their vocational classes. The program provides mentoring and job training, enabling youth to gain valuable work experience while earning a small stipend. Youth earn a certificate for their portfolio.
The C-Tech class is an introduction to electronic communication wiring from simple electrical circuits to modern day fiber optics. It has five components taken one at a time, alternating between reading assignments and hands-on assignments. This class is good preparation for entry-level technician jobs with phone and cable companies.
The Scan Tech class is a computer-driven, self-directed computer repair program. Youth learn the inner workings of a computer, the components and trouble shooting. The students work at an individual pace, going through a series of lessons designed to orient them to the mechanics of computers. Students who show promise go on to repair a computer.
National Work Readiness Credentials is a job-readiness class offered periodically throughout the year. Students are taught how to read business memos, inventory receipts, letters and other correspondence; business math, including basic math computations and how to do mark-ups, mark downs and percentages. Situational judgement is a component of the course where youth are put in various scenarios and are expected to respond appropriately and utilize active listening skills.
Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) presents students with study and hands-on practice in the chemistry of cleaning. Youth learn to clean various floor surfaces and restrooms. Youth that pass the course earn certification as an CMI custodial technician.
Careers & Financial Management is a course that is offered to teach youth how to write resumes and cover letters, practice interviewing, and learn budgeting and the basics of finance.

Health Services: Comprehensive health services are provided by a licensed physician. Registered nurses are on duty during day and evening shifts daily. Upon admission, each youth has a comprehensive health assessment and an initial plan of care is developed. Immunizations are brought up to date following current public health recommendations. Eye and dental services are also provided on site. Nursing sick call occurs daily. Nurses refer health problems that cannot be addressed via routine nursing interventions to the physician. Health staff initiate or continue needed health services via scheduled follow-up appointments.

Mental Health: Mental health treatment is delivered by psychologists and licensed social workers. Access to professional level care is available for all youth. Treatment services includes DBT, crisis intervention’s, IIP’s, individual/ group/ family therapy, treatment planning and release planning. Goshen also has consulting psychiatrists who can provide psychopharmacological treatment. Clinicians facilitate psychiatric hospitalization, where needed, and are the facility liaisons to the hospital during the youth's stay.

Specialty Program: Sexually Harmful Behavior Treatment Program - Goshen operates OCFS’s only secure level, discrete unit that provides this type of specialized treatment services to youth. The unit has capacity to serve 18 youth. Group, individual, and family therapy address each youth’s treatment needs to reduce the risk of reoffending. Each youth has a personal community safety plan established prior to discharge.

Recreation Program: The recreation program offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor recreational activities designed to expose youth to diversified leisure time pursuits.

Enhancement Programs: Youth are offered the opportunity to participate in a variety of enhancement programs including the barbering program, culinary arts, wellness program, yoga, music production, mentoring, art, and pet therapy.

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.

Visitation: Families are vital to the treatment/rehabilitation process and are encouraged to visit on weekends. Special arrangements are made for weekday visits and through video-conference, as needed.

Community Involvement: A group of community volunteers meet quarterly to address administrative or program issues, community relations, fund raising and special projects.

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.

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