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