Delaware
VQ has been a provider in the state of Delaware for over 25 years, working to ensure that today's youth have a brighter tomorrow.
VQ initially opened in Delaware in 1998 as the FCICM (Family Centered Intensive Case Management) program. As the needs of youth and families in adverse situations have changed, VQ has modified their approach to meet these ongoing challenges through innovation and creativity. Our services are targeted to a youth’s assessed needs and staff are cross-trained in a variety of evidence-based models and deliver services to youth on a planned and prescribed basis. VQ has staff and offices located throughout the state that work directly with youth and families, as well as administrative staff who are familiar with state functions and collaborate regularly with our partners to constantly improve services and create a comprehensive continuum of care.
Services in VQ Delaware include:
Accountability
The Accountability Program provides a structured set of supports designed to reinforce compliance, promote stability, and meet the individualized needs of each youth and family. Working in partnership with the Probation Officer (PO), components of the service package can be tailored to ensure the right level of oversight and intervention.
Core elements of the Accountability Program may include:
» Nightly curfew calls between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., at a time designated by the PO
» Two random in-home curfew checks each week to ensure adherence to expectations
» Daily school attendance monitoring, with VisionQuest staff contacting the school by 11:00 a.m.
» Two weekly face-to-face contacts to assess progress, address concerns, and provide guidance
» Access to intervention and support services as needs arise
This structured, flexible approach strengthens accountability while providing the consistent support youth need to remain engaged, compliant, and on track for success.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
A cognitive-behavioral framework guides this program, underscoring the central idea that how individuals think directly shapes how they feel and how they behave. Rather than attributing emotional or behavioral outcomes to external circumstances, this approach empowers youth to recognize that their internal thought patterns are the true drivers of their responses. The advantage of this insight is profound: even when situations remain unchanged, young people can learn to shift their thinking in ways that improve their emotional well-being and actions.
Because this model is highly structured and skill-based, it is intentionally brief and time-limited. As participants gain a clear understanding of what contributes to their success, they become equipped to sustain positive outcomes independently.
VQ integrates Cognitive Behavioral Self-Counseling Skills primarily through individualized sessions, with the flexibility to deliver the curriculum in a psycho-educational group format when appropriate.
Community Service
Our program provides youth with meaningful, year-round community service opportunities designed to build character, strengthen civic responsibility, and foster a deep sense of contribution. Service projects span a wide range of partnerships and community needs, including Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters, food banks, the Salvation Army, local animal shelters, Goodwill stores, churches, and community centers. Youth also participate in community clean-ups, township and borough initiatives, beautification efforts such as garden planting and park maintenance, and seasonal support like shoveling and landscaping for older adults.
Through these hands-on experiences, young people learn the value of giving back, develop pride in their contributions, and become active, engaged members of their local communities.
Residential Alternatives to Detention
The Delaware RAD Program provides a safe, community-based residential alternative to incarceration for youth ages 10–17 who have been arrested—but not convicted—and are unable to return home. This model ensures that low- to moderate-risk youth remain connected to the stabilizing forces in their lives rather than entering secure detention unnecessarily.
Community-based alternatives are essential to maintaining continuity in education, family relationships, and supportive services. By keeping young people anchored in their own communities, we protect critical developmental pathways that are often disrupted by secure detention.
RAD’s approach prioritizes normalcy and stability. Youth continue attending their home schools, participating in school activities, and engaging in positive community activities such as the Police Athletic League and Boys & Girls Clubs. This continuity reinforces healthy routines, mentorship, and pro-social engagement. VQ RAD utilizes Trust Based Relational Intervention and operates within a holistic approach that has been developed through evidenced based practices to meet the needs of the whole child. The method to caregiving is developmentally respectful, responsive to trauma, and attachment-based.
The program operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering structured supervision and a full continuum of supports. Residents receive counseling, primary medical and behavioral health services, educational programming, recreation, and family-centered interventions—including family therapy and family-oriented recreation. Life-skills development and transportation to court, school, and required appointments further support accountability and success.
For youth who cannot attend their home school due to prior challenges, individualized home-based instruction is provided onsite to ensure uninterrupted academic progress.
The Delaware RAD Program has earned full PREA compliance—a distinguished three-year federal certification—affirming our unwavering commitment to youth safety, trauma-informed care, and operational integrity. The program is also fully licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL), underscoring the strength of our systems, staff vigilance, and dedication to excellence.
