Post-Release Inmate Fees

Extent of Family Counseling Participation During Camp Detention One of the fundamental points of Probation’s LA Model is the inclusion of “families as partners in the treatment and aftercare process.”55 It is not clear as to the types and levels of family involvement assumed or expected in coming up with the LA Model. During this investigation, the Committee members received Probation data indicating that nearly two out of three young men and three out of four young women had history with DCFS prior to entering camp.56

DMH TOTS Clinics and Medi-Cal Coverage Reinstatement DMH implemented the “Juvenile Justice – Transitional Outpatient Treatment Services” so that youth who have been prescribed psychotropic medication(s) during camp detention can continue to receive care immediately after release from County’s juvenile camps.57 Known as “TOTS,” this began as a pilot program approximately a year ago to continue providing timely professional mental health services to youth exiting camps. Currently, these services have been expanded to all youth exiting juvenile camps and juvenile halls. The TOTS program exists to provide mental healthcare needs so that medication, crisis management, and follow-up psychiatric care can continue immediately after release from juvenile camps. TOTS serves as a bridge between the services received while at camp and to continue the services once back in the community and works to transition the youth until long- term “community linkages” are in place for camp-released youths.58 As a result of TOTS clinics, youth and his parent or guardian are afforded a transition time to reinstate coverage under Medi- Cal before connections with mental health services in the community can start. TOTS services are provided without regard to the youth’s insurance status and are funded with the County’s general fund. According to a TOTS clinician we interviewed, access to TOTS services ranges from no more than once or twice after camp release, to some youth who continue receiving services for up to three or four months. Currently, TOTS services are provided at five Probation Offices. DMH clinicians are available at four sites once a week and one day a month at the fifth site. To continue mental health services in the community, some of the youth have private insurance coverage but many camp youth rely on Medi-Cal benefits. Under existing Medi-Cal eligibility rules, Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) suspends Medi-Cal benefits when a youth enters juvenile camp. The Committee members learned that Probation coordinates camp detention information with DPSS. After more than 12 months stay at a County juvenile camp, DPSS terminates Medi-Cal benefits for the youth. If a youth is released prior to the 12-month period, then the benefits can be reinstated. For camp-released youths under 18 years of age and returning to family, DPSS notifies the parents to contact DPSS to reinstate Medi-Cal benefits. Parents are also reminded during Transitional MDTs to reinstate Medi-Cal benefits for the youth. To reinstate Medi-Cal benefits, the youth must actually be home to receive benefits. For some of the youths who will need to continue counseling or who take psychotropic medicine, timely Medi-Cal reinstatement is critical to continue the needed mental health services in the community. As described above, DMH TOTS clinics provide immediate service after camp exit, but Medi-Cal reinstatement is a necessary step for most camp-released youth to continue mental health services in the community. See information at http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dmh/1030469_TOTSFinalizedPamphletTOTS-FINALCOPY11_07_17.pdf (accessed February 5, 2019). Ibid. 2018-2019 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT SUCCESS? EXITING JUVENILE CAMPS 13 - 42 For youth over 18 who are listed as a dependent on the parents’ income tax return, parents’ financial information is used to determine Medi-Cal eligibility. For youths over 18 who are independent and not included on the parents’ income tax return, their Medi-Cal eligibility is based on their own financial situation, and DPSS requires redetermination procedures to be completed. For youths between 12 to 19 years old, DPSS may enroll them in the “Minor-Consent Medi-Cal Program” that allows for month-to-month benefits to be provided for a limited range of benefits, such as mental health services, sexually-transmitted diseases needs or pregnancy related services, without the traditional Medi-Cal identification. This program allows minors to be enrolled without parental involvement. For youths 18 to 26 years old and who were in foster care or group home “placements,” DPSS states that the group is automatically eligible for Medi-Cal benefits. Once released from placement, such “Former Foster Care” youths between 18 and 26 are automatically eligible to continue on Medi-Cal without the need for submitting annual eligibility forms. “Former Foster Care” group includes those released from County juvenile camps. DPSS found that many camp-released youth do not stay in one place, ending up with multiple addresses for contact. For such youth, notices regarding Medi-Cal eligibility can be lost, resulting in lost coverage or delays in benefit reinstatement process. For youth without a stable home address, DPSS allows a “District of Residence” to be set up so that notification and mail can be received at a DPSS District Office for Medi-Cal benefits. In addition, DPSS can issue Medi-Cal emergency cards for prompt medical services. DPSS sends eligibility documents approximately two months before the person turns 26 years old. At that time, if at the age of 26 the former foster youth does not qualify for Medi-Cal, then insurance coverage is accessed under the Affordable Care Act. DPSS allows Medi-Cal applications to be initiated online under the DPSS “Your Benefits Now” portal. Former foster care youths could also be eligible for other benefits provided by DPSS beyond medical coverage under Medi- Cal but these benefits are not described in this report.

