Department of Children’s Services, Private Provider Working with Health Departments After Additional Juveniles Test Positive for COVID-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and private provider Youth Opportunity Investments are working with both the Tennessee and Shelby County health departments after additional juveniles and staff at a Memphis youth treatment facility tested positive for COVID-19.

The Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee National Guard on Wednesday conducted mass testing at the Memphis Center for Success and Independence (CSI), testing 44 juveniles and 49 staff. Results returned Saturday show 22 juveniles and seven staff tested positive. Negative results were returned for 22 juveniles and 42 staff.

Earlier in the week, an additional four juveniles and four staff tested positive, prompting the mass testing out of an abundance of caution. Of the juveniles who tested positive, only two have shown symptoms in the past 24 hours.

The positive juveniles are being quarantined from the rest of the youth and will not return to the general program until full recoveries are documented and clearance is received by the Department of Health in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The Shelby County Health Department is providing CSI’s medical staff additional guidance on caring for the quarantined juveniles and cleaning the facility. CSI will continue to follow protocol for screening and care of the youth and staff. It will continue to conduct temperature checks and screen all staff for symptoms before entering the facility.

CSI is in the process of notifying the parents of the youth who tested positive,

CSI is operated under contract by Youth Opportunity Investments. It is a staff secured juvenile justice facility that offers a residential treatment program for male youth aged 13-18 who have been adjudicated delinquent and placed into state custody. It houses 48 youth and employees 60 staff.