Family Meetings
Family Meetings offer a structured, supportive setting for families who need foundational guidance to address minor challenges and strengthen overall functioning. Using an evidence-informed curriculum, staff facilitate a six-session series designed to help families understand how past and present traumas influence their relationships and daily interactions.
Throughout the program, families learn practical tools and techniques to improve communication, resolve conflict, and build healthier patterns of connection. Staff partner closely with each family to identify individualized goals, reinforce progress, and provide ongoing support and follow-up to ensure sustainable improvements in family well-being.
Casey Life Skills
The Casey Life Skills Assessment is a nationally recognized, strengths-based tool used to guide the development of individualized life-skills instruction for youth preparing for independence. The assessment evaluates key domains essential for successful adulthood, including Career Planning, Daily Living, Home Life, Housing and Money Management, Self-Care, Social Relationships and Communication, Work and Study Skills, and Work Life.
Each young person completes the assessment within their first week in the program, allowing staff to identify existing competencies and areas for growth. Based on these results, an individualized Life Skills Plan is created outlining targeted activities, trainings, and experiential learning opportunities. This tailored approach ensures that every youth receives the support and instruction needed to build confidence, strengthen practical skills, and move toward successful independent living.
Guided Recreation
Youth are offered a wide range of positive, engaging recreational activities designed to spark interest, build healthy habits, and replace negative group behaviors. These experiences are intentionally selected to expose young people to constructive outlets they can continue pursuing after discharge, supporting long-term well-being and pro-social engagement.
Activities may include basketball, baseball, touch football, chess, running events, library programs, local theater performances, and community sporting events. Youth also participate in movies, bowling, visits to local fun centers, walks in parks or malls, go-Kart racing, and volunteering or spending time at local animal shelters.
Through these opportunities, young people discover new interests, develop social skills, and build confidence in safe, structured environments.
Girls Self Esteem
Gender-responsive self-esteem programming is offered through both group and individual sessions designed specifically for girls. The curriculum centers on four core areas: trauma and emotional regulation, healthy relationships, sexuality and personal boundaries, and the mind–body connection. Together, these components equip young women with the insight, skills, and confidence needed to build resilience and develop a strong, positive sense of self.
Psychoeducation
Our program provides a structured, trauma-responsive framework designed to help youth heal from the impact of trauma and chronic stress. Through an evidence-informed curriculum, young people learn how their past experiences shape their behaviors, emotions, and relationships. The program emphasizes both education and emotional processing, empowering youth to understand their own stories and actively participate in their recovery.
Meaningful progress requires a shift in self-perception. Our approach supports this transformation by increasing self-awareness, prioritizing physical and emotional safety, and building the skills necessary to manage complex feelings. These elements create a therapeutic environment where youth can safely explore and process trauma, grief, and loss.
Every young person deserves the tools to thrive: the ability to care for themselves and others, regulate emotions, imagine a hopeful future, and navigate adversity. VQ delivers these essential skills primarily through individualized sessions, with the option to provide group instruction when appropriate.
Street Smart
Street Smart is an evidence-based prevention curriculum designed to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, teen pregnancy, and substance use while promoting the development of healthy, informed relationships. VQ delivers the curriculum primarily through individualized sessions, with the option to provide group instruction when appropriate.
The program includes eight structured sessions and a guided visit to a community health resource, such as Planned Parenthood. Each session addresses critical areas of risk awareness and behavior change, including:
» Personal risk for STIs and understanding HIV/STI transmission and prevention
» Correct condom use, including discussion, demonstration, and practice
» Connections between substance use and HIV, and the impact of drugs on sexual decision-making
» Identifying personal triggers and urges and recognizing risky sexual situations
» Coping and problem-solving skills, reinforced through observation and role-play
» Exploration of personal sexual values and development of positive self-talk
» Assertiveness skills to resist peer pressure
» Practical risk-reduction strategies tailored to real-life scenarios
In addition to the eight core sessions, each youth participates in an individual counseling session to reinforce key lessons and apply them to their personal circumstances. During this session, youth identify goals related to safer sexual practices, explore personal triggers and barriers, and develop a customized risk-reduction plan.
A visit to a community resource further strengthens learning by connecting youth with trusted, accessible supports they can rely on beyond the program.
