Vice speaker to hold oversight hearing

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Several agencies involved in youth rehabilitation and treatment services will be spending some at the legislature next Wednesday as Vice Speaker BJ Cruz has called for an oversight hearing on these specific issues. The hearing is scheduled for September 28^th, beginning at 9 o'clock in the morning in the Legislature's Public Hearing Room in Hagatna.

The following individuals and agencies have been invited to participate:

Primary Agencies:

• Adonis Mendiola, Director, Department of Youth Affairs
• Wilfred Aflague, Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
• Annie Unpingco, Children Services Administrator
• Barbara Benavente, Prevention Administrator
• Don Sabang, Substance Abuse Treatment Services Administrator
• Systems of Care Council Members
• MH Advisory Council Members

Secondary:

• Lydia Tenorio, Administrator, Bureau of Social Services Administration
• Carol Hinkle Sanchez, Family Division, Office of the Attorney General
• Youth Probation Office
• Juvenile Drug Court
• Taling Taitano, Acting Superintendent, DOE
• Chris Anderson, Associate Superintendent, DOE
• Eddy Reyes, Latte Treatment Program
• Mildred Lujan, Executive Director, Sanctuary, Inc.
• Marie Halloran, Rainbows

Additional Invitees:

• Micronesian Youth Services Network
• State Advisory Group members
• Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
• Payu-ta Board of Directors
• Public Guardian Review Board/Office of the Public Guardian
• Executive Director/Chair, Mayors' Council
• Gerson Jackson, Consulate, FSM
• Walden Weilbacher, Secretariat, APIL 

The following is the schedule of events for the Oversight Hearing.

9:00am                        Opening Remarks/Rationale for Oversight

                        Introductions

                        Rules of Engagement

 

9:10am                        Youth Rehabilitation & Juvenile Justice

                                    Description of youth rehabilitation programs

Mental health and substance abuse needs of adjudicated youth

Progress and Plans for In-House Services and Partnerships with government and non-government entities

Status of Guam Council on Youth Affairs

Compliance with OJJDP/Status of SAG activities

 

10:30am          Children's Mental Health Services

                                    Description of youth in/out patient services

                                    Mental health and substance abuse needs met/unmet

Status of contracts and programs for residential services on and off island

Status of Systems of Care (SOC) and MH Advisory Council membership/activities

Progress and Plans for Improving services and partnerships, referrals to and from government and non- government entities, providing local services for severe SED cases/deterring off island referrals and ensuring adequate transition to adult services

 

2:00pm            Adolescent Substance Abuse Programs

Description of youth SA treatment programs including local and federal programs

Status of contracts and summary of concerns with Drug/Alcohol service providers

Needs/Challenges/Plans for improving and expanding substance abuse treatment for adolescents including partnerships with government and non-governmental entities

Status of licensure/certification of substance abuse counselors

 

3:00pm            Adolescent Suicide Prevention

Prevention programs

Crisis Intervention

Familial and Community Support

Plans and Progress for expanding services to government and non-governmental entities