santa cruz county probation department, juvenile probation division

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Mentally Ill Offender and Crime Reduction Grant (Camino Nuevo)

Ceres Policy Research led a collaborative grant planning and writing process that involved the Santa Cruz County Probation Department, Youth Services, and Barrios Unidos.  This grant sought funds to provide culturally competent mental health services for non-violent youth offenders living in northern Santa Cruz County.  This grant was awarded in January 2007.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Title II Grant (Girlzpace)

Ceres Policy Research provided writing assistance to Toni Spencer of the Santa Cruz County Probation Department for a grant to provide gender responsive services to girls in the Santa Cruz juvenile justice system.  This grant sought funds to provide a series of four “safe spaces” located throughout the county.  These “safe spaces,” or “Girlzpace” were designed to offer support groups, leadership opportunities, services  for girls who disclose that they are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and conflict mediation between girls and their parents.  This grant was awarded in April 2007.

 

Camino Nuevo Program Evaluation

Funded by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, a collaboration of the Santa Cruz Probation Department, Barrios Unidos, the Community Action Board, and Youth Services is developing a culturally responsive evening center for youth living in the northern portion of Santa Cruz County.  The goal of this program is to provide mental health and job development services to youth with non-violent offenses.  Each youth is assigned to a Probation Officer and Youth Services counselor.  Youth will also be referred to support groups, job development services, and leadership development activities located at Barrios Unidos and the Community Action Board.

 

Girlzpace Program Evaluation

Ceres Policy Research is working as the Girlzpace program evaluator.  This program consists of four “safe spaces” located throughout the county.  These “safe spaces,” or “Girlzpace” were designed to offer support groups, leadership opportunities, support for girls who disclose that they are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and conflict mediation between girls and their parents.  Ceres Policy Research has designed a mixed-method evaluation to measure the outcomes for girls participating in the program.

Healthy Returns Initiative Program Evaluation and Youth Reentry Team Facilitation

The Juvenile Probation Division of the Santa Cruz County Probation Department has received a grant from the California Endowment to undergird health services provided to youth in detention.  This grant is funding a probation officer, a nurse, and an advocate assigned to link low-income families to health insurance.  Ceres Policy Research has been hired to serve as the local program evaluator for this grant.   In coordinating with the state-wide evaluator, our primary role is to conduct a process evaluation as the staff develops and refines their program.

Funded by the Healthy Returns Initiative, The Youth Reentry Team (YRT) is a collaboration that includes Barrios Unidos, the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, the Youth Services division of the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, and the Santa Cruz County Probation Department.  This collaboration is currently assessing and addressing gaps in reentry services for youth leaving detention.  Ceres Policy Research is helping to facilitate these meetings.  We will also assist by writing a grant to support services proposed by the YRT.  This work is also being funded by the Healthy Returns Initiative grant from The California Endowment.