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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07241990 - 1.91 4q�� Td: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS _ Contra FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR '.� Costa c• '5 . ' w..;: -= County y, y4 DATE: July 24 , 1990 - SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM THAT PUTS TOGETHER YOUTH ON PROBATION WITH DISABLED YOUTH SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Accept report from the County Administrator and Probation Department on Los Angeles County Probation Department' s youth program that teams together youth on probation with disabled youth. FINANCIAL IMPACT: If the program were to be replicated in Contra Costa County, a preliminary amount of at least $90,000 has been estimated, which would fund a coordinator, trainer and clerical support. The cost of the program to Los Angeles County Probation Department is not known to us at this time. However, literature provided by Los Angeles County suggests that State and Federal funds may be available through the Office of Education to fund a portion of the program. BACKGROUND: Program Overview. The Los Angeles County Office of Education in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Probation Department has developed and implemented a program that teams up two young population groups that have been stereotyped as non-productive and useless. These two groups are the severely handicapped and. the "at risk" youth. It involves a partnership between the principal of Pace School for Special Education Schools (Pace) , and the principal of the Southeast Community Day Center (CDC) , a Juvenile Court and Community School. The program began operating in October 1988 . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT. _YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BOA OMMITTEE APPROVE _OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE Jt UNANIMOUS(ABSENT- I AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. JUL 2 4 1990 CC: CountyAdministrator ATTESTED Probation Department PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF jjj///SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY & Qs4ZZ2 ,DEPUTY M382 (10/88) The school participants consist of 225 severely handicapped youth, ages 3 to 22 years, and 30 "at risk" youth, ages 11 to 17 years. They share the same campus facility and have overlapping school days. The "at risk" students are on probation for a variety of charges such as: gang activity, substance abuse, weapons, assault, robbery, deviant behavior and truancy. The program plan involves the "at risk" students serving as a major participant in the daily school operations. The special program centers on a well-designed work experience/career education curriculum. These students work with the special education teachers and aides to assist in the implementation of the objectives of the severely handicapped, the trainable, the multi- handicapped, autistic and deaf/blind students. Much of the instruction is individualized and is presented in the style of peer tutoring. This student/pupil interaction takes place during the regular school day and permits the "at risk" students to earn elective school credits toward graduation. , Other work opportunities include office work, health services and building maintenance. The major impact of this program has been in several areas: cross- age tutoring, personal development, behavioral modification, academic achievement, volunteerism, career and employment development, values education, human relations and socialization skills. Finally, with the "at risk" students peer assisting the handicapped, both student groups have mutually benefitted. The parents, staff and community have all adopted this program as an exemplary model for others to emulate. Implementation. The most difficult problem encountered with the school-community transition effort was locating a court school site for "at risk" students that would receive acceptance by the community and parents of students in the school. It took Los Angeles County five years to initiate the program because of resistance from special interest groups. However, since the program' s inception, there has been a gradual improvement and acceptance toward the disabled and the "at risk" students because they are making a positive difference in the community. Another delicate issue facing administrative staff was how to convince the , special education teaching staff and parents that their school could benefit from the presence of "at risk" students on the campus. This was done by developing new goals and reviewing the philosophies and mission statements of both special education and court schools. Many training sessions were provided to the staff on cultural awareness and working effectively with handicapped and "at risk" students. Program Evaluation. Since the introduction of the work experience program in October 1988, the number of special education teachers requesting "at risk" student volunteers has nearly doubled from 12 to 22 classrooms. These 22 classes make up 81% of all the rooms at the Pace School. The average daily attendance for the school has been consistently in excess of 90% every month despite the fact that truancy rates for these students has been around 50%. Another positive aspect of the program is the observable positive relationships, the emotional and mental bonding that has transmitted between the two peer groups. Replicability. Staff of the Los Angeles program are of the opinion that the program could be replicated in other settings, but it would require administrative risk taking, committed staff, and strong parent and community support. Careful selection and well- developed policies and procedures for staff , parents and community would be necessary. It is noted that many alternative resources could be used to implement the program. For instance, instead of using handicapped students in the model, the elderly or infirm could be served. "At risk" students could be replaced by students in continuation school, youth probation camps and regular schools. Potential for Contra Costa County. Contra Costa County Probation staff believe that it may be possible to replicate the program here. The Probation Department has the wards at risk and County Day School would be an appropriate facilitator of student participation. The Day School has the facility to develop a work study curriculum that would give students credit for their service with the educationally retarded children. The Marcus Centers are the designated school programs for the County' s severely emotionally disturbed and educationally handicapped children, and could serve as the monitors of the actual services. The educators at the Marcus Centers would need to be convinced that the program would benefit their children, and much training and coordination would need to occur among the participating agencies. Staff believe that with adequate staffing, the program could accommodate 20 to 40 "at risk" students per year.