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County pitches reentry, 'doors' sites, youth programs and economic supports — JCOD and partner departments seek continued funding
Summary
Judge Sonia Armstead (JCOD), Youth Development and the Department of Economic Opportunity described programs aimed at reentry, warm‑landing sites, fire‑camp workforce pathways and youth diversion. Leaders asked supervisors to sustain one‑time funds and restore programs that face sunset or federal uncertainty.
A cluster of presentations on Feb. 21 focused on reentry, community‑based youth development, workforce supports and local economic programs and asked the board to preserve and extend one‑time funds as federal and state grants shift.
Judge Sonia Armstead, director of the Department of Justice Care and Opportunities (JCOD), outlined reentry and diversion programming including the Justice Connect support center (a 7‑day call center), reentry intensive case management (RICMS), CareFirst Community Investment (CFCI) grants to local organizations, and plans for warm‑landing services adjacent to Men’s Central Jail. Armstead said JCOD must convert one‑time ARPA and other funds into more sustainable support to maintain home locations (Doors sites) in South Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley and to launch a Long Beach site.
Armstead said the department is developing a warm‑landing center and had secured a parcel across from Men’s Central; construction and capital financing were noted as outstanding gaps. She also described the Los Angeles County Training Center (a reentry fire‑camp pathway), reporting early success — including more than 50% of one cohort receiving Cal Fire employment offers — and said additional funding would sustain workforce pipelines and expand an all‑female cohort. JCOD asked for NCC to stabilize ongoing operations and capital costs.
The Department of Youth Development and the Department of Probation described linked prevention and in‑facility programming. Youth Development requested positions to place staff full‑time inside juvenile facilities to coordinate community‑based organizations, expand diversion outreach (school‑based ambassadors), and build data and transition‑age youth supports. Probation described workforce reclassification (safety and security specialists) and juvenile realignment positions tied to state DJJ transitions.
Economic Opportunity Director Kelly Lobianco briefed the board on the department’s work to support small businesses, the Youth at Work and LA RISE programs, and the economic mobility initiative; she flagged the impending sunset of ARPA/plan‑funded programs (noting about $38.7M plan‑z still encumbered) and urged restoration of critical workforce and small‑business programs now facing federal and state funding pressure.
Community organizations and program operators spoke in support during public comment. Multiple supervisors asked how short‑term funds would be sustained and whether revenue‑generating options (including Medi‑Cal for some case‑management services) could be expanded; JCOD and partners said they are pursuing federal/state grants, philanthropic matches and billing opportunities but asked the board to consider transitional NCC support to maintain services while revenue streams are established.
