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Some Highlights of Our Breakout Sessions and One of Our General Sessions!
Day 1 of our conference will feature a general session by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) covering California’s new Permanent Foster Care Rate Structure. Starting July 2025, a key part of this rate structure will take effect, requiring the use of standardized high-fidelity Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment for all youth and non-minor dependents (NMDs) in foster care. This important CANS update will be explored in depth during a breakout session later that day.
Spotlight
ICYMI: Experts Sound the Alarm on Prop. 36 Funding Gaps in Davis Vanguard Op-Ed
From Davis Vanguard
Sacramento, Calif., June 10, 2025 — In an opinion editorial published today, Davis Vanguard Editor and Founder David Greenwald highlights growing concerns about the recently announced legislative budget agreement and its failure to adequately fund implementation of Proposition 36, despite overwhelming voter support last November.
In the piece, Greenwald outlines concerns from across the spectrum – including from California Probation and state legislators – about the funding shortfall counties will face as they are expected to carry out the law’s provisions.
New Mural Brings Color and Healing to Monterey County Probation Department Juvenile Hall Garden
Monterey County, Calif., June 3, 2025 – A new mural within the garden of the Monterey County Juvenile Hall was unveiled Friday, May 30th at the Juvenile Hall facility, located at 1420 Natividad Road, Salinas. The mural is a creation of the young men in the facility and artist Fabian Debora of Homeboy Art Academy, a Los Angeles nonprofit that helps youth find identity and understand their roots through art. This special initiative marks Debora’s second visit to the Monterey County Juvenile Hall.
Orange County Probation: Healing Paws, Healing Hearts
Orange County, Calif., April 21, 2025 – If you were to visit a room at the Orange County Probation Department’s (OC Probation) Juvenile Hall, you’d likely come across something unexpected — a photograph of a dog, side by side with the youth. It’s a small, yet powerful reminder of the unique bond they share, one that stands out in a place where many misperceive as a place where hope and connection can be out of reach.
Orange County Probation Officer Uses Superhero Persona to Uplift Communities Nationwide
Orange, Calif., April 17, 2025 – In a remarkable fusion of public service and community outreach, Yuri Williams, a dedicated probation officer with the Orange County Probation Department, has garnered national attention over the past few years for his unique approach to supporting those facing challenges. By donning superhero costumes, Officer Williams brings joy and hope to those in need, all while using his professional experience to make a lasting impact.
County Spotlight: Lake County Probation’s 3rd Annual Resilient Re-Entry Event
Building Brighter Futures and Safer Communities
At Lake County Probation, they believe in second chances and the power of resilience while providing both supervision and services to those in their custody. This commitment was on full display at the 3rd Annual Resilient Re-Entry Event, hosted in partnership with the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College on October 11, 2024.
Victim Resources
CA Department of Justice Victims’ Services Unit – The Victims’ Services Unit offers crime victims and their families support and information at every stage of the criminal process.
CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, OVSRS – Provides information on offender release, restitution, parole conditions and parole hearings when the offender is incarcerated in prison. 1-877-256-6877
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County Spotlight: San Diego Probation Officer and New Narcotics K-9 Keep Youth Facilities Safe
From San Diego County News, by Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office and additional content from CPOC Communications.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – May 19, 2025 – Probation Officer Claudia Romero is working with a relatively new K-9 partner named Lilly that is trained to sniff out narcotics. Lilly and Officer Romeo trained for 10 weeks for a total of 400 hours at the Sheriffs department before getting to work across the county. Together, they are working to keep youth safe by checking for illegal drugs in juvenile facilities like the Youth Transition Campus and East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.
Lilly is trained to detect five different drugs, and when she finds something, her cue is to sit. She is rewarded with toys, snacks, and vocal encouragement and excitement from Officer Romero.
Their work exemplifies an evidence-based approach to juvenile justice—an approach that balances the need for trust and rehabilitation with accountability. As with other innovative programs across California, Officer Romeo and Lilly offer a model of compassionate enforcement. Their job is to keep youth, officers, and all staff at the facilities safe, healthy, and protected.
Their efforts align with statewide trends: expanding K‑9 detection teams in probation departments, including those trained to detect fentanyl, and passive-alert units in California’s correctional facilities. These programs underscore the benefits of dogs not as instruments of force, but as vital components in early detection, safety, and trust-building.
Watch the full video here.
Probation Chiefs Warn: Cuts to Probation & No Prop 36 funding for Accountability will Harm Public Safety
Cuts to Existing Probation Funding Undermine Public Safety and Treatment Outcomes
Chief Probation Officers from throughout California are sounding the alarm about the state budget’s failure to fund critical components of Proposition 36, while simultaneously cutting existing probation supervision resources in SB 678 and Pretrial monitoring.
At this press conference along with Sheriffs, District Attorney’s and Victims Advocates, CPOC President Chief Steve Jackson stated:
