On March 17, 2015, the Probation Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for group and individual counseling programs and services for adult and juvenile offenders referred by Shasta County Probation. Through this process, NVCSS was selected to provide Teen Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), Council on Boys and Young Men, and Girls Circle to juvenile offenders.

This amendment will expand the scope of services of the current agreement to include Project TND. Project TND is an effective teen drug prevention program that consists of up to 600 minutes delivered in 6 to 12 sessions. Sessions are highly interactive and include both pre- and post-tests that can be used to augment the reflection activities included in the sessions. Program effectiveness has been measured in high schools and continuation schools and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention rates Project TND as a promising practice.

Evidence-based and best practice programming is critical to the success of the youth offenders as they develop into self-disciplined, self-governing individuals who respect themselves, respect others, respect their community, and who are capable of making decisions that are personally and socially responsible. The programs provided by NVCSS will help these individuals achieve these goals. Project TND will be offered both in the Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility and in an out-of-custody location, either at Juvenile Probation or NVCSS, to enable juvenile offenders transitioning to and from the Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility the possibility of continuing their participation in the programs.

NVCSS will continue to provide their current evidence-based programs and will report, in writing, to the Probation Department on successful completion of all programs and the mindsets of participants through pre-program and post-program testing. The Probation Department will continue to track the re-entry rates to the juvenile and adult justice systems with the goal of reducing the recidivism rates of the participants.

Allowing the Chief Probation Officer to sign amendments to the agreement provides for process efficiencies.

The Probation Department’s FY 2016/17 Adopted Budget includes funds appropriated for this amendment and the department will include appropriate funding in future requested budgets. The amendment is funded with Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant (JAG), Juvenile Justice, Juvenile Probation, and state grant funds. There is no additional General Fund impact associated with this recommendation.