Youth and Family Services
Youth Diversion and Development
Youth Diversion and Development (YDD) is designed to empower participants to improve their well-being and decrease the likelihood of involvement with the criminal justice system. AYC provides services for youth in lieu of arrest or citation, as the YDD program aims to divert youth from the criminal justice system while helping young people build their strengths, meet their needs, and reach their goals. Upon successful completion of the program, no arrest will be filed by law enforcement and no permanent criminal record of the alleged offense will be filed. AYC caseworkers and youth work together to develop an individualized care coordination plan that taps into each youth’s strengths while increasing access to youth development, health, and social services.
For more information, contact Cinthia Alvarado, YDD Program Manager, at (310) 628-4774 or cinthia.alvarado@aycla.org.
Educational Pathways and Vocational Opportunities
The Educational Pathways and Vocational Opportunities (EPVO) program aims to reduce juvenile delinquency and recidivism by providing case management services to probation youth in acquiring their high school diploma or GED/HISET, essential job readiness skills, or specific vocational training. Through case management services, AYC provide supportive services, such as external referrals to health, educational support, housing, and/or other services as needed and barrier removal (transportation assistance, obtaining documents needed for school enrollment such as a photo ID, SSN, transcripts, assistance with school clothes/school supplies, etc.). Each youth follows their individualized pathway based on an initial educational/vocational assessment, case planning and goal setting, enrollment, and retention and educational/vocational support services through weekly in-person or phone contacts with youth and weekly tutoring sessions for academic development.
For more information, contact Richard Toledo, EPVO Program Manager, at (310) 628-4558 or richard.toledo@aycla.org.
Re-entry Intensive Case Management Services
Re-entry Intensive Case Management Services (RICMS) provides support and connection to needed services in the community such as housing assistance, benefits and income, establishment assistance, money management assistance, transportation assistance, basic needs assistance, life skills and community integration assistance, and independent living skills assistance. Re-entry is a critical component of the Los Angeles Department of Health Services to reduce drug use and its consequences within the community.
For more information, contact Bertha Morales, RICMS Program Manager, at (323) 902-5697 or bertha.morales@aycla.org.
Credible Messenger Services
The Credible Messenger Services program is an early intervention, community-based model that pairs youth with a specially trained adult “Credible Messenger” who comes from the same or a similar community, has lived experience in the juvenile or criminal justice system, demonstrates integrity, and is trained to mentor young people. This credibility will allow the participant to connect more effectively with the mentor, who can validate the youth’s experiences and role model a positive future, hope, and healthy prosocial behaviors for the participant who is currently in the juvenile facility and/or community. The Credible Messenger Program focuses on three services: family engagement, restorative justice healing circles, and individual mentoring.
For more information, contact Phoebe Larimore, Credible Messenger Program Manager, at (310) 628-4803 or phoebe.larimore@aycla.org.