|
Media
Contact: Kerri Webb, Public Information Officer
kerri.webb@probation.lacounty.gov, (562) 315-3388
For
Immediate Release:
May 15, 2018
L.A. County Moves Forward with First-of-Its-Kind Transformation of Juvenile Probation Camp into a Career Training Center
Former Probation Camp Gonzales on its Way to Becoming a Residential Career
Educational and Training Center for Foster, Homeless, and Formerly Incarcerated
Youth
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors today took a step closer toward realizing the vision of turning
recently decommissioned Probation Camp Gonzales into a groundbreaking
residential career and educational training center for young men aged 18-25.
The facility will feature a live-in career training program where the
participants, who have formerly been supervised by probation, involved in
foster care, and/or are homeless, will have a job waiting for them upon
successful completion of the program.
Los Angeles County Supervisors Sheila Kuehl
and Hilda L. Solis co-authored the Board’s motion that was voted on and approved
during the Board’s regular public meeting on Tuesday, May 15.
“I am extremely grateful to our partners, in County
departments, in widespread communities and in philanthropy who are coming
together to transform Camp David Gonzales into a professional training facility
for young people who have come into contact with our foster care or probation
systems or who have experienced homelessness,” Supervisor Kuehl expressed. “This
groundbreaking motion represents another milestone in realizing the County’s
vision to give all of our young people the support and skills they need to set
them on a path to success.”
First
District Supervisor Solis also anticipates great outcomes and success
of the new facility.
“Supporting at-risk youth by providing services, training, and a path to a successful career is the best investment we could make,” said Supervisor Solis. “The repurposing of Camp Gonzales is one example of LA County’s movement away from incarceration towards a new focus on diversion and positive development. This new residential vocational training facility will be a complete reenvisioning of how we engage with young people who may be facing housing insecurity, or who had contact with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. By building innovative partnerships between the County and community-based partners, we can provide the support and resources these young people need for long-term success. I am excited to see what the future holds for these youth!”
The proposed program at the former Camp Gonzales will include
free housing, career technical training in the fields of building and construction
trades (pre-apprenticeship program) or food service/culinary arts, wrap-around
services, life skills training, and guaranteed job placement. For those who do
not have a high school diploma, a fully accredited diploma program will be
available. Students will voluntarily live on campus for five of the seven days
of each week with an option to go home to their families on the weekend. The facility is
also undergoing a physical transformation with the goal of looking and feeling
like a college campus. Programming for young men who choose to participate in
the program will be provided by nonprofits that have a track record helping
thousands of young people stay away from gangs and prison and move toward
healthier, more successful lives.
Greg Derisso, a young man who
was at Camp Gonzales as a youth said, “I wish that something like this existed
when I got out of the camp. I probably would not have gotten locked up again if
I had been able to go somewhere that helped me focus, away from the
distractions of the neighborhood. It
would have been…easier.” Greg is now enrolled in school and receiving career
training.
The
planning for the project has been and will continue to be a collaborative
endeavor led by the Los Angeles County Probation Department. County Departments
of Chief Executive, Mental Health, Education, Public Works, Social Services,
Internal Services, Workforce Development, Public Defender, Alternate Public
Defender, Diversion and Reentry, County Counsel, Public Health, Children and
Family Services, Child Protection, Human Resources, DPSS, Civic Partnership, and
Public Works are the County agencies who have committed resources to make this
project a reality. Community-based organizations, philanthropic groups and
service providers such as New Earth Organization, the Anti-Recidivism
Coalition, and Los Angeles Trade Technical College have also been integral in
the planning process and help to bring the training center’s vision into focus.
“Los
Angeles County is taking a historic step toward youth justice reform by
transforming a juvenile Probation Camp into a career-training center,” said Los
Angeles Chief Probation Officer Terri L. McDonald. “The Board of Supervisors,
the County CEO, other department heads and I recognize that investing in
education and career training is a smart strategy that will help youth develop
the skills needed to become contributing members of the community while
improving community safety.”
###
|
