You won’t want to miss the final episode of Around Kern County where Ally Soper, Chief Communications Officer, highlights Kern County Probation Department’s solution to address individual needs of youth in their juvenile facilities. Their Re-Entry, ADA, and Programming Unit, also known as RAP, is an evidence-based program designed to set youth up for success after their release.

Probation Department Division Director Ryan Wegis explains that the program provides youth with vital services like job preparation training, coping with difficult situations, and behavioral change models. The program is integrated into the juvenile hall’s daily schedule, allowing every youth in the facility to participate in the structured program. 

“The probation department has been on the forefront of utilizing evidence-based practices when it comes to its efforts to help in the rehabilitation of offenders and in the juvenile facility setting we have an opportunity to affect that change,” said Division Director Wegis. 

Sammy, a RAP program graduate, shared how the program helped her mentally and physically. It also motivated her to make positive behavioral changes. She appreciated the personalized services the RAP staff provided her. 

Recently, the RAP team was invited to the Council for Juvenile Justice Administrators National Convention to present their model as a potential for use nationwide. Find out more and watch the video here.