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Good Afternoon,
We had quite the inspirational month in recognizing both Women's History and Social Work Month during March. Our agency highlighted staff, and we truly are appreciative of their efforts. Please scroll below to learn more about what this month meant to some of our respective team members.
We also had several community service initiatives, with a focus on our partnership with Shoes 4 the Shoeless where we helped provide thousands of socks to children in need. Be sure to check out these amazing efforts along with several staff stories, including recognizing our most recent preservice employees graduating from their training.
With those initiatives and many others, thank you again for subscribing to "DYS Updates." If you have any immediate questions about our agency, please reach out to us at (614) 466-4314.
Sincerely,
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 History is often told through the lens of grand gestures and famous names, and a great debt is owed to the women who fought—and continue to fight—for the rights championed today. History isn't just something found in a textbook; it is a living, breathing thing created in the trenches of service.
In the world of juvenile justice, "systems" and "compliance" are frequent topics of discussion. However, systems don’t change lives—people do. At the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS), history is made every day:
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It is found in the advocacy of staff members who refuse to give up on a youth.
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It is seen in the resilience of the women who lead in facilities and offices with grace under pressure.
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It lives in those quiet moments of empathy when a young person finally feels seen, heard, and valued—perhaps for the first time.
The women of DYS are the heartbeat of the agency. They carry forward a long legacy of predecessors who understood that true justice is rooted in connection and compassion.
DYS recognizes their tireless dedication and the profound impact they have on the lives of those they serve. The agency is deeply honored to work alongside these professionals as it recognizes March as Women's History Month.
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 Denna Clark
Academy Training Developer
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 Alyssa Stone
Juvenile Parole Officer
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 Brandi Ackley
Assistant to the Superintendent
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 Tamika Glenn
Superintendent Administrative Assistant
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The social workers at DYS are instrumental in the impact of the agency's mission. While March is recognized as National Social Work Month, their compassion and hard work are felt on the frontlines every single day.
This year’s theme, “Uplift. Defend. Transform.,” is more than a slogan—it is the reality of their careers. Whether they are licensed professionals or currently studying the field, these individuals are in the facilities and beyond, actively transforming lives and strengthening communities.
Why Their Work Matters
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They Show Up: Social workers support some of the highest-risk, highest-needs youth in the state, often navigating the most difficult circumstances.
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They Provide Hope: When young people doubt themselves most, social workers stand by them, guiding them toward a second chance they might not otherwise see.
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They Are Changemakers: Through connection, understanding, and empathy, they reach youth who are often hard to reach, inspiring them to become the best versions of themselves.
Without this level of dedication, many success stories simply would not exist. These professionals are a pivotal part of creating brighter futures for the youth in their care. DYS recognizes the critical role they play and the heart they bring to the agency's work.
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 Hannah Kramer
Behavioral Healthcare Provider
Circleville
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 Henry Robinson
Behavioral Healthcare Provider
Circleville
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 Samantha Cameron
Behavioral Healthcare Provider
Indian River
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 Julianna Reese
Behavioral Healthcare Provider
Cuyahoga Hills
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Indian River Reentry Fair |
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 Click or tap the image above to watch the recap video!
The community once again showed up at our Indian River facility with more than 30 vendors at the recent reentry fair, including new groups from the previous event in the fall.
Organizations and agencies from across Ohio were there to share with the young men what opportunities and support are available when they're released.
"It's a great opportunity for the kids to network, know what their resources are, talk about their reentry plans so that they know who they can go to when they get home," said Reentry Administrator Chris Crine.
"It makes me feel like there are people out there who really want to see me win, who want to see me successful," said one of the youths.
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The community partners inside the gymnasium included providers that can help with education, job training and placement, career development, behavioral health services, and other essential programs.
One of the biggest draws for the young men was skilled trade opportunities where they can be paid to learn professions immediately upon their release, and give them a foundation to build positive and productive lives.
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"It's nice to see the wheels turning up there," said Crine. "And them really interested in making this a chapter and not their life."
Thank you to our teams at the facility, in reentry (below), and from across DYS for bringing it all together. Of course, none of this would be possible without our fellow stakeholders for sharing their time and opportunities with our young men.
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Shoes for the Shoeless Event |
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 Click or above the image above for the highlight video!
DYS is committed to helping children, families, and communities across the state however we can. In March, DYS joined our partner Shoes 4 Shoeless in Middletown for a community service event.
