Degaryia Witten
Corner Health Center
OAKPARK,MI
1
Certification
6
years of professional experience
Experienced youth programs leader with a proven track record in developing and implementing initiatives that empower young people. Expertise in building partnerships and team structures to address barriers faced by youth in various environments. Committed to a trauma-informed, youth-centered approach, effectively identifying needs and creating responsive programs that foster success.
Work History
Youth Justice Department Manager
3 Years 6 Months- Lead the day-to-day operations of the Justice Department, overseeing programs for youth and young adults ages 12–25, staff, budgets, partnerships, and client services.
- Manage more than $900,000 in program funding, including program budgets, spending, budget changes, and decisions around how funds are used.
- Supervise a small team of staff and interns, with responsibility for hiring participation, onboarding, training, workload oversight, performance expectations, and ongoing staff support and development.
- Created and launched RAPID, an award-winning youth justice program built around gaps identified in the community. Developed the program's four pathways, budget, staffing structure, partnerships, referral process, and client services.
- Led the implementation of SASS and continued to build out the program's day-to-day operations, client services, accountability process, and team procedures.
- Built and standardized the department's processes from referral through program completion, including intake, check-ins, documentation, follow-up, and staff workflows. Maintain partnerships with schools, courts, law enforcement, probation, the prosecutor's office, restorative justice organizations, and other community partners.
- Created Common Ground, a school-based group for high school students focused on connection, accountability, and personal development, while continuing to grow the department's work within schools and the community.
Lead Youth Diversion Coordinator
2 Years 8 Months- Managed a caseload of approximately 20+ court-involved youth, working with youth and their families to set goals, address barriers, and complete diversion successfully.
- Maintained regular contact with schools, including on-site visits and coordination with counselors, social workers, and other school personnel to monitor attendance, academic progress, behavior, and emerging support needs.
- Supported youth dealing with academic, behavioral, family, and substance-use challenges and connected them and their families to additional services when needed.
- Facilitated multiple youth groups focused on skill development, decision-making, accountability, and positive youth development and developed group curricula and program materials that continued to be used by the organization after transitioning from the role.
- Connected youth and families with community resources and supportive services based on individual needs and program goals.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
- Forbes Under 30 Scholar - 2019
Skills
Program development
Budget Management
Program Operations
Staff Supervision & Development
Youth Development
Client Support & Engagement
Community partnerships
Data Tracking & Reporting
Trauma-Informed Practices
Accomplishments
- Michigan Restorative Justice Conference 2025: Invited to present on youth justice programming and restorative practices.
- Grant Funding: Secured grant funding of $250,000 to support the expansion of youth programs and services.
- Program Recognition: Developed RAPID, which was recognized as Partnering Organization of the Year by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.
Affiliations
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc
- Community Violence Intervention Team
- Bright Futures Partner
- Re-Entry Collation
Certification
- Youth Mental Health First Aid - National council for mental wellbeing 2026
- Trauma-informed certified - Starr commonwealth 2021
- Crisis prevention institute: Verbal intervention CPI certified - Crisis prevention 2021
- Active Shooter training - Tactical encounters & national security 2022
- De-escalation training - Tactical encounters & national security 2022
Timeline
Youth Justice Department Manager
Corner Health Center
02.2023 - CurrentRead More
Lead Youth Diversion Coordinator
Growth Works
06.2020 - 02.2023Read More
Eastern Michigan University
Bachelor of Science from Sociology
Read More