Youth Probation Program Earns Award for Innovation
Author: Maria Woodworth
Date:
11/1/2019 3:16:42 PM
For the first time, California State Association of Counties' (CSAC) recognized the County of San Luis Obispo with a coveted Challenge Award.
Updated on 11/14/2019 at 10:53 a.m.:
CSAC presented a 2019 Challenge Award to the County at the November 5 Board of Supervisors meeting, recognizing the innovative and regional approach of the County Probation Department's Coastal Valley Academy.
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Original Article:
CSAC will present one of its 2019 Challenge Award to the County at the November 5th Board of Supervisors meeting, recognizing the innovative and regional approach of the County Probation Department's Coastal Valley Academy.
“Our Coastal Valley Academy has a unique approach that combines the home-like environment and intensive treatment of a group home with the structure of a camp program,” said County Chief Probation Officer Jim Salio. “The academy is an alternative model to group homes, which is costly and ineffective in addressing high-risk probation youth who cannot be safely supervised at home and require structured treatment services.”
CSAC will present one of its 2019 Challenge Awards to the County at the November 5 Board of Supervisors meeting, recognizing the innovative and regional approach of the County Probation Department’s Coastal Valley Academy.
Coastal Valley Academy (CVA) is a camp commitment program for teens who are moderate- to high-risk of reoffending and need residential treatment. Youth are ordered by the court to stay six to 12 months, where they receive intensive case management, treatment and educational services in collaboration with County Probation, a local treatment provider, Family Care Network, and the County Office of Education. In Fiscal Year 2017-2018, the Coastal Valley Academy reduced first-time group home placements by 91 percent and reduced the risk of recidivism by 44 percent.
The CSAC annual statewide awards program honors innovation and best practices in county government. This year, CSAC received 284 entries – the second largest number in the program’s history – and only 16 Challenge Awards were awarded this year. An independent panel of judges with expertise in county programs in California selected the award recipients.
For more information on the Coastal Valley Academy, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov/probation. For more details on the CSAC Challenge Awards, visit www.counties.org.