In this report, the authors evaluate the implementation of programs run by three Los Angeles County agencies that receive California's Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds: the Department of Public Health, the L.A. County Library, and the Department of Beaches & Harbors. The authors present recommendations for improving facilitators of and removing barriers to implementing these programs.

Evaluation of Community-Based Programs Funded by the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Youth Services, Library Probation Outreach Program, and Beaches & Harbors WATER Youth Program

Samantha Matthews, Tara Laila Blagg, Nastassia Reed, Alexandra Mendoza-Graf, Aarya Suryavanshi, Susan Turner, Laura Whitaker, Stephanie Brooks Holliday

ResearchPublished Jan 6, 2025

California's Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) funds the implementation of programs for justice system–involved or at-promise youth (i.e., youth who are at risk of becoming involved in the justice system). In this report, the authors evaluated the implementation of programs run by three Los Angeles (L.A.) County agencies that receive JJCPA funds: the Department of Public Health (DPH), the L.A. County Library, and the Department of Beaches & Harbors (DBH). DPH programs help youth address and treat substance use issues, the Library Probation Outreach Program provides library resources and life skills, and the DBH WATER Youth Program offers ocean safety education and recreation.

Although the programs vary in terms of content and setting, they each provide prosocial activities, link youth to resources, and aim to prevent future justice-system involvement. The authors found that these shared characteristics — along with dedicated and skilled staff, tailored programming, and partnerships with other agencies or organizations — facilitated program implementation. However, the authors also found common barriers to implementation. All programs faced challenges with attendance. Some programs faced staffing challenges, slow hiring and approval processes, and billing issues. The authors make recommendations to improve implementation to better enable the programs to further their missions and expand their influence on the lives of youth they serve.

Key Findings

DPH Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Youth Services programs fund outreach and engagement activities, conduct onsite substance use disorder (SUD) screenings in juvenile halls, and support youth SUD treatment

  • JJCPA funding improves youth access to SUD treatment by providing transportation, food, and family-engagement activities.
  • Retaining youth in treatment is a challenge and, because of inconsistent attendance, some youth need higher levels of care.
  • Because of low reimbursement levels and billing issues, some funds are underused.

The Library Probation Outreach Program provides library services and life skills lessons to at-promise youth at libraries and alternative high schools

  • Cocreating and tailoring programs to local needs and staff's ability to build relationships and trust with youth are essential for meaningful engagement.
  • Hiring staff with skills, expertise, and lived experience similar to that of participating youth — for example, staff who reflect youth race, ethnicity, or gender — have enabled program implementation.
  • Challenges that youth face in their personal lives, such as managing school, a job, or children of their own, have contributed to low attendance.

The DBH WATER Youth Program offers exposure to L.A. beaches, ocean-safety education, and ocean-related careers

  • Strong staff morale and commitment to the program's mission are key facilitators to the program's implementation.
  • Fear of the ocean or lack of bathing suits or towels might keep youth from attending, but staff work one on one with youth to help them overcome their fears and learn about ocean safety.
  • Low program attendance and understaffing are challenges to program implementation.

Recommendations

  • Improve access to and use of programs by improving outreach and partnerships to increase the number of referrals, strengthening communication between the Probation Department and the programs, and offering incentives such as community service credit, transportation, and food.
  • Expand service offerings or enhance existing services, such as by (1) using DPH funds to support additional nontreatment services and field-based services to retain more youth in treatment; (2) delivering the library program in new venues and schools and making investments in more modern materials; and (3) for WATER Youth Program participants, offering swimsuits, towels, and a private changing area.
  • Streamline L.A. County approval, billing, and hiring processes to ensure funds are adequately used, such as by allowing maximum flexibility in using funds and simplifying and shortening approval and hiring processes.

Topics

Document Details

  • Copyright: Los Angeles County Probation Department
  • Publisher: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Year: 2025
  • Pages: 57
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RRA3217-6
  • Document Number: RR-A3217-6

Citation

RAND Style Manual

Matthews, Samantha, Tara Laila Blagg, Nastassia Reed, Alexandra Mendoza-Graf, Aarya Suryavanshi, Susan Turner, Laura Whitaker, and Stephanie Brooks Holliday, Evaluation of Community-Based Programs Funded by the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Youth Services, Library Probation Outreach Program, and Beaches & Harbors WATER Youth Program, RAND Corporation, RR-A3217-6, 2025. As of May 1, 2025: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3217-6.html

Chicago Manual of Style

Matthews, Samantha, Tara Laila Blagg, Nastassia Reed, Alexandra Mendoza-Graf, Aarya Suryavanshi, Susan Turner, Laura Whitaker, and Stephanie Brooks Holliday, Evaluation of Community-Based Programs Funded by the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Youth Services, Library Probation Outreach Program, and Beaches & Harbors WATER Youth Program. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3217-6.html.
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This research was sponsored by the Los Angeles County Probation Department and conducted within the Justice Policy Program of RAND Social and Economic Well-Being.

This publication is part of the RAND research report series. Research reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND research reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

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