Board presses Probation on staffing, programming, and moves for pregnant youth; directs regular reporting
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Summary
After a status report from Probation, the board directed the department and health partners to provide regular reports and to secure alternatives for pregnant youth, voting 3-0 on a motion that no pregnant youth be transferred to Campus Kilpatrick until 24/7 nursing coverage is in place and that departments report back regularly.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday reviewed a report from the Probation Department on recruitment, hiring and retention, questioned program delivery at juvenile sites and directed probation and health agencies to report back on pregnant youth housing and care.
Sheila Williams, chief deputy over administration for the Probation Department, presented six recruitment metrics including applicants, contingent offers, hires, time-to-hire, academy graduation rate and turnover. Williams said there were 4,353 applicants in the first three quarters of the year, leading to 1,161 contingent offers; total hires were 53 during the reporting period. She reported an average time-to-hire of 327 days, an academy graduation rate of about 81% and noted background clearances and stricter screening were factors in pass rates.
Supervisors pressed the department on program delivery and site conditions at Los Padrinos and Barry J, citing auditors’ findings and site visits that showed program activity did not match what was listed on paper. "What we put on paper needs to match what is in practice," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said.
Health services director Dr. Christina Galley said the Department of Health Services does not yet have 24/7 overnight nursing coverage at Campus Kilpatrick; two pregnant youth in custody were discussed — 1 in the first trimester and 1 in the second — and DHS said neither had known complications but that overnight nurse registry staffing is expected in late November or early December.
Supervisor Lindsay Horvath moved a written motion requiring the chief probation officer, in collaboration with the Departments of Mental Health and Health Services, to report verbally at the next regular meeting and in writing at every regular board meeting while any pregnant youth remain in custody about steps to secure alternative housing; the motion also asked probation to provide its policies on pregnant youth care and diversion. Horvath said pregnant youth require care-first decisions, given facility distance from emergency medical services and gaps in overnight nursing.
The motion was seconded and passed 3-0. The board also received the probation report and instructed departments to provide follow-up on recruitment, placement constraints and programming oversight. Supervisors said they expect timely documentation and on-site checks to ensure programming occurs as represented to the board.