The Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center is a 23 bed facility which accommodates both males and females. The facility is a staff-secure facility in the Division of Juvenile Services which primarily houses status offenders. The facility is unique, as the Division of Juvenile Services has contracted with the Department of Health and Human Resources to provide short term stabilization (30-45 days) and specialized supervision of status offenders who exhibit chronic and recent (within 30 days) runaway behaviors. 

Juveniles must be court ordered into Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center due to a status offense being filed against him or her. As per West Virginia Chapter 49, status offenders remain in the legal custody of the Department of Health and Human Resources; however, placed in the physical custody of Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center. During the resident’s stay at Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center, treatment staff will participate in a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting to aid in further placement coordination. 

Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center also offers a short-term residential program, the P.R.I.D.E. program, for juveniles who have been adjudicated on a non-violent delinquency charge, has been assessed and accepted into the program by program coordinator and facility director and finally, ordered by the court to complete the program. The P.R.I.D.E. program is a six to nine month residential program. The juvenile remains at the facility for approximately four months and the last several months are structured transitioning to the plan of discharge. 

Residents at Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center are enrolled in the year-round, on-ground school operated by the West Virginia Board of Education. The education staff works diligently to help each resident obtain credits which they have missed; as-well-as, provide middle school/high school credit and will work on GED eligibility and testing, upon court order. 

Every resident of Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center has medical services available seven days a week and are offered the following programs on a regular basis:

Orientation – all residents receive orientation group intended to orient each new resident to the facility rules and expectations. 

Assessments – each resident is assessed upon intake for suicidal ideations and mental health areas of need. Within 30 days, each resident is assessed for areas of criminogenic risk utilizing the Youth Level of Service/ Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). Upon need, resident’s are assessed for depression and re-assessed for suicidal ideations.

Service Planning – An initial 30-day service plan is developed for all residents within the first 72 hours of placement. Following the YLS/CMI assessment, a Comprehensive Service Plan is completed within 30 days of placement. Residents are directly involved in the development of their plan. Each resident helps set their own attainable, time-limited goals and identifies objectives to meet those goals. 

Behavioral Phase System - Behavioral phase system using positive reinforcement to promote good behaviors and decrease negative behaviors. Commissary and additional privileges at Gene Spadaro Juvenile Center are based the earning of points and promoting of phase levels through this system.

Health and Hygiene – Personal cleanliness, cleanliness of living areas, proper teeth brushing, wellness programs and physical education are incorporated into the daily expectations of residents.

Psycho-Educational Programs- Specialized groups are conducted throughout the each week to include the topics of Substance Abuse, Peer Relations, Personality/Behavior and Domestic Violence.

Behavior Management – this program focuses on redirection of anger, impulse control, , developing healthy relationships,  learning effective coping and communication skills using evidence-based practices, such as anger management and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Religious Services – all religious services are provided by area churches and religious groups. A religious coordinator is assigned the task of scheduling religious activities and to assist in honoring special requests to accommodate one’s religious practices.