Fixing the disarray at DJS
The Sun is to be commended for its recent articles exposing the disarray in the Department of Juvenile Services ("Failures of DJS anger officials," April 23, and "Youths lost in juvenile system," April 22).
The children in the department's care are at a precarious and vulnerable point in their lives. The way they are dealt with at this juncture will go far to determine what happens with the rest of their lives.
In fact, given the number of youths in the system who find themselves victims or perpetrators of violence, the kind of care they receive is critical even to their immediate survival.
But physical danger in DJS facilities is not limited to the youths in DJS care. A rougher, increasingly gang-oriented clientele is coming into the system, and members of the DJS staff also find themselves victims. For instance, earlier this month, a staff member at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center was jumped by several youths and ended up hospitalized, requiring multiple stitches for a head wound.
DJS staff members bring to their work a passion for helping children in need. But as The Sun has noted, their mission is undermined when faced with untenable caseloads, insufficient training and poor management.
Furthermore, their ability to help youths succeed is undermined when DJS has a turnover rate approaching 40 percent annually among its caseworkers, as the most recent Department of Legislative Services budget analysis noted. The department also faces a 7 percent vacancy rate and skyrocketing overtime expenses.
The state will not be able to turn DJS around until it confronts these issues.
One tactic that will ensure failure is if DJS employs the often politically expedient stunt of reactive staff firings following a publicized breakdown in the system.
We've seen this "fire first, ask questions later" approach to management countless times in Maryland state service.
Secretary Donald W. DeVore has stated publicly there will be no "witch hunt" as DJS attempts to remedy the crisis it faces.
As the elected representative of Maryland state employees, AFSCME will fight to ensure that the state takes a responsible - and effective - course in getting DJS on track.
Patrick Moran, Baltimore
The writer is the director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for Maryland.
