From Bakersfield Now. By Solomon Ladvienka.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. —  A mindfulness course has been implemented to possibly help empower teenagers’ futures. At the Bowles Youth Detention Facility, a wellness program has opened and comes at a time where many teens in the Kern County have been arrested this week.

“They all have a basic mindset of what mindfulness is.,” said Mindful Futures Initiatives Head of Education’s Christine McBride. “They all attended a minimum amount of required classes.”

Over a dozen incarcerated youth participated in mindfulness education classes to help at risk youth with pressure situations and a course that was founded by Amar Patel and his family.

“These youth are in a very tough situation,” said Mindful Futures Initiative’s Founder, Amar Patel.

…

“Being able to manage and control their emotions and internal world when they don’t have any control of their external world, it’s all out of their hands. So, giving them the power back to control at least what is inside them, is very empowering for them and could help make big changes in their lives.”

For the staff at Bowles Youth Detention Center, it allows them to work hands on with youth.

“These youth come to us, they have all sorts of trauma,” said Kern County Deputy Chief Probational Officer over youth services Bureau, Elaine Moore.

“I always think of it as, if we can give them something to help them navigate some of those traumas that they’re experiencing and the unsureties of life in general.”

“For us, I think it’s important because our youth that has never been exposed to something like this, and our department moving to where to provide any opportunity or any resource that is available to them for them to come here and maybe see a different outlook for themselves,” said Kern County Senior Deputy Probation Officer, Louis Salas.

For one of the [youth], the course has inspired him to be better. Due to security reasons, the [youth] asked to be named Michael.

“It makes me feel good because it’s somebody that is inspired to help youth especially while locked up in this predicament,” said Michael.

…

On Saturday, Michael and several others graduated Level 1, and received certificates for their commitment to the lessons.

…

“Sometimes we’ve seen dramatic changes just from one or two classes,” said Kern County Senior Deputy Probation Officer, Louis Salas. “So, being able to see that change so quickly is very rewarding.”

Read the full article and watch the video coverage here.