September 18, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Winder, SD DOC (605) 773-3478

(Pierre) - With a 100-percent compliance rating, the State Treatment and Rehabilitation (STAR) Academy near Custer has earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).

The NCCHC Standards for Health Services accreditation program establishes standards for the quality of health services provided in detention and correctional settings, and assists correctional facilities to continually improve their level of care.

"This accreditation at our juvenile campuses is something we identified as a goal some time ago," stated Corrections Secretary Tim Reisch. "The fact that our team received a score of 100-percent on this initial effort demonstrates the tremendous effort everyone put forth in this process."

Medical, mental health, legal and corrections experts develop NCCHC accreditation standards. The standards cover areas such as facility administration, maintaining a safe and healthy environment, personnel and training, health care services support, client care and treatment, health promotion and disease prevention, special offender needs and services, health records and medical-legal issues.

STAR Academy is home to the state-run juvenile corrections programs. STAR Academy is made up of the Patrick Henry Brady Academy, Living Center and Youth Challenge Center programs for males and the QUEST (Quality Education Services and Treatment) and ExCEL (Excellence in Counseling, Education and Lifeskills) programs for females.

The South Dakota Department of Health provides health services while the Department of Human Services provides mental health services and chemical dependency treatment for the state’s corrections system. 

"We work hard to provide quality health care across South Dakota's corrections system. The Commission's score recognizes that effort and is a real accomplishment," said Secretary of Health Doneen Hollingsworth. "We are very proud of that 100-percent score and its indication that we're meeting the highest national standards."

"The Department of Human Services is committed to working collaboratively with the Departments of Corrections and Health in providing therapeutic treatment for adolescents at STAR Academy," stated Human Services Secretary Jerry Hofer. "I am proud of the work that has been done by the mental health and chemical dependency staff and am confident that they will continue to work at maintaining a high standard of service."

All of the adult prison facilities in the state are also accredited by NCCHC. The Mike Durfee State Prison first received NCCHC accreditation in 1994, the South Dakota State Penitentiary in 1995 and the South Dakota Women's Prison in 1999.

Nearly 500 institutions across the country are accredited by NCCHC. For more on the accreditation process, visit the NCCHC website at: http://www.ncchc.org/accred/index.html.

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