Fewer Camps, More Services The average population in L.A. County juvenile halls and camps fell by 67% between 2006 and 2018. This decrease resulted in the closure of several camps over the past decade. These closures mirror national statistics showing that the population in juvenile residential facilities has declined by one-third since 2006. In 2018, two of the six Challenger Youth Memorial Cen- ter (CYMC) camps in Lancaster closed. The remaining two are scheduled to close in 2019. With fewer facilities, the Probation Department concentrated staff and other resources to better serve clients and their fami- lies, saving an estimated $20 million per year. The Department’s goal is to have fewer facilities that will each become centers of excellence for juvenile rehabilitation employing the L.A. Model’s trauma-informed, child-centered approach. Hispanic African American Caucasian Other 62% 33.7% 2.7% 1.5% Visitors from across the globe descended upon L.A. County Probation’s Campus Kilpatrick in 2018 to learn about the L.A. Model for juvenile rehabilitative services and its therapeutic, trauma-responsive approach. As the program expands, Probation is learning from its experiences to offer the best care possible to the youth at the facility. At Campus Kilpatrick, youth learn to work cooperatively while housed in cottages, not traditional military style barracks of other camps. With a significantly lower staff-to-youth ratio and programming that emphasizes education, counseling, and vocational training guided by a trauma-informed child-centered approach, Campus Kilpatrick is center stage for a new research- based model that utilizes a therapeutic and holistic approach to juvenile behavioral rehabilitation. While the L.A. Model at Campus Kilpatrick continues to receive prestigious awards and praise from national and international juvenile justice agencies, the site and concept is ever evolving. Staffing, developing a tool to measure results, and other operational issues have made implementation of the model an opportunity for continuous quality improvement. The greatest challenge of 2018 was the destructive Woolsey Fire in November. As the fire approached Campus Kilpatrick, staff responded heroically by evacuating youth and staff. While no major structural damage occurred at the facility, outbuildings and key infrastructure were severely damaged. As a result, the staff and youth have temporarily relocated to Challenger Memorial Youth Center until the site is safe to occupy. While there have been new program issues to overcome, the success of the facility and the L.A. Model is clear, and growth is on the horizon. Campus Kilpatrick’s population will expand as Probation continues to consolidate camps. Probation is developing a five-year plan that will outline how the L.A. Model will expand across Probation’s juvenile halls and remaining camps. L.A. County Probation is proud of the staff, stakeholders, and youth who have poured boundless energy and faith into this new model. Their experiences at Campus Kilpatrick will guide the development of new programs, the physical designs at other Probation facilities, and most importantly, how to continue to care for youth by developing relationships of mutual respect and trust so they are able to succeed when they reenter the community. “The encouraging and most critical thing to understand is that the core philosophy of engaging youth through relationships, giving them opportunities to learn skills and work toward self-awareness is more valid than ever.” — Sheila Mitchell, L.A. County Probation Chief Deputy for Juvenile Services 2018 Average Daily Camp Population by Ethnicity Campus Kilpatrick and the Expansion of the L.A. Model L.A. County Probation Department | 2018 Annual Report 31 30 L.A. County Probation Department | 2018 Annual Report