Board of Supervisors — 2022-07-12

Good morning and welcome to this July 12, 2022 meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. And I'm going to ask Natasha to deal with that. And Madam Clerk would you

please call the roll? Supervisor Hart?

Here.

And the next item of business is approval of the minutes of June 28, 2022. May I have a motion and a second?

So moved. Second.

And any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Pass unanimously. CEO Miyasato do you have a report today? I do

Chair Hartman board members just a quick report and this is regarding a new program that's been just started recently through CSD The Tri-County Regional Energy Network, or 3CREN, is the County of Santa Barbara's collaboration with the counties of San Luis Obispo and Ventura to offer energy savings programs. 3CREN has partnered with local libraries recently to bring local residents the Home Energy Savings DIY Toolkit. The toolkit has free items for residents to install in their homes and today with us we have Ashley Watkins who can talk and show you what the toolkit looks like.

Thank you CEO Miyasato, good morning members of the board. Yes so we have a toolkit it includes free items that residents can keep like LED lights and weather stripping. It also includes some more expensive items like kilowatt meter that need to be returned. Supervisor Williams reached out and expressed some interest in the toolkit and so that inspired staff to create Board of Supervisors toolkit that can be used by all of the supervisors and their staff. So we'd like to present that to Supervisor Williams.

I do believe he agreed that as a condition of getting the first toolkit, that he would install weather stripping at all of the other supervisors' homes. So you could take advantage of that.

How about cooking on the induction cooktop?

Yeah so this...I wanted to also mention that there's a new addition. We just purchased a bunch of induction cooktops and are supplying them to our local libraries. So those can be checked out as well. And so Supervisor Williams if you'd like to try that out I can give that to you. I do have a special pan that goes along with it, so I'll have to bring that down to you separately. I could only carry so much today. So there's a lot of people who are interested in electrifying their home and induction cook tops are a great way to kind of get a feel for it.

Ashley why don't you show on the camera because people won't be able to see what it looks like?

What's in the box?

Turn around maybe so they can see you on the camera. There we go. The induction too, Ashley?

All

right.

I also just wanted to mention that members of the public, they can go to 3C Wren's website at 3C-REN and they can reserve the toolkit at their local library through there or they can also just go directly into a library.

And so every library will have these and can be checked out as part of the Library of Things?

It is part of the Library of Things not every library has it yet but Santa Barbara City of Santa Barbara City of Goleta Santa Maria Also the county of San Luis Obispo system and Ventura's system. And so when the board, when Supervisor Williams is done he can just return that to us we'll refill it with the items like LEDs and then it can move through the board.

Very exciting. Okay. That concludes my report. Thank you very much. Madam Clerk are there any announcements or changes in today's agenda?

Chair Hartman and members of the board, I do have one quick announcement this morning. I would just like to remind the public who are participating in our meeting today of the Board's updated methods of public participation. For the Board of Supervisors' methods of public participation and to provide a public comment on general public comment or an item on the Board's agenda please see page two of the agenda.

Members of the public can attend meetings in person both in the Santa Barbara Board Hearing Room Chambers as well as the Santa Maria Board Hearing Room Chambers Please note the board is following all local and state guidelines and are no longer requiring face coverings indoors. If you attend the board meeting in person, you will no longer be required to wear a face covering but please be advised that the public health department is still strongly encouraging all county staff and members of the public to mask and socially distance themselves in crowded areas.

I would also like to remind the public if you require any special accommodations, please contact the clerk of the board to make that request preferably on the Friday prior to the board meeting Individuals that would like to provide a verbal public comment virtually may do so via Zoom by registering in advance via the link available on page two. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing important information about joining the virtual meeting.

Once the chair has announced the item you want to comment on, please join meeting with the information provided in the registration confirmation email. You'll be placed on mute until it is your turn to speak. The clerk will call you by name When removed from mute, you will hear a notification that your line has been unmuted. If you are using a touch tone phone, you may need to press star six to unmute yourself.

