About Us
We're Here to Support our CommunityWe are the largest provider of outpatient behavioral health services to children and families in Delaware. We operate offices in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford, and we are the only statewide not-for-profit outpatient behavioral health organization for children and adolescents accredited by JCAHO. In 2020, we were honored as a Compassionate Champion for our dedication to serving youth and families using a trauma-informed approach.
Through DGS, clients and families have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school-based services. Our community-based service lines serve youth and families who require a more intense therapeutic protocol. DGS’ 24-hour statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) dispatches skilled crisis intervention clinicians to provide immediate care to children experiencing behavioral health crises. Therapeutic options are available for a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, traumatic stress-related disorders, and suicidal ideation. In 2021, DGS clinicians provided over 54,000 direct care hours to children, youth, and families in Delaware. Over 93% of clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment, and therapeutic benefits derived from trauma-informed care extend to clients’ siblings, caregivers, classmates, and peers.
Our client population is racially and ethnically diverse; 80% of DGS clients are Medicaid recipients and 90% have household incomes under $30,000. Many of our clients present with significant treatment challenges including learning impacts due to missed school and negative economic impact due to parental missed work. We provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for care. DGS also provides services specifically tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare-involved families and foster youth.
Where We Are | Mission | Stats | Who We Are | What We Do
AGENCY Locations & Contacts
- Wilmington: (302) 652-3948
- Newark: (302) 455-9333
- Dover: (302) 678-3020
- Lewes: (302) 645-5338
- Seaford: (302) 262-3505
- CRISIS HOTLINE: 800-969-HELP (4357)
SATELLITE OFFICES in the COMMUNITY
- PAL (New Castle County)
- Boys & Girls Club
- Dagsboro
- Dover
- Laurel
- Love Creek (Lewes)
- Rehoboth Beach
- Smyrna
School Services by Office Location
- Kuumba Academy
- Kingswood Academy
- Great Oaks Charter School
- Albert H. Jones Elementary School
- Brader Elementary School
- Brookside Elementary School
- Etta J. Wilson Elementary School
- Leasure Elementary School
- McVey Elementary School
- Newark Charter School
- Oberle Elementary School
- West Park Place Elementary School
- Caesar Rodney High School
- Fred Fifer Middle School
- Milford High School
- Milford Central Academy
- Morris Early Childhood Center
- Polytech High School
- Academy of Dover Charter School
- Love Creek Elementary School
- H.O. Brittingham Elementary School
- Mariner Middle School
- Cape High School
- Georgetown Elementary School
- Phillip C. Showell Elementary School
- Selbyville Middle School
- Millsboro Middle School
- North Georgetown Elementary School
- Carver Academy
- Delmar Middle School
- Delmar Senior High School
- Frederick Douglass Elementary School
School Services by District
Caesar Rodney School District
- Caesar Rodney School District (Dover)
Cape Henlopen School District
-
Cape Henlopen School District
- Cape Henlopen High School
- H.O. Brittingham Elementary School
- Love Creek Elementary School
- Mariner Middle School
Charter Schools
-
Charter Schools
- Academy of Dover (Dover)
- Kingswood Academy (Wilmington)
- Kuumba Academy (Wilmington)
- Great Oaks Charter School (Wilmington)
- Newark Charter School (Newark)
Delmar School District
-
Delmar School District
- Delmar Middle School
- Delmar High School
Indian River School District
-
Indian River School District
- Carver Academy
- Georgetown Elementary School
- Millsboro Middle School
- North Georgetown Elementary School
- Phillip C. Showell Elementary School
- Selbyville Middle School
Milford School District
-
Milford School District
- Milford Central Academy
- Milford High School
- Morris Early Childhood Center
Polytech High School
-
Polytech School District
- Polytech High School
Seaford School District
-
Seaford School District
- Frederick Douglass Elementary School
Where We Are | Mission | Stats | Who We Are | What We Do
Delaware Guidance Services (DGS) is Delaware’s largest provider of non-residential behavioral health services for children and families.
