The Juvenile Court will remove a minor from his or her home after a determination is made that continued residence in the home is contrary to the minor’s welfare and best interests. Placement in a variety of State-licensed group or foster homes occurs following a compatibility assessment by the Probation Department and an interview process by the residential program. Those cases in out-of-home placement are supervised by two officers who monitor minors’ progress, behavior, treatment, and continued need for placement. There is an average of 32 minors in placement on any given month.

Officers regularly interact with the program staff, county mental health and social workers, school district employees, and the minors’ family. Detailed case plans are maintained by the Probation Department and outline the goal of placement such as reunification or emancipation. Reports to the Juvenile Court are regularly provided and provide information the Court needs to render its findings. Assessments of the need for continued placement or a change in placement are made monthly. Programs used by the Probation Department are located in the county, throughout the State of California, and sometimes out-of-state.

Minors that are recommended for placement in out of county and out of state group homes are approved for placement by the Inter-Agency Placement Committee. This committee is comprised of managers from Department of Social Services, Mental Health, Education and two local community-based organizations that provide placement services for minors.