Each person may address the board for up to three minutes at the discretion of the chair. If you have any questions please contact the clerk of the boards office at 805-568-2240 and that concludes my announcements for today.

Thank you. Do any board members have items they would like to pull for today? Supervisor Nielsen?

Yes, thank you Chair Hartman. Item A9 and A38.

Okay and any other board members? Madam Clerk any members of the

public? Chair Hartmann and members of the Board we do have requests from the public for items A9, A25, A38, A40 and A62

Okay, we'll take them in order. Madam Clerk would you read A9

into the record please? Chair Hartman and members of the board administrative item number nine is from the behavioral wellness department it is to consider recommendations regarding fiscal year 2021-2022 memorandum of understanding with Bealton Polo Village Partners LP and Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara for the provision of supportive services at Polo Village and the operations of Polo Village, a proposed affordable housing development in Buelton.

Supervisor Nelson?

Yes thank you Chair Hartman. My first question is actually for County Council because I'm in the public this weekend there was some discussion on what this item is and way I understand it is actually it's a memorandum of understanding for services that the county might provide we're not the sponsor of this project we're not the applicant we're also not the jurisdiction that has been built in is that correct?

Supervisor Nielsen, yes that's correct. This memorandum of understanding is for the county through the Department of Behavioral Wellness to provide specialty mental health services on site for the project.

Great thank you. My next question is actually for Director Navarro. Good morning welcome thanks I just wanted to maybe have you just inform the public exactly what will be going on what are you guys offering with this MOU Are the services that you're contracting or agreeing to provide, are those things that we have capacity and potential revenue to serve? And this population without it being addressed.

Yes. So these will, the MOU is, the ask is to enter into an MOU with the project developers in Polo Village to secure 15 of the units of the project for special needs housing. Special needs includes physical and mental disabilities, and for us that will be mental health clients who are clients under Be Well already. So many of these clients are in our most intensive services, full service partnerships. Some may be in our outpatient services. They're multi-bedroom units and the prospectus of the project as well as our intention is really to provide a family environment so we have young adults and we have adults who are members of families that suffer from severe and persistent mental illness and it will be that one member of the family then Qualifies and is one of our clients and the rest of the family then is able to be the caregiver for that person in a home environment So that is what we will be providing there are offices to be built on site.

So we will be there onsite daily Monday through Friday to be providing the therapy, the community activities Family therapy and social skills building and community building activities.

Great. Thank you I have one more question actually for Mr Polanski who from the Housing Authority. I believe he's here on Zoom.

Yes, I am Supervisor Nelson.

Yes thank you Mr Polanski for joining us today. My question was about the vetting process for your tenants at your project. There are some questions about what goes into that and this is a family multi-family project and what does that look like with housing authority?

Okay, and thank you very much Supervisor Nelson through the chair. I apologize, I can't be there. I'm on a national Zoom and as you know back east this is the middle of the day for them not the morning. There is a very intensive vetting and review process. And we work in partnership with the Department of Behavioral Wellness to identify the individuals that will most benefit from the affordable housing. As I think most people know The first step to stabilizing an individual so that they can address whatever their issues are and move forward is to find safe, decent, and affordable housing. So that's not something they have to worry about every day.

And as was mentioned just earlier it is families in this particular development some of whom may have a child with a diagnosed mental health challenge Or it could be an adult family member. But the vetting is actually more intensive than it is for just somebody applying for a regular apartment. We do work, as I said, closely with Department of Behavioral Wellness. They've worked with some of the families, some of the individuals for years and just have been, with the lack of affordable housing, have just not been able to find housing to stabilize the families.

So we do criminal background checks, we do other background checks. We will never ever house somebody that is a sexual predator, that is on a sex offender list. Those are folks who we will never house no matter what. But so it's a very Careful vetting as anybody that has gone through it will tell you. Much more intensive, as I said, than the marketplace does.

Thank you

Mr. Plansky.

Does that

answer your question?

