Sierra Youth Center

The Sonoma County Sierra Youth Center provides a local placement for female adolescents, sentenced by the Juvenile Court, who do not have extensive criminal experience and range in age from 14 to 17 years.

The program provides early intervention aimed at modifying the minor's inappropriate behavior and promoting her positive return to the family and community. A resident's length of stay may vary from three to eight months, depending on the severity of their offense and the individual's progress through this program. Emphasis is placed on confronting antisocial and illegal behavior and building self-esteem. In an effort to have the minors assume responsibility for their decisions and actions, counseling is provided on an individual and group basis.

The Sierra Youth Center (SYC) is a seven-day-a-week program. Juveniles may earn furloughs home each weekend to be with their families. Failure to earn a "good" week results in the resident staying at SYC over the weekend, participating in work projects, and accumulating fewer "good" days toward completion of the program.

Residents practicing T'ai Chi

SYC has a maximum capacity for 22 residents. Each resident will be assigned to a counselor with whom the family will work in order to improve communication and problem-solving techniques. An individual case plan will be designed by the case counselor, full-time therapist, and supervisors to meet family needs. Staff also provides weekly groups for parents to learn additional skills for effective parenting.

The educational program for residents is very important. The Sierra program has an on-grounds school that provides intensive, individualized attention for each resident. A fully credentialed teacher is provided through the County Office of Education.

A complete educational assessment will be done with a plan completed to focus on learning problems and to enhance educational areas where a student may excel. This evaluation will enable a resident to be appropriately placed in public school upon completion of the program, prepare for the high school equivalency test or graduate, etc.

The residents participate in two types of money making work projects. All monies earned by the residents are deposited into two program trust funds: 1) A restitution fund that pays restitution owed to victims, and 2) a fund used for athletic equipment, educational field trips and wilderness experience outings. The paid work projects are in addition to volunteer community service work in which each resident participates.

Residents training assistance dogs

The Sierra Youth Center greenhouse

Citizens from the community have volunteered as tutors, gardeners, and mentors. These responsible adults serve as role models, teaching life skills and forming friendships. If you would like to make a positive difference in the life of a teenage girl, please call 565-6288 for more information and a tour.

This program provides a valuable service to many juveniles in Sonoma County. SYC is located on Pythian Road near the Juvenile Justice Center. If you any questions, please contact the program by phone at (707) 565-6306.

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