Probation Mental Health

To address the special needs of an often-neglected population, East Bay Agency for Children created our Probation Mental Health Program which helps youth successfully complete juvenile probation and reduces the likelihood of other at-risk youth becoming involved in the juvenile justice system altogether. Additionally, we guide youth to attend school consistently and to identify and obtain short and long term life goals.
Ultimately, our goal is for at-risk youth to improve their choices and actions and become positive role models for themselves and their community.
 
EBAC's Probation Mental Health Program consists of two components. The first component includes our Community Based Mental Health Services which provides psychotherapy to students with mental health issues who attend one of Oakland Unified School District's three continuation high
schools: Dewey, Rudsdale, and Ralph Bunche. These schools specialize in high risk youth and serve as alternatives to mainstream schools for students who are at risk of school failure and drop-out. School failure increases the likelihood of criminal behavior, and many of these students come to alternative high schools directly from involvement in
the juvenile justice system.   

Our clinicians provide mental health services such as individual, family, and group therapy to students with identified mental health issues.

The second component of our Probation Mental Health Program includes case management for youth transitioning from the Juvenile Justice Center.  Our Case Managers help these youth and their families address problems of daily living, housing, education, job development, and other critical needs. We serve youth through the three continuation high schools and other areas schools as needed. 

The urgent need for EBAC's Probation Mental Health Program is underscored by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which cites that mental health services are the "single most critical gap in juvenile justice."

For more information contact:
Jill Reed, MFT Intern, Program Director
510-268-3770 x 121
jill@abac.org