Yeah, I have one additional question. It also will not be like a re-entry facility. This is this is not something where somebody would be re-entering back into community from prison or jail. That was another question the community had asked me.

Yeah and Supervisor Nelson through the chair, I really appreciate these questions because i know many members of the community and I've received some calls as well are asking these very same questions. You are correct this is not intended to be a re-entry program it's also not intended to house people that don't want to be housed. This is not a locked facility this is a regular apartment building that just happens to be affordable and provides robust additional support services to help the individuals who need help. But no, these are folks who just lack affordable housing.

These are people that have diagnosed mental health conditions that are being addressed through Department of Behavioral Wellness and just again need that stability of affordable safeties in housing.

And my last question is We'll be giving preference points for local residents from Buellton, because this is where the project is and from Santa Barbara County.

And

veterans.

Yes, in effect I really appreciate Chair Hartman mentioning veterans. This is 15 of the 49 proposed units that we're talking about the MOU We have additional units that are set aside for veterans. We also have additional units that are set aside for families that are living in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions, in motels that were never really intended to be permanent housing or in vehicles.

We have a lot of families where kids are doing their homework in the back seats of cars. So we are working with our council, you know where there is fair housing. And so we do have to abide by the fair housing laws but we already have preference points for veterans. We already have preference points for people already living and or working in San Barbara County And we're seeing what we can do as far as honing in a little bit more. Most likely it would be on the San Ynez Valley, as opposed to specifically the city of Builton. We can't get too small of an area when we're looking at giving preferences through fair housing.

Well thank you Mr. Polanski for your thoughtful and careful work on this. It means a lot to our community.

Well and we really appreciate the support of the supervisors and the community and the City of Builton Uh, everybody has been very supportive and we work every day to earn everyone's trust in as we house folks. So thank you very much for the questions. Thank you.

And I did have a question as well it goes. I understand this issue is really about behavioral wellness and the services that it's offering under this contract. My question came out of the board letter though, how long are we able and probably goes to Mr. Polanski and perhaps to CEO Miyasato, how long can we keep these rental units affordable? And conversely when they are to purchase, how long can we keep them affordable?

Thank you, Chair Hartman. I can speak to this particular development. The Housing Authority in my 27 years we've only done rental housing. In fact the Housing Authority is 81 years of existence has only done rental housing not affordable ownership. The underlying covenant will be for 55 years that is a requirement of the Tax Credit Committee It's also something that the county and the cities require when we're looking for additional funding to match whatever the tax credits won't pay. So it's a minimum of 55 years, the Housing Authority itself has a very narrow mission is to provide affordable rental housing for folks within the Santa Barbara County community and so In reality, it's in perpetuity but the underlying covenant, the actual official legal document will be 55 years.

And so it was a little bit confusing because something said the federal requirements were 20 years at least and you're saying our local policy is 55-year minimum. It can be longer? Do other jurisdictions have it longer? And how does it ultimately stay in perpetuity just for rental?

Certainly, Chair Hartman. Thank you. Yeah, this will be funded primarily through low-income housing tax credits and tax exempt bonds. And it's the Tax Credit Advisory Committee that requires a 55 year underlying restrictive covenant The county and many of our cities have signed on and thought 55 years sounded good. That makes it very consistent with what the state requirements are. When we're talking about specific contracts for services or we're talking about a Section 8 rental assistance contract, those are limited to other timeframes.

And so a lot of times you'll see a 15-year or 20-year but as in the case with Section 8 contracts Those are subject to automatic renewals, but they're only set for a certain period of time. That's that's allowed by regulations and I see

CEO is going to add something

here. I'm sorry. Mr. Chaplain is on zoom and he can add to this conversation. Thank you John

terrific.

Mr caption

thank you. And good morning chair. Yeah, I think we're housing community services typically ours are 30 years from occupied. I know the city of Santa Barbara and some other cities do have a 99-year covenant. They have a much longer covenant, but ours is typically 30 years if it's owner occupied.

