Author: Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communication Office

The holidays can be a difficult time for justice-involved youth and their families because they can’t celebrate at home. But San Diego County Probation strives to keep families together during these times.

“It’s part of trying to facilitate engagement with the families,” said Supervising Probation Officer Tyra Myles, who works with youth at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility, which is part of the Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. “The kids need the support and interactions with their families, so they can be better and do better.”

Probation staff try to offer homelike opportunities whenever possible because the ultimate goal is to rehabilitate and help youth heal.

The Girls Rehabilitation Facility program serves up to 25 girls between the ages of 13 and 17 ½ and provides an individualized plan to modify behavior patterns and attitudes. One 16-year-old girl, there for the first time, said she didn’t know what to expect for the holiday.

Find out more about her experience in the external article, here.