Juvenile Services Division respond to COVID-19 cases among youth and staff

December 23, 2020

The Juvenile Services Division is committed to the health and safety of youth in our facility, our workforce and community we serve. Since Nov. 30, individuals at the detention facility have tested positive for COVID-19. Those tests are reported to the Oregon Health Authority, which today, identified the sum of the cases as an outbreak. In each case, the Juvenile Services Division took immediate action, working with Public Health, youth, their families and staff to limit the spread of the virus, isolate and care for anyone affected.

Between Nov. 30, 2020 and Dec. 15, seven staff members who work in the Juvenile Services Division tested positive for COVID-19. Corrections Health worked closely with Public Health on any exposure to youth in detention. We have been monitoring the cases closely and notifying any employee who may have been in close contact with either employee and advise them of necessary next steps. 

On Dec. 17, 2020, a youth in detention and an employee also tested positive for COVID-19. Following the notification, in coordination with Public Health and Corrections Health, staff immediately acted by implementing pre-planned infectious disease protocols. These actions include:

  • Quarantining impacted youth and staff. 

  • Restricting movement between units within the facility and limiting access to the impacted units to only essential detention and medical personnel. 

  • Testing of all youth in the specific units where potential exposure was identified. Two additional youth, for a total of three youth, tested positive. 

  • Working closely with Multnomah County’s Public Health Officer and Communicable Disease response specialist to review case history, information, and protective actions. This includes contact tracing to assess personnel movement involving the individuals during the 48 hours leading up to the positive notification.

  • Meeting with health partners to review and analyze potential exposure and coordinate next steps.

The Juvenile Services Division is working side-by-side with public health COVID-19 experts, the Multnomah County Health Officer and Corrections Health as they monitor these individuals. There are currently 32 youth housed in detention. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Juvenile Services Division has been working closely with juvenile justice partners to keep the census down in detention. 

“We continue to take all recommended measures to best protect the health and safety of youth housed in our facility, our staff members and the community,” said Department Director Erika Preuitt. “Of paramount importance is both the physical and mental health of the youth impacted and we are committed to addressing their needs as they are in quarantine. In addition, we have developed a plan to staff our facility and will continually update as needed. We understand that these increased numbers are concerning and we are communicating with the families of youth who have tested positive.”

Juvenile Services Division employees follow all established Multnomah County recommendations including wearing face coverings, maintaining social distancing and frequent handwashing. Multnomah County Health Department is also leading the public health response. See more at /covid19.

For more information on COVID-19, including symptoms of which you may want to be aware, please visit the County’s COVID-19 website, which has practical advice and information on testing and other guidance, or the Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 website or the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention COVID-19 website.