Pre-Trial Case Management
For youth awaiting trial, VisionQuest provides structured case management services designed to ensure accountability, support stability, and promote positive outcomes during the pre-trial period. Case Managers work closely with each young person, their family, and key system partners to monitor compliance and address emerging needs.
Core services include:
» Consistent enforcement of bail conditions, with Case Managers reporting to DYRS at least once per week
» Weekly face-to-face contact with the youth, conducted at school or in the home
» Daily curfew calls and random curfew checks to reinforce accountability
» Ongoing school attendance monitoring to support educational engagement
» Weekly communication with parents or guardians to strengthen collaboration and address concerns
» Access to intervention and support services as needs arise
» Court attendance and advocacy, with the Case Manager present at hearings to provide informed recommendations in consultation with DYRS
This comprehensive approach ensures that pre-trial youth receive the structure, guidance, and support necessary to remain compliant, connected, and prepared for the next steps in their legal process.
VQ Delaware is proud to have partnerships with:
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Parenting Education
Luzerne County, PA
Age
Gender
The Parenting Education Program supports families and communities by teaching, modeling, and strengthening effective parenting skills through evidence-based, strength-based, and trauma-informed care. Designed for families with children from infancy to age 18 who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, conflict, or instability, the program offers short-term, intensive family and home-based interventions. Staff act as community liaisons, connecting families to essential services and supporting their progress. With a focus on preserving family unity, ensuring children’s safety, and reducing out-of-home placements, the program empowers parents to make better choices and create stable, nurturing environments for their children.
Truancy Program
Luzerne County, PA
Age
6 - 16
Gender
Males & Females
The VisionQuest Truancy Program supports children, youth, and families in Luzerne County by addressing school attendance challenges through three distinct models: Check and Connect, The PASS Program, and the Truancy Ongoing Program. Designed for K-12 students, the program helps eliminate barriers to school attendance, fostering pathways to graduation. Families and students may transition between models as needed, guided by a multidisciplinary team. The Truancy Ongoing Program provides additional support for families facing complex issues such as behavior or mental health concerns, substance use, or parent/child conflict, with staff offering weekly check-ins, court testimony, and detailed reporting to county agencies.
FFT
Various
Age
Gender
The FFT program provides specialized, family-focused treatment for youth aged 11-18 and their families, utilizing a strength-based, relational approach where all members feel respected and heard. Referrals often come from agencies like Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, and Mental/Behavioral Health. Functional Family Therapy (FFT) aims to engage and motivate families, reduce risk factors, enhance protective factors, and create sustainable behavior change through individualized plans. The program fosters positive relationships and equips families with the tools to utilize community resources, promoting long-term success and well-being.
DE Umbrella Program
Wilmington and Dover, DE
Age
Gender
The DE Umbrella Program provides comprehensive, statewide services for justice-involved youth aged 10-19 and their families. Services include Pre-Trial Case Management, Accountability (curfew/surveillance), Mentoring, and community-based interventions tailored to each youth’s criminogenic needs. Committed to fostering recovery, growth, and independence, the program equips youth with skills for successful adaptation to home, school, work, and community life. Guided by values of care, integrity, and dedication, the DE Umbrella Program works to reduce the likelihood of criminality and incarceration, empowering youth and families to build fulfilling, competency-driven futures.
Supervised Independent Living Program (SIL)
Luzerne County, PA
Age
16-24
Gender
Males and Females
The Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program provides safe and supportive housing for males and females aged 16 to 24 who are homeless or cannot live safely with parents or guardians. Each participant receives a furnished one- or two-bedroom apartment, with costs for rent, utilities, and a security deposit covered by the program, along with a weekly allowance. Through individualized case management, life skills training, and goal-setting, the program helps youth achieve self-sufficiency by pursuing education, securing employment, and mastering essential life skills. SIL focuses on leveraging familial and community strengths to support a successful transition to independent living and long-term stability.
