The Secretariat for Catholic Human Services will work with the City of Philadelphia to ensure a safe and healthy transition for the 30 young men currently enrolled in the Saint Gabriel’s Hall and De La Salle Vocational residential and day treatment programs for court adjudicated delinquent youth.
Contextual Background
For the past several months, leadership from the Secretariat for Catholic Human Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CHS), has been in dialogue with Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Saint Gabriel’s System (SGS). Since 1898, that entity has provided education, social work, youth care, residential, vocational, and clinical services as well as general support for the City of Philadelphia’s court adjudicated delinquent youth.
The juvenile justice field has witnessed dramatic changes over the past ten years. Public policy has been directed at reducing the number of youth committed to congregate care facilities such as SGS. A 2019 City Residential Placement Task Force notes a 72% reduction of delinquent youth committed to congregate care in the past five years from 867 in December 2014 to 244 in April 2019.
Over the course of several recent meetings, CHS communicated with DHS representatives regarding sharply decreasing census numbers at both Saint Gabriel’s Hall (SGH) and De La Salle Vocational (DelVoc). Since March, the number of young people assigned to these programs by the courts has dropped by 70%.
As a result of the trends noted above, CHS has contributed more than $3,000,000 to support the mission of SGS over the past 5 years. Unfortunately, the pandemic-related drop in census has furthered an ongoing budgetary shortfall jeopardizing the financial solvency of the program. That shortfall can no longer be sustained. With current utilization, a $3,000,000 loss is projected for SGS in the first six months of this year. DHS has indicated that there is no reason to believe that the number of court adjudicated delinquent youth assigned to SGS will increase in the short or long term.
Recognizing the importance of the program to the young people it serves as well as the community-at-large, both DHS and CHS have worked collaboratively to find a viable financial solution that would allow this ministry to continue. Despite those good faith efforts, no pathway has emerged that is tenable for either party.
Today’s Announcement
Today, it was announced that the Board of Directors of Catholic Human Services voted to discontinue programming operated by Saint Gabriel’s System, including Saint Gabriel’s Hall and the De La Salle Vocational Program given the unsustainable losses that the system has been and would continue to experience.
Over the next 60 days, SGS will work closely with the Philadelphia Family Court System to ensure a safe and healthy transition for the young men currently enrolled in the system’s residential and day treatment programs. SGS will help identify alternative programming and educational resources. Additionally, youth discharged from SGS will receive six months of community-based aftercare services through SGS’ Reintegration Services, an intensive case management program.
In compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), SGH’s and DelVoc’s approximately 180 employees have been informed that the system is projected to close upon completion of the mandated 60-day notification period. SGS and the AOP will work with each staff member to provide assistance in finding other positions within the Archdiocese. Staff members no longer employed will receive severance packages.
Additional Background Regarding Saint Gabriel’s System
Saint Gabriel’s System (SGS), a multi-service agency of Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, provides residential and community-based services for court adjudicated delinquent youth between the ages of 13 and 19 years old. For over 122 years, the ministry has served the educational, social service and treatment needs of adjudicated youth in the spirit of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.
SGS represents a long-standing relationship with Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services, the Family Court, Philadelphia Community Behavioral Health, and state educational entities. The system offers a residential program, a day treatment program, and reintegration services.
Saint Gabriel’s Hall
Established in 1899 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers as the Philadelphia Protectorate for Boys, Saint Gabriel’s Hall (SGH) is a residential program located in Audubon, Montgomery County, serving young men ages 13 to 19 adjudicated by the Philadelphia court system. SGH provides a structured setting where youth receive transformative therapeutic and educational support. Residential treatment employs a team approach to rehabilitation with educators, child care workers, social workers, psychologists, and counselors working together to provide an individualized treatment plan for each client in care.
The Mitchell Program
Established in 1998, the Mitchell Program is an intensive 120 day residential treatment program associated with SGH for court-adjudicated young men ages 13 to 18 focused on balanced and restorative justice, Sanctuary Model of Trauma Informed Care and therapeutic principles, followed by 6 months of community-based reintegration services. The Mitchell Program provides a year-round, on-site accredited academic school program to earn credits as well as opportunities for GED testing. Weekly on-site family visitation is offered as well as individual, group and family therapy services.
De La Salle Vocational
De La Salle Vocational is a day treatment center of the SGS located in Bensalem, Bucks County, where educational, vocational, and behavioral support services are offered to court-adjudicated youth. The program educates young men in academics as well as Carpentry, Auto Mechanics, and Culinary Arts, and boasts excellent job placement rates due to comprehensive career development assistance.
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Contact:Contact: Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)