And how has that policy set? And can it be longer?

I think it can be longer. We've looked at one project where it was going to exchange hands and we wanted to see if we could increase that covenant an additional 55 years so I think it can be. It's a policy we'd bring back to the board.

Okay I would very much appreciate that. Supervisor Williams?

So for you know, I don't think that it's necessary in this project because it's rental but if it was an owner ownership project you could mirror what the City of Santa Barbara as I understand pushes the legal limit which is 45 year rollovers until 99 years so it means that That essentially somebody would have to own the home for 45 years to circumvent the affordability covenant.

Then it's renewed every time there's a new owner, to the legal maximum of 99 years.

Supervisors if you would like we can have CSD work County Council and bring an item back If the board would like to do that as part of your motion.

I would very much like that if my board colleagues would agree either in the context of the housing element or as a separate item, my interest would see that we extend it as far as we can.

I think that would be great because there is a noticeable lack. We would you know there was this decent amount of affordable housing for instance built-in Summerlin once upon a time but now almost none of those are affordable anymore because not enough, the covenants were not long enough.

And Supervisor just for clarity for CSD this is on home ownership or this is for rental? I know for rental to respond to your question about perpetuity it can't be because the way the financing is through tax credits which means there has to be some LLC equity involved and so you can't be in perpetuity but we could would is your concern mostly about rental or homeownership or both

Both that we extend it to the maximum extent we can under the law. Thank you. Thank you Director Navarro and we have public comment on A9 Madam

Clerk? Chair Hartman and members of the board, we do have one request to speak and we will go to Mr. Andy Caldwell.

Chair Hartman, members of the board, Andy Caldwell representing COLAB Supervisor Nelson did a phenomenal job of beating us to the punch on our questions. Tell you the truth, we would like everything that your staff person said to be put in writing. We think that all of those criterias of I not being a sexual predator, veterans things like that to be the priority for these housing This one location is one unlike the, you know, Motel 6 in Santa Maria and some others. We didn't think this was a bad location.

However, and I had a great conversation with Tony Navarro yesterday. You know special needs that the staff report was just not clear what does special needs mean? And from what I understand special needs can be people that have ambulatory issues or mental health issues Well, with regard to ambulatory issues this thing's on the top of a hill. And I do think that needs to be taken into consideration. The other issue as far as people with various physical needs you also have to take into consideration how many services are there in Buelton?

Where is the nearest doctor's office, physical therapy office? We know where the nearest hospital is in the valley Those are kind of some of the other functional issues that we thought about. But our biggest concern was the fact that this, quote unquote, special needs is going to be mixed in with family housing. And one of the things that Director Navarro spoke to me about is we've always asked the question why are there no sobriety requirements? And she said you can't require it because of state law. I have a lot of people on my show. I deal with a lot of homeless issues through my guests One of the best guests I ever had on this subject runs a very, very successful program in Mississippi. And he said something that really changed my worldview on this.

He said homeless people are not people that ran out of money. They're not homeless because they ran out of money. They're homeless because they ran out of family and friends. Because most people, family and friends will help somebody through a tough spot but they burned everybody in their life And for them to reintegrate into society, they've got to be trained to be responsible and accountable in their personal decision making as it relates to the people trying to help them. And in that regard, they need supervision.

It's not throw a house at them and their problems are going to go away because now some people obviously are homeless through no fault of their own. They had cancer, things like that. We'd like some of those people to be at the top of the list because we think you throw a house at them, they are going to stabilize and reintegrate. But again what we heard today is what we want to hear but we'd like to see that be county policy. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Clerk A25.

Chair Hartman and members of the board administrative item number 25 is from the Community Services Department It is to consider recommendations regarding a letter to the Trust for Public Land requesting technical assistance in exploring potential finance options for parks, trails, fire buffer and groundwater recharge areas. And was that a member of the public who pulled that item?