Residential Vocational Training Programs with Priority for Probation Youth On December 4, 2018, the County Board of Supervisors approved Probation’s request to begin a residential vocational training program at a former juvenile camp.59 The Camp David Gonzales Residential Vocational Training Facility Pilot Project (Gonzales Program) for Transitional Aged Youth is for young men between the ages of 18 and 25 with an educational experience that prepares them for gainful employment and independent living.60 During training, full board and housing will be provided to participants. Current budget includes funding for a three-year program with estimated 330 participants in five successive six-month phases. The program is to offer a multi-core craft curriculum that will lead to an apprenticeship prep certificate required by building trades to enter the major joint apprenticeship opportunities. The program will allow the participants to complete the OSHA 30 certificate, hand tools training, building-trades awareness for the 14 trades, as well as preparing the participants with background training to assist them in oral interviews for open positions.61 The program is also “anchored with support to address participants’ housing challenges, as well as increased access to other pro-social support such as 59 County Board of Supervisors, Statement of Proceedings, Item 37, December 4, 2018, http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/sop/1048506_120418.pdf, 36. Letter from Chief Probation Officer, dated October 2, 2018, http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/122965.pdf (accessed February 6, 2019), 11, and cited in the County Board of Supervisors, Statement of Proceedings, Item 7, May 15, 2018. County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Transcript from December 4, 2018, http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/sop/transcripts/1048429_120418.pdf (accessed February 6, 2019), 102. 2018-2019 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT SUCCESS? EXITING JUVENILE CAMPS 13 - 44 restorative justice learning, conflict management, family reunification, parenting, and mentoring for sustained behavioral change and personal growth.”62 Upon completion of this program, the County is expected to employ some of the graduates of this program.63 Probation coordinated the implementation of this program through multiple funding sources, including philanthropic, academic, and non-profit sector participants. During one of the Home Visits, the Field PO shared that he was looking forward to enrolling his supervised youth in the Gonzales Program. There was a question as to whether successful completion guaranteed a job for the youth. Probation needs to continue its great work so that successful completion of the Gonzales Program leads to guaranteed job placements. On February 19, 2019, the County Board of Supervisors considered and authorized the Chief Executive Officer to enter into development agreements to fund the operation of a 400 student public charter college-preparatory boarding school in the 8400 and 8500 blocks of South Vermont Avenue, City of Los Angeles (South Vermont Avenue Project). The South Vermont Avenue Project is to prepare youth “for college and careers within the transportation infrastructure and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields.”64 The operation of this charter school is to be jointly funded by the County and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While prioritizing foster and probation youth, the program is to prepare the County youth for “careers and college pathways in the transportation and infrastructure industry by teaching them transferrable industry skills.”65 This project is still in the planning and budgeting phase but the current expectation is for the project to begin operating in 2021-2022. In addition to these two residential vocational training programs, this Civil Grand Jury believes that Probation should consider restarting the fire-camp program previously operated at Camp Paige and Camp Rockey. Members of Detention Committee inspected the facility and learned of the fire camp programs previously operated at the two camps. When discussing this program with Probation representatives, the Committee members learned that the program required three days of fire training and two days of schooling and violated the school hour requirements for participants. In light of increasing forest fires in recent years, Probation should consider re- starting this as a residential vocational program for young men over the age of 18 with priority enrollment for Probation youth. As part of the program, those who have not completed high school should be given the opportunity to earn their high school diploma or its equivalent on site. Attachment I to the Letter from the Chief Probation Officer, dated October 2, 2018, 1, available from the County Board of Supervisors, Statement of Proceedings, Item 7, May 15, 2018. County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Transcript from December 4, 2018, 97. County Board of Supervisors, Statement of Proceedings, Item 20, February 19, 2019, http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/sop/1052232_021919.pdf (accessed March 7, 2019), 27. Ibid. 2018-2019 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT SUCCESS? EXITING JUVENILE CAMPS 13 - 45 When members of the Detention Committee inspected Camp Scott, we were impressed with the work of the Camp POs and others but we noted the lack of vocational training programs for the young women. At least in 2018, the young women entering camps had higher DCFS history than the young men. As part of the initial assessment at juvenile halls, young women are screened for signs of commercial sexual exploitation. Speaking with Camp POs, the Committee members learned that they were on alert for signs of recruiting that could occur even during camp detention. Given these risks for young women in camp detention, Probation needs to identify and implement a similar residential vocational training program for young women in the County.

Data Collection and Availability Based on our review of publicly available reports and studies related to Probation, the Committee members were made aware of computer system and data extraction difficulties within County departments. During this investigation, the Committee members requested data and information from several County departments. Typically, upon receipt and review of initial set of information, there were follow-up requests and additional questions to clarify the information we received. We had no difficulty receiving general statistical information from our sources. When the Committee members requested general information such as the historical population in Probation camps, this information was provided to us during the interview. Once our requests became more specific, we noted that the data needed to be compiled and it took some time to receive this information. In instances where the data included in this report required an explanation of how the information was compiled by our source, an explanation is provided before or after each table. There is usually a statement to indicate the limitations of the provided information to highlight how the information was derived.