The Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG) program provides state funding for counties to deliver custody and care (i.e., appropriate rehabilitative and supervisory services) to youthful offenders who previously would have been committed to the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Individual county allocation amounts are based on a statutory formula that gives equal weight to county juvenile population and juvenile felony dispositions. By May 1st of each year, every county is required to submit a Funding Application that identifies how it plans to spend YOBG funds in the upcoming fiscal year. In prior years, Contra Costa County Probation has used this funding for the Youthful Offender Treatment Program (YOTP) a self-contained, phased, behavioral treatment unit for 30 residents, with enriched staffing that includes a mental health specialist, teacher, and three deputy probation officers in addition to counseling staff, who work together running groups and reviewing the residents' progress to see if they are ready to move forward to the next phase. The program is cognitively based and requires the young men to work their way through and out of the program. Additional programs include school, anger replacement, victim awareness, life skills, substance abuse counseling, family counseling and enrichment programs. Custodial time is significant; sentencing to the maximum confinement time or age 21, whichever comes first. The phased program addresses a common institutional problem of residents not participating and "waiting out their time." For FY 2016-17, the estimated allocation exceeds the program cost of the YOTP program so the balance of the funds will be used to offset the cost of a girls treatment unit in the Juvenile Hall known as Girls in Motion (GIM). The mission of the Girls in Motion Treatment Program is to provide a safe and structured environment that will allow adolescent female residents to achieve positive change and personal growth. These goals will be accomplished through individualized treatment plans, individual counseling and group programming focused to strengthen pro-social values/attitudes and restructure anti-social behaviors. The girls attend both individual and group counseling. Probation Staff receive training on gender specific issues and lead many of the girl’s groups. Counseling is provided by Mental Health Therapists, as well as, Community Violence Solutions, Project Success and other community based organizations. The counseling/treatment groups address trauma issues, relationship development, anger management/conflict resolution, and substance abuse. Treatment is also provided for youth who have been identified as being sexually exploited to address CSEC issues (Commercially Sexually Exploited Children).

Absent this funding from the State of California, the County would suffer a reduction in rehabilitative and supervisory services available to youthful offenders in Contra Costa County.

The Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG) program provides state funding for counties to deliver custody and care to youthful offenders who previously would have been committed to the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).