Outreach Prevention Program
Luzerne County, PA
Age
11-17
Gender
The Outreach Prevention Program provides evidence-based services for youth aged 11-17 referred by Juvenile Probation and Children and Youth Services. By working directly with adolescents and their families in homes and schools, the program addresses issues identified through assessments and case plans, focusing on parenting, career guidance, and resource coordination. Parents are actively involved, and the program empowers families with strategies, skills, and knowledge to promote positive lifestyle choices, reduce out-of-home placements, and prevent further involvement with juvenile probation or child welfare systems. The goal is to help youth become positive, contributing members of their communities.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®)
Luzerne County, PA
Age
Gender
The Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) program is an innovative, trauma-informed approach designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children and youth up to 18 years old. Developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross, TBRI® focuses on connection, empowerment, and correction to address physical needs, attachment challenges, and fear-based behaviors. Rooted in attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, TBRI® equips caregivers, parents, and educators with practical tools to understand and nurture the “whole child.” By fostering trust and addressing the impact of early adversity, trauma, or toxic stress, the program aims to rebuild family bonds and help children reach their full potential.
Community-Based Prevention Program
Luzerne County, PA
Age
Gender
VisionQuest’s Community-Based Prevention Program supports families and communities by addressing educational, medical, social, and emotional needs while enhancing parental involvement and family well-being. Designed to prevent child abuse, neglect, and family dependency on child welfare or juvenile probation services, the program provides advocacy, family support, and referrals to community resources. It also assists families experiencing homelessness or eviction in finding appropriate housing within their local community. By fostering collaborative relationships with schools and community partners, the program helps families build skills, expand social networks, and reduce risk factors, ensuring the safety and well-being of children and families.
Parenting Education Program
Luzerne County, PA
Age
Gender
The Nurturing Parenting Education Program provides parenting education to parents of all ages who need support in developing effective caregiving skills. With a focus on respect and understanding, the program treats all parents equally, regardless of their reason for involvement. By equipping parents with the tools and knowledge to become the best caregivers possible, the program promotes the well-being and best interests of their children.
Mike Vergaretti
Our Locations
The DE Residential Alternative to Detention (RAD) program offers a structured, supportive living environment for youth ages 10–17, with round‑the‑clock staff supervision. Participants receive counseling, life‑skills development, educational support, vocational training, recreational opportunities, transportation, and access to both medical and behavioral health services.By emphasizing community‑based alternatives to detention, the program helps low‑ to moderate‑risk youth remain connected to their families, schools, and support networks while still receiving the guidance and resources they need. Grounded in respect, dedication, and integrity, RAD staff encourage youth to set meaningful goals, build positive habits, and reduce behaviors that may lead to criminal involvement.The program is deeply committed to empowering young people to overcome challenges, strengthen their skills, and successfully reintegrate into their communities with confidence and stability.
The DE Umbrella Program provides comprehensive, statewide services for justice-involved youth aged 10-19 and their families. Services include Pre-Trial Case Management, Accountability (curfew/surveillance), Mentoring, and community-based interventions tailored to each youth’s criminogenic needs. Committed to fostering recovery, growth, and independence, the program equips youth with skills for successful adaptation to home, school, work, and community life. Guided by values of care, integrity, and dedication, the DE Umbrella Program works to reduce the likelihood of criminality and incarceration, empowering youth and families to build fulfilling, competency-driven futures.
Our Locations
The DE Residential Alternative to Detention (RAD) program offers a structured, supportive living environment for youth ages 10–17, with round‑the‑clock staff supervision. Participants receive counseling, life‑skills development, educational support, vocational training, recreational opportunities, transportation, and access to both medical and behavioral health services.By emphasizing community‑based alternatives to detention, the program helps low‑ to moderate‑risk youth remain connected to their families, schools, and support networks while still receiving the guidance and resources they need. Grounded in respect, dedication, and integrity, RAD staff encourage youth to set meaningful goals, build positive habits, and reduce behaviors that may lead to criminal involvement.The program is deeply committed to empowering young people to overcome challenges, strengthen their skills, and successfully reintegrate into their communities with confidence and stability.
The DE Umbrella Program provides comprehensive, statewide services for justice-involved youth aged 10-19 and their families. Services include Pre-Trial Case Management, Accountability (curfew/surveillance), Mentoring, and community-based interventions tailored to each youth’s criminogenic needs. Committed to fostering recovery, growth, and independence, the program equips youth with skills for successful adaptation to home, school, work, and community life. Guided by values of care, integrity, and dedication, the DE Umbrella Program works to reduce the likelihood of criminality and incarceration, empowering youth and families to build fulfilling, competency-driven futures.
Work with VQ
VQ has and continues to create a wide array of careers and opportunities in the communities we operate in. Through training and continued support, our staff are empowered to change the course of children’s lives for the better one day at a time.
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