Along with student volunteers from Middletown City School District and Sinclair College, more than 20 members of the DYS team and some youth served over 300 kids.
DYS is grateful to staff who made the trip and to the community partners for being part of such an amazing day.
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The Socks Showdown fundraiser for Shoes 4 the Shoeless has come to an end in our friendly competition donation drive with the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. We are very excited to announce DYS brought in a total of 2,063 pairs of socks compared to HCJC's 272 pairs of socks. Well done to our amazing team!
Our sites throughout the agency did such a tremendous job with Parole leading the pack by contributing 629 pairs of socks, followed by Circleville with 569 pairs, and Central Office/Training Academy with 557 pairs. We also want to highlight not only did Indian River bring in 263 pairs, but UM Fontes' charity contributed 59 pairs of shoes!
Well done to our collective effort and our teams for making this annual fundraiser such a fun and important cause at our agency. The socks (and shoes) contributed will go on to make an impact in the lives of children throughout the state. Thank you!
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The Future in Focus Podcast |
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 The term information technology can mean a lot of things. But what does IT look like and what all is done when it’s within a government agency, especially now in an age of emerging technology or AI?
In this episode of the Future in Focus, we look at how DYS is helping advance safety and improve the lives of young people, families, and communities through our IT team.
Joining Public Information Officer Csaba Sukosd are Chief Information Officer Brian Hernandez, IT Project Manager Kara Peterson, and IT Manager Shawn Davis.
You can also listen to the series by following us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio. You can also watch each episode on the DYS YouTube channel.
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 Click or tap above to watch highlights from the ceremony!
More than 30 people officially joined the DYS family at our March preservice graduation.
The graduating class of the new team members included 11 different positions within the agency. Cuyahoga Hills Operations Manager De'Avion Porter is one of them.
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The class speaker shared her story, speaking openly about some of her struggles that include losing both of her parents as a young woman who had yet to finish school. She said it took her a while for her to work through that and other traumas.
"Without the circumstances that happened to me, I honestly wouldn't be standing here," Porter said.
As she was navigating her challenges at home, she was also having trouble navigating her future. She couldn't fully understand why she was so drawn to studying criminal justice and social work until she recognized the impact of her support system, including behavioral health providers, that helped her find her purpose.
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It's why she was compelled to join DYS, to connect with youth and collaborate with staff as part of a transformative journey to correct courses toward brighter futures.
"Make sure you take care of yourselves. Make sure you take care of your coworkers. And make sure you take care of these kids," Porter added.
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Her boss at Cuyahoga Hills, Superintendent Joe Marsilio, followed as keynote speaker. He has served DYS for more than 30 years, uplifting countless youth and colleagues along the way. Before he retires later this year, he stressed the importance of commitment to the new hires.
His career has been full of challenges and tough days. He's aware of the resilience it takes to keep bouncing back. As to why he's done it for so long, it's because he knows how important our work is to create stronger families and safer communities.
"The rewards and benefits in the end are worth it, because we do change lives," Marsilio said.
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We’re proud to welcome individuals committed to supporting and guiding Ohio’s youth as we continue to transform and save lives. Meet some of our newest DYS team members and hear their “why." |
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 Robyn Fossen
Cook
Cuyahoga Hills
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 Brighton Murefu
Youth Specialist
Indian River
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 Aliou Diallo
Youth Specialist
Circleville
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 Teresa Campbell
Unit Manager
Circleville
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Staff Success Stories & Retirements |
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 Christina Hines
Nurse
Circleville
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 Drew Nutter
Central Office
Construction Administrator
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After 24 years at DYS, Unit Manager of Indian River Gloria Robbins retired from the agency.
To dedicate so many years to the State of Ohio and our agency displays such a commitment to service. To serve as one of our frontline employees for over two decades has surely had such an impact on our youth and colleagues. DYS sincerely appreciates Ms. Robbins, and these contributions will certainly leave a mark here at DYS for years to come.
Deputy Superintendent at Indian River and supervisor Cheryl Cook said the following:
“As you step into retirement, you leave behind a powerful legacy - one measured not in years worked but lives changed. The seeds you planted will continue to grow for generations. May your next chapter bring you the same purpose and fulfillment that you gave to others. You will be missed by all of us.”
As Ms. Robbins embarks on this new journey, we at DYS have sincere gratitude and send her the warmest wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement.
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