Pamela
Alexander, LPC - BIO
RVJDC established the Crisis Intervention and Counseling Services program in November 2004. Our therapist, Pamela Alexander, LPC, maintains a caseload of up to 20 detainees, who each receive individual therapy sessions 1-3 times per week. In addition, Ms. Alexander may lead therapeutic groups for our detainees. Topics for these groups include anger management, relapse prevention, grief and loss, and personal responsibility.
Ms. Alexander received her bachelor of science degree with a major in psychology from Virginia Tech in 1999. She graduated from Radford University in 2001 with a master of science in counseling psychology. Ms. Alexander received the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation in November 2003.
Crisis Intervention and Counseling Services Description
Mission Statement: To improve the psychological, emotional, social, and behavioral wellbeing of detainees at Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center by providing traditional psychotherapy, and to protect and treat detainees at risk of harm to self and others by providing crisis intervention and counseling services.
Description of Population Served: Detainees range in age from 7-17 years, and are typically residents of Roanoke City, Roanoke County, City of Salem, Franklin County, and Botetourt County. Those who receive services are experiencing a marked reduction in psychiatric, adaptive, or behavioral functioning and/or are experiencing an extreme increase in personal distress.
The majority of clients seen by Crisis Intervention and Counseling Services (CICS) will be members of the Impact 180 post-dispositional program. Those detainees in Impact 180 who already receive mental health treatment in the community on an ongoing basis will continue to see the same provider, rather than transferring those services to CICS.
Other detainees may be seen on an as-needed basis, upon referral by any staff member who has first-hand knowledge of the detainee’s need for services. Examples of appropriate referrals include detainees with the following risk factors: history of self-mutilation, habitual drug and alcohol abuse, pregnancy and/or STDs, a caution or warning indicator in MAYSI scoring upon intake, and moderate to severe symptoms of psychosis, mood or behavior disorder.
Services Provided: CICS will provide two primary services: crisis intervention counseling and short-term psychotherapy. Sessions will be held in the therapist’s private office, on the pod, or in an interview room, depending on the level of security that is required. Sessions range from thirty minutes to one hour in length.
Short-term psychotherapy will be offered when a client will be detained for a sufficient length of time to allow for multiple sessions, and when the client’s impairment is significant enough to warrant multiple sessions of therapy. Sessions consist of various forms of treatment including talk therapy, art therapy, meditation, role-play, and take-home exercises that are similar to schoolwork. Short-term psychotherapy will typically span 8-20 sessions.
Crisis intervention referrals occur when a detainee reports suicidal, homicidal, or self-injurious thoughts or plans at any time during the pre-dispositional detention period. If a suicidal or homicidal threat or attempt is made by the detainee, Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare Crisis Services will be called for a pre-screening evaluation. Following this evaluation, the detainee will begin crisis intervention services, if he/she is not already enrolled. Treatment will typically conclude within 1-5 sessions.
Criteria for Discharge/Termination from services: All detainees enrolled in CICS programs will receive individualized treatment plans consisting of identified problems, measurable goals, treatment objectives, and service interventions. The goal of CICS is to assist the detainee in fulfilling the goals of his/her treatment plan, and to release the detainee from services when all goals are fully met.
However, there may be instances in which the detainee is unable to meet all goals. Services may be terminated if the individual refuses to participate in treatment, is not demonstrably benefiting from treatment, or if the detainee is released from RVJDC with insufficient time to achieve all goals. Information regarding discharge or termination from services will be documented in a discharge summary, which will be kept with the detainee’s medical record.
The CICS therapist will collaborate with the detainee’s probation officer and family to ensure continuation of services in the community whenever possible. Continuation of care entails referrals to mental health providers such as mentors, case managers, therapists, and psychiatrists.
Payment for Services: Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center will provide crisis intervention and counseling services regardless of the detainee’s ability to pay. However, we will make every effort to utilize the detainee’s insurance coverage for reimbursement of services where applicable.
Confidentiality: Intake information, progress notes, diagnoses, and outcomes of treatment are stored securely with the medical record in accordance with HIPAA regulations. This information is only accessible to individuals outside of RVJDC when written consent is given by the legal guardian of the detainee.
RVJDC will disclose confidential information without the consent of the client or legal guardian only as mandated by law, or where permitted by law to protect the client or others from harm. When information is released in order to obtain payment for services, the disclosure is lawful and limited to the minimum that is necessary to achieve the purpose.
The therapist is obligated to report any allegations or evidence of child abuse to the Department of Social Services and will immediately report to the RVJDC Superintendent any allegations of abuse as well as threats of harm to self or others that are made by the detainee.
Please contact the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center at (540) 561-3840, with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have about this program.
Therapy links
JUVENILE FORENSIC FACT SHEETS www.ilppp.virginia.edu/Publications_and_Reports/juvenile_forensic_fact_sheets.html
ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION www.aecf.org
PARENTS AND CHILDREN COPING TOGETHER www.pacct.net
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATION www.apa.org
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES www.dss.state.va.us
Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services
Department of Medical Assistance (DMAS)
Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC)
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc.
Virginia Disaster Stress Intervention