That is correct Chair Hartman we do have one request to speak on this item and we will go to Mr. Scott Wenz

Madam Chair, members of the board. Scott Wentz representing Cars for Basic. This would seem to be out of the realm of Cars for Basic except for the fact that this appears to be a redundant item. You folks led a contract with the Wood Corporation for $250,000 to do trails, parks and so forth and we stepped in and said what are you doing? We objected to that because you have a robust Parks and Recreation Facility you have the National Parks on one side. You have the Pacific Ocean on the other side now these gentlemen or people are going to be Giving you pro bono, which means it's not gonna cost you anything So if they're gonna do this it would appear to be a redundant item and the wood corporation Contract should be canceled I mean after all if they're gonna be doing this and looking into this It's gonna be Almost 100% identical.

And we would urge you to turn around and say, we'll accept this because you helped arrange this. It's a bad policy to have two corporations or two entities doing the same job particularly when one will do it for free. Thank you.

And we normally don't comment on public comment but I would just add that they're two very different tasks. Madam Clerk, I would like to trail a 38 but I believe we do have some public comment on that so we could allow that to happen now.

Chair Hartman and members of the board. We do not have anyone signed in to Zoom at the moment who did register for this item.

Okay, so we'll hear this one after lunch and everyone will know that. So A40.

Chair Hartman and members of the board, administrative item number 40 is from the Planning and Development Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding an agreement for consultant services with Wood Environmental and Infrastructure Inc., For the preparation of environmental impact reports, EIRs for the 2023 to 2031 housing element update. And we do have one request to speak on this item and that is Mr. Scott Wentz.

Again, Chair, members of the Board, Scott Winsor representing Cars are Basic. This is a housing element. This is going to involve transportation issues, parking and so forth. One of the questions we have is why hasn't this board joined with other government agencies who are going after SB 9? SB 9's one of the items that's driving this and it's making life unbearable in counties and cities throughout the state.

That's number one. Number two, guess who the applicant or the people you're going to be having do this? It's the Wood Corporation again. Well we have a long history with those people going back at least 15 years. We've seen them at international conferences and this is indelicate and I hope somebody listens closely to it whose pocket is being greased on this one because somebody is getting some kind of either political or financial benefit By hiring these people who are high density infill proponents.

So we don't think it's a good idea, we think you should be going after SB 9 spending the money to stop SB 9 from being implemented.

Thank you. Madam

Clerk, does that conclude public comment? Chair Hartman and members of the board, that concludes public comment for this item. Thank you.

And so I think we've completed the A agenda and so I'd like a motion to approve accepting A38 which we will trail till after lunch.

Move consent calendar except for A38. Second.

All

in favor say aye. Sorry, I got one quick question before we vote on that. Yes. You don't mind? Thank you, Chair Herman. I know we gave direction to come back with an item. I hope that's actually an item we can actually debate still and talk about some of the specifics not direction that we want

to...

We weren't given direction. Just want to clarify that, that we'll get a chance to have an array of options for our board to...

Yeah, it's not agendized. It's just direction.

All right so but that direction is in your motion correct

chair?

For it to come back for discussion. For it to come back right

okay

just clarifying All right, thank you.

So we have a motion and a second for the balance of the agenda all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Balance of the administrative agenda is approved so resolution A59 Madam

Clerk. Chair Hartman and members of the board administrative item number 59 is sponsored by Supervisor Hartman it is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of July 17th 2022 through July 23rd, 2022 as pre-trial probation and parole supervision week in Santa Barbara County. And I would like to invite our recipients up to the podium and I will now read the resolution.

Whereas during the week of July 17th to the 23rd 2022, probation parole community supervision officers criminal justice and juvenile justice professionals And communities across the nation will join to celebrate pretrial, probation and parole supervision week. And whereas the Probation Department today consists of over 341 dedicated professionals working collaboratively with other agencies and community partners to deliver evidence-based programs to justice involved adults and juveniles while focusing on the enhancement of safety, the reduction of recidivism and racial inequities The protection of and compensation to victims, the promotion of crime prevention services, intervention, rehabilitation, positive youth development and restorative justice principles.

