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The probation departments in Humboldt, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura counties were selected as Healthy Returns Initiative sites because of their commitment to improving outcomes for probation youth with health, mental health, and other complex issues. The Healthy Returns Initiative sites provide a wealth of information, including best practices, lessons learned, challenges and barriers, and outcomes, for policymakers, counties, probation departments, health and human service agencies, and other stakeholders. More information on the promising practices and positive outcomes from the Healthy Returns Initiative are available in Publications. |
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Humboldt County Probation Department The Healthy Returns Initiative enhanced the Humboldt County Probation Department’s ongoing efforts to transform their system from a custodial care to a rehabilitative orientation by investing in provider training and evidence-based practices. The Healthy Returns Initiative services were available to every youth that entered the juvenile hall. Services implemented and strengthened through this project include mental health screening, multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), and provider training in evidence-based practices (EBPs). Contact Information Los Angeles County Probation Department Through the Healthy Returns Initiative, the Los Angeles County
Probation Department adopted a “whatever it takes” motto in
working with high-need probation youth and their families. The
Probation Department was committed to finding no and low cost
services and training opportunities throughout the county to
share with community provider partners, Probation Department
staff, and parents and families. In addition, the Probation
Department invested in pursuing a true partnership with
families, where parents, youth and providers have an equal role
in goal setting, treatment planning, service referral, and
follow through. Santa Clara County Probation Department The Healthy Returns Initiative program in Santa Clara County was
designed to address the unmet needs for specialty mental health
services for detained youth in juvenile hall. Prior to the
Healthy Returns Initiative, the Probation Department experienced
escalating and costly incidents of self harm, hospitalizations,
and psychiatric admissions among high need youth. Through the
Healthy Returns Initiative, the Probation Department opened the
Transitions Unit, a 24-bed unit within juvenile hall, designed
to serve youth identified with high mental health needs, but not
necessarily in crisis. The specialized mental health services
available in the Transitions Unit include modifying daily
routines to promote stability among the youth, reduce self
injurious behaviors or the need for psychiatric
hospitalizations, and enable youth to attend school on a regular
basis. The Probation Department linked youth to mental health
services post-release, trained juvenile hall staff to better
understand mental health issues, and implemented MDTs to develop
care plans with the involvement of youth and families. Santa Cruz County Probation Department The fundamental goal of the Healthy Returns Initiative in Santa
Cruz County is to transition probation youth to non-mandated,
out-of-custody health and mental health services provided by
partner agencies within the community. The Santa Cruz Probation
Department’s Healthy Returns Initiative approach is to serve all
probation youth. The Probation Department conducts mental health
screening for all youth entering juvenile hall and links youth
and families to mental health, physical health, and health
education services, as well as public benefits. Direct services
and referral linkages occur while youth are detained in the
juvenile hall and when they are released back into the
community. Strong partnerships across county systems and with
community-based organizations, along with a commitment to
communication and data sharing, contribute to the success of the
Healthy Returns Initiative approach project in Santa Cruz
County. Ventura County Probation Agency Through the Healthy Returns Initiative, the Ventura County
Probation Department prioritized a need to include the Ventura
County Department of Public Health as a key partner in the
development of their multi-disciplinary teams. Having a public
health orientation within juvenile probation created a holistic
approach to service delivery for youth that addresses both
physical and psychosocial needs. The Probation Department also
built partnerships and enhanced collaboration with the county
Department of Education, identifying probation youths’ re-entry
to school after release from juvenile hall as a significant
barrier. |
