The Juvenile Supervision Division has three specific functions within the division – Field Supervision of youth on formal probation, Foster Care Services, and the Youth Reporting Centers. The Deputy Probation Officers (DPOs) in the division utilize evidence-based, trauma-informed, family-focused strategies to aid in the wellness and rehabilitation of youth and families who find themselves involved in the juvenile justice system. Field supervision includes the supervision of youth in the community who have been declared wards of the Court and are on formal probation supervision. Throughout the supervision process, DPOs serve as youth advocates and case managers that monitor the youths’ progress on probation. Additionally, the Probation Department connects youth and families with a wide variety of low or no-cost programs and services aimed at limiting or eliminating contact with the juvenile justice system.
The division also provides foster care services to youth whose custody has been vested with the DPO and/or social worker and require foster care as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 300. These youth will generally be placed in licensed foster care programs; however, some youth will be placed with relatives and non-relative caretakers, and a few may also live in foster homes or with resource families. The DPOs assigned to serve these youth work collaboratively with the Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) and the Orange County Juvenile Court to ensure the youths’ needs are being met and foster care youth programs are in compliance with legal mandates.
In addition, this division is responsible for Probation’s two Youth Reporting Centers (YRCs), located in Anaheim and Santa Ana. The Youth Reporting Center (YRC) is a collaborative partnership that includes the Orange County Probation Department, Orange County Department of Education (DOE), and the Orange County Health Care Agency Children and Youth Services (HCA). The program goal is to foster positive change within the youth and reduce their risk of recidivism. The youth attend a full academic program, participate in afternoon group counseling, individual therapy, and random drug testing with an emphasis on maintaining sobriety. Vocational counseling and life skills development are provided. Youth are enrolled into the program based on specific criteria. The criteria includes 602 WIC wards, who are court ordered to attend for a specific length of time and youth who are currently in violation of the terms and conditions of their probation and referred by their assigned DPO as a graduated sanction to avoid a referral to Juvenile Court. In addition, the YRCs provide an alternative to the traditional detention model under the conditions of the Accountability Commitment Program (ACP). In these instances, the Court order a youth to the YRC/ACP program to complete all or a portion of their custodial commitment. ACP youth receive day for day credit in lieu of secured detention.