And whereas probation officers and juvenile institutions officers provide an efficient and cost effective use of public resources by supervising approximately 2,800 adults and approximately 200 juveniles within Santa Barbara County. Whereas the Probation Department conducts pretrial assessments, monitors individuals utilizing the least restrictive options necessary to ensure public safety while allowing them to remain in the community and avoid incarceration. And currently monitors 548 individuals on pretrial supervision.

And whereas during the department's 113 years of service, probation's role has evolved dramatically and probation now serves as an integral partner in local law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Probation connects services and individual needs to enhance community safety and the restoration of justice-involved individuals. The probation department serves as an essential connector in the justice system, bridging the gap and maximizing the resources available to reduce recidivism by carefully balancing direct human services with research based deterrence and interventions Probation department staff possess and continue to display a high degree of professionalism, commitment and pride in the work they perform for the courts in our juvenile justice facilities.

And in the community while striving to guide and support justice involved individuals toward becoming productive and successful members of the community. Santa Barbara County probation officers, juvenile institutions officers and pretrial service specialists dedicate their lives to rehabilitation and community safety in order to improve the quality of life for all in our community. Now therefore, be it ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors County of Santa Barbara State of California hereby proclaims the week of July 17th to the 23rd 2022 as pre-trial probation and parole supervision week and recognizes these officers for their significant contribution to making Santa Barbara County a safer place to live It is my honor to come

before you today to recognize pre-trial probation and parole supervision week. You'll notice that we have provided a challenge coin for each of Challenge coins are a tradition dating back at least until World War I era. They are now used by many public safety agencies to acknowledge outstanding achievements. The coin you're being presented today acknowledges the collective achievements of our adult division in 2021.

These achievements were possible in large part due to the support of your board, as well as the resiliency and commitment of our officers. As a result of your support and the collaborative relationships with our criminal justice partners, each day our department is able to foster and support both accountability and hope. It's only through a balanced approach that provides accountability and hope that we can have a sustainable impact on community safety. Santa Barbara County probation officers and pretrial service specialists work tirelessly to hold justice-involved individuals accountable while supporting them with the help they need to succeed.

With me today are three department representatives, one for each division, adult facilities and juvenile. I'd like to give each of them an opportunity to tell you about the staff that they represent and their incredible work.

Good morning Supervisors to the Chair. I'm Spencer Cross, Probation Manager of the Adult Division and I'm honored to be here today to represent the officers that serve this county as agents of change As noted in the resolution, the adult division has a multitude of responsibilities. We wanted to fill the audience with all of our adult staff so you could see their individual faces but I can guarantee you if they were all in this room local criminal justice system would come to a halt.

I'm confident in this assessment because if they were all here clients who are arrested last night and are currently in the jail would not be interviewed for pretrial release. Those clients who have recently been released from prison or jail and are in need of housing or treatment would not be placed. Those clients who may be suffering from mental illness or drug addiction, would not be getting into treatment. Those who are awaiting their sentencing dates would not have a thorough evaluation and recommendation provided to the court. Victims of crime would have less support and the community as a whole would be missing the benefit of client accountability.

I would've liked to describe each of the unique individual officers in the adult division and list their individual accomplishments however to honor the brevity of my appearance I will describe them as a group Dedication, ethics, accountability and innovation. Those are the words that are engraved on the challenge coin that was presented to each of these officers in the adult division this year for their outstanding work. These officers are committed to changing lives and creating a safer community while carrying out the mission of the department with compassion and integrity.

Throughout the pandemic new challenges arose, staff vacancies persisted, laws have changed Yet these staff carried on with tenacity and perseverance. While numerous inspirational quotes from a variety of resources were considered to share with you this morning, I would be remiss if I did not look closer to home for a few words of wisdom. So I wanted to leave you with a quote from our adult Deputy Chief Probation Officer Holly Benton who said every day our officers and staff climb hills, break through barriers and keep on going because they believe in the work that they do They help our department be the best possible partner to other agencies in the court and the community they serve. Thank you.

