Specifications include, but are not limited to: The DYS is the juvenile justice agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its mission is to foster positive outcomes for youth, build safer communities and collaborate for an equitable and fair justice system. The Department envisions a Commonwealth in which every young person has the skills, supports and resources necessary to engage safely with their communities, and lead productive and fulfilling lives. We support this work through valuing fairness, transparency, racial equity, and integrity. In response to changing demographics and guided by successful partnerships, DYS is working to implement a broad-based, community-focused approach to intervention in and prevention of juvenile delinquency. A primary focus for this effort is to strengthen and expand community partnerships. DYS has committed itself to establishing partnerships with a variety of organizations and individuals, with an eye toward the following goals and objectives: supporting District Offices and satellite offices in communities with the highest population of DYS youth to effectuate successful community transitions and community supervision; strengthening and expanding partnerships that allow us to collaborate in efforts to reduce crime and enhance community safety; providing comprehensive residential programming for youth in the least restrictive settings available with a focus on service locations that are geographically close to youth families and supportive adults; consistently assessing youth, strengths, risks and needs; supporting a service continuum that provides DYS youth with a comprehensive range of services; improving residential environments and program services. increasing staff skill and consistency of practice through strong staff training efforts and practices; addressing racial and ethnic disparity for DYS-involved youth, their families and communities; ensuring that each program incorporates Positive Youth Development (PYD), a framework that is strength-based and incorporates youths’ voices at all levels of service development and provision; ensuring that each program is trauma-responsive, and that every aspect of service delivery including physical environment, values, staff approach, programming and language are focused on best meeting the needs of youth and families who have experienced trauma; ensuring that each program uses a clinical framework approved by the Department; and Protecting the public by embracing a rehabilitative framework that includes providing youth with resources and opportunities for restoration and healthy methods for reintegration into their communities.