DCYF Hires Assistant Secretary of JR
The agency also welcomes Green Hill School’s new Superintendent.
Olympia, WA — With over 30 years of experience in the juvenile justice space, Jennifer Redman has been tapped as the new Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) starting Sept. 16.
Redman, who most recently served as the Director of Operations, Safety, and Security while simultaneously filling in as the interim superintendent of Green Hill School, stepped up during a critical time in JR and successfully improved conditions at Green Hill over the last few months.
Under Redman’s leadership, JR saw:
- Significant reduction in the number of aggression incidents at Green Hill
- Staffing and safety improvements
- Expansion of youth programming and a reduction in idle time
- Safe and successful transition out of Incident Command status at Green Hill
- Successful planning and transition of the first cohort of young people to the new Harbor Heights facility
Her deep understanding of the challenges and needs of JR was developed after serving various roles over the past three decades, moving up the ranks since she began her career as a security officer at Green Hill.
“When you’ve been in the shoes of entry-level staff, as well as those more seasoned, you can understand the needs and challenges staff face every day to deliver treatment to young people,” said Secretary Tana Senn. “I’m confident that with Jennifer Redman at the reins, she will look at the full continuum of JR services and offerings to improve conditions and outcomes for the young people we serve, while addressing staff safety needs, as well.”
Prior to her time at Green Hill, Redman served as associate superintendent of Maple Lane, a then-JR facility with a focus on behavioral health and treatment that provides wraparound supports to young people with high mental health needs. Her first-hand knowledge of dealing with high-risk youth and helping them reintegrate with their families and communities provides a framework for how she approaches juvenile rehabilitation.
“Safety is my number one priority. We need to foster environments that are healthy and equip staff with the tools they need to provide services so young people can successfully transition to be productive members in the community,” said Redman.
DCYF will also welcome Green Hill’s newest superintendent Harold Wright, Jr., who will lead the Chehalis facility starting Sept. 16. Wright most recently served as the Deputy Director for the Office of Health Professions at the Department of Health. He brings over two decades of experience working with at-risk youth within the behavioral health and diversion space. Before joining state government, Harold worked at Pioneer Human Services where he worked closely on juvenile reentry programming. During this time, he worked with young people with high needs, helping them successfully transition out of juvenile rehabilitation and foster care.
“Whether it’s earning a high school diploma, gaining skills to manage difficult situations, or learning a trade, we want young people to leave JR better than when they arrived,” said Redman. “Their success will have a direct impact on community safety.”
Jennifer Redman Headshot
Harold Wright Jr. Headshot
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Contact:
Nancy Gutierrez, Director of External Communications | 360-742-6418 |nancy.gutierrez@dcyf.wa.gov
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