DGS creates respectful, competent, and culturally aware spaces for youth and families to process the impact of trauma and build resiliency. Clients have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school- and community-based services. Over 93% of DGS clients report improvement following treatment, and therapeutic benefits extend to clients’ siblings, classmates, and peers.
DGS’ mission is “to provide quality therapeutic services to children, youth, and their families to increase their social, emotional, and behavioral wellness” and its vision for Delaware is “to have resilient families nurturing children’s well-being.”
Mission and Vision
Delaware Guidance Services’ MISSION is “to provide quality therapeutic services to children, youth, and their families to increase their social, emotional, and behavioral wellness” and its VISION for Delaware is “to have resilient families nurturing children’s well-being.”
Where We Are | Mission | Stats | Who We Are | What We Do
HOUSEHOLD INCOME & MEDICAID
%
Families Receive Medicaid
%
Household incomes under $30,000
TREATMENT SUCCESS
%
The treatment success reported by the children and families we serve is consistently higher than the national average, over 93% of our clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment.
DIVERSITY COUNTS
The families we serve come from diverse backgrounds.
%
African-American
%
Caucasian
%
Hispanic
Where We Are | Mission | Stats | Who We Are | What We Do
A WORD
From Our Executive Director
I am honored to be part of a team that provides help and hope to Delaware’s most vulnerable children, youth, and their families. One of our goals is to strengthen and advance the organization’s mission and vision so that we may expand the treatment services available to children and families and the number of individuals impacted by them.
Won’t you help us ensure that all young Delawareans have a chance for bright future? Make a contribution to the Annual Fund today. We couldn’t do it without you and are deeply grateful for your support.
Jill Rogers
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OFFICERS
Jill Rogers
Executive Director
John Krukiel
President
Vinay Maheshwari, M.D.
Vice President
Kevin Dombrowski
Treasurer
Sherry Reid
Secretary
Joel Brown
Past President
DIRECTORS
-
Charles Albano
-
Patrick Dolan
-
Kevin Dombrowski
-
Trey Kraus III
- Catherine Willey
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Jill Rogers
Executive Director
Nicole Thompson
Director of Administration
Lynn Biddle
Director of Operations
Tamu Boyd
Executive Administrative Assistant
Tiffany Jester
Chief Clinical Officer
Where We Are | Mission | Stats | Who We Are | What We Do
Clients are served by a primary therapist, who is part of a multi-disciplinary team offering consultation, advice, and review of each case. This uniquely rich combination of disciplines provides a level of service which takes into account the individual needs of each child and family. With psychologists and psychiatrists on staff, DGS has the capability to handle very difficult cases requiring evaluation, intensive treatment, or medication therapy. Our staffing pattern allows us to treat the most seriously disturbed children and families and assures that DGS is able to handle the most complex cases effectively.
What We Do
Provide 24 hours, 365 days of services for children and youth (ages 2-18) who
- have identified to be at-risk of harm to themselves or others,
- have experienced recent trauma,
- may be experiencing mental health symptoms and
- are seeking help for managing emotional and/or behavioral health problems
Our Qualified Team
Services are provided by a highly skilled staff of:
- Child Psychiatrists;
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers;
- Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors; and
- Advanced Practice Nurse
Our Locations
Each office shares the same dedication and vision in providing families with needed services.
All are located in the state of Delaware.
New Castle County
1200 N. French Street
Community Education Building 7th Floor
P: (302) 652-3948
New Castle County
261 Chapman Road
Suite 102
Newark, DE 19702
P: (302) 455-9333
Kent County
103 Mont Blanc Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904
P: (302) 678-3020
Sussex County
31168 Learning Lane
Lewes, DE 19958
P: (302) 645-5338
Sussex County
900 Health Services Drive
Seaford, DE 19973
P: (302) 262-3505