Thank you.

Members of the Board, through the Chair, my name is Tiffany Phillips and I am the Supervisor at the Juvenile Justice Center. This marks another year that the staff in both of our facilities, the Juvenile Justice Center and The Voice Camp did an outstanding job providing 24-hour care to the youth in our custody. Displaying exceptional professional ability, initiative and meticulous attention to detail. The dedicated institution officers and supervisors successfully navigated the many challenges COVID presented with us. And there were many.

Staff in both facilities this past year expanded their skillset through a series of de-escalation crisis intervention trainings. The training was comprehensive integrated approach to preventing de-escalating and if necessary intervening when the behavior of an individual poses a threat of harm to themselves and to others. It integrates knowledge about the impact of childhood trauma with the principles of positive behavior support, which provides a rational framework that empowers staff to do their work in a way that minimizes the use of coercion in behavior change methods.

Staff were also trained in trauma-informed care. Learning about adolescent brain development and common reactions from exposure to trauma and skills to help youth get back in balance. In collaboration with the Juvenile Service Division, our staff implemented the use of integrated case plans through outfield services and the facilities. In addition to the multidisciplinary team approaches involving treatment and graduation plans for youth committed to juvenile facilities, consistent positive support is vital for brain development And our staff are devoted to providing a safe and healthy environment for our community's youth.

Working with and caring for youth with significant trauma exposure is not easy. We are grateful for our incredible staff that manage these challenges day in and day out. Thank you so much for your continued support.

Good morning, Supervisors to the Chair. I'm Erin Cross, Manager of the Juvenile Division and I'm pleased to have this opportunity to represent that division today. In the last year we've continued our work to reduce the number of youth on supervised probation to consistently just over 200 throughout the year focusing our efforts on the highest risk youth. Our diversion efforts have helped us to keep that focus. Our current diversion program has been incredibly successful providing sustainable resources for youth and families in the coming year. We're extending our diversion efforts to include restorative justice program as well. For youth necessitating supervision, we have increased our use of incentives and decreased the use of sanctions as we would for youth not involved in the justice system.

We've also embraced the positive achievement change tool to accurately assess a youth's risk to re-offend as well as their protective factors in areas of critical need creating meaningful case plans and referrals to services based on those factors and with the youth and family's input. We have also continued to reduce the use of incarceration reserving this for violent and serious offenders who require a secure setting to facilitate their rehabilitative needs while ensuring community safety. We are focusing our reentry planning to enhance the menu of services and options available to youth and families well in advance of release. To further facilitate this, we have assigned an officer to work within the Juvenile Justice Center to interact with those youth daily to keep them focused on reentry and a successful transition into adulthood.

For other supervised youth, we've utilized several evidence-based programs to address a common theme among them, significant histories of trauma, abuse, and mental health issues. In doing so, we've been able to serve these youth in the community while connecting them to resources they can continue to utilize long after their time on probation ends. Many of our officers have been a part of amazing success stories for youth they supervise but one story stands out. One of our officers was working with a young lady with an unspeakable amount of trauma as a survivor of sexual exploitation. She and her mother had services from nearly 10 community organizations and collaborative partners. Many feared the worst for her however, one thing was clear this youth and her mother had a village in their corner The team committed to focusing on small improvements and engagement as progress.

Her probation officer was able to view her through the survivor lens, recognizing infractions of her terms and conditions were minimal compared to the work this young lady was putting in to truly survive, and she flourished with the support of her village which included her probation officer leading the charge. From diversion at the front end to reentry of our highest risk youth, our juvenile officers are relentless in their focus on supporting youth in overcoming their trauma addressing their mental health needs, and focusing on positive youth development. And in doing so assuring they are well connected to their communities and services to continue to succeed well beyond probation involvement. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said we cannot always build the future for our youth but we can build our youth for the future.