Juvenile Treatment Center South Lake Tahoe

The JTC offers four separate commitment programs ranging in length from 30 to up to 240 days. Youth are recommended for each program based on the youth's identified individual needs coupled with the available interventions and programs provided in each commitment.

Challenge Program

• Serves youth who are at a higher risk of reoffending and may need intensive interventions and services.
• Up to a 240-day commitment allowing youth, their families, service providers, and the probation department to address the targeted needs of the youth.
• Youth complete interventions aimed at addressing cognitions, decision making, life skills, healthy relationships, works success, anger management, and self-esteem.
• Regular family meetings and temporary releases are incorporated into the program to assist in the reunification process. 
• Transition and aftercare plans are developed to assist in the transition back to the community and residence.
• Before completion, each Challenge Program participant is required to complete a project which includes a research paper and presentation on a topic relative to their life.

Changes Program

• Serves youth who are at moderate to high risk of reoffending and may need intensive interventions and services.
• Up to a 180-day commitment allowing youth and their families, service providers, and the probation department to address the targeted needs of the youth.
• Youth may complete interventions aimed at addressing cognitions, decision making, life skills, healthy relationships, works success, anger management, and self-esteem.
• Transition and aftercare plans are developed to assist in the transition back to the community and residence.
• Before completion, each Changes Program participant is required to complete a project on a topic relative to their life.

Choices Program

• Serves youth who are at a moderate to high risk of reoffending and may need intensive interventions and services.
• Up to a 90-day commitment allowing youth and their families, service providers, and the probation department to address the targeted needs of the youth.
• Youth may complete interventions aimed at addressing cognitions, decision making, life skills, healthy relationships, works success, anger management, and self-esteem.
• Interventions and services are available to address acute needs and provide referrals to community-based providers.
• Family meetings and temporary releases are incorporated in the program to assist in the reunification process
• Transition and aftercare plans are developed to assist in the transition back to the community and residence.
• Before completion, each Choices Program participant is required to complete a project on a topic relative to their life.

Chances Program

• Serves youth who are a moderate risk of reoffending or who may have relapsed and may need acute needs addressed and referrals to community-based providers.
• Up to a 30-day commitment allowing youth and their families, service providers, and the probation department to address the acute needs of the youth with a focus on transitioning back to the community for services.
• Transition and aftercare plans are developed to assist in the transition back to the community and residence.

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The Cedar Program serves individuals ordered to a Secure Youth Treatment Facility who have been adjudicated to have commissioned an offense listed in WIC §707(b) and would have resulted in a commitment to the Division of Juvenile Justice prior to its closure as described in WIC §875.

• The Cedar Program will have varied commitment lengths with maintaining available services until the person attains 23 years of age unless the person at the time of adjudication would, in criminal court, have faced an aggregate sentence of seven years or more. Individuals who would have faced an aggregate sentence of seven years or more may remain in the Cedar Program until the person attains 25 years of age.
• Comprised of a series of stages/phases designed to build off of one another.
• Residential treatment may consist of group therapy, individual therapy, psycho-educational resource groups, journaling/bibliotherapy, family/support counseling, plant care, transitional services, and therapeutic recreational and leisure activities.
• The program will also focus on vocational skill building, development of mature/professional relationships, and continued education as cornerstones of the program.  

The JTC utilizes two key treatment curriculums to address substance use concerns: 

• The Matrix Model Intensive Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program
• Keep it Direct and Simple

   

   

The Matrix Model Intensive Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program is a 16-week integrative treatment model designed to address an individual’s substance use concerns.  The Matrix Model utilizes a combination of evidence-based therapeutic interventions to address recovery and relapse prevention.  This treatment is provided in a supportive and structured environment by the Health Educator who is trained, qualified, and certified to provide alcohol and drug counseling services.  The Health Educator also assists participating youth in developing a post-release prevention plan.  The Matrix Model Intensive Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program is utilized with youth assigned to a program of 180 days or more.  

Keep it Direct and Simple Journal System is a series of 10 interactive journals using evidence-based strategies designed to help adolescents with behavioral health and addiction concerns.  The journals highlight core concepts that explore issues that led the youth to treatment and to assist them in learning tools and skills to make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives.   Keep it Direct and Simple is utilized with youth in a program for 90 days or more.  

Mental health and behavioral health treatment is provided by El Dorado County Probation Mental Health Clinicians and Health Educator. Youth have access to mental and behavioral health services through individual request or by a staff generated referral. Mental and behavioral health services may include individual mental health counseling, substance use and addiction counseling, treatment planning, psychoeducational groups, social awareness, gender specific programing, crisis and de-escalation response, medication management support, suicide prevention services, in-custody debriefing, reunification and family therapy, trauma informed and culturally responsive interventions, identify and address adverse childhood experiences as well as coordination with community partners for transitional and aftercare services. Psychiatric services are also available

Anger management treatment is available to identified youth.  Anger management treatment includes counseling and education in the identification, management, and learning to cope with anger and frustration in healthy and constructive ways.  Youth learn cognitive behavioral strategies to identify and resolve the causes of anger.  They also learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, imagery, and meditation. Other anger management methods of treatment include teaching communication skills, learning to identify triggers, and learning and utilizing coping tools. 

The on-site kitchen at the JTC prepares three well-balanced and nutritious meals and a snack daily that meet the California Child Nutrition requirements. A registered dietician reviews and approves all menus and ensures all special medical dietary needs and restrictions are met. The facility undergoes annual inspections by the Environmental Health Department and operates with a yearly permit granted by the same agency. One or more Correctional Cooks who have completed the Food Safety Manager Certification are on duty for all meals.  The facility consistently meets and frequently exceeds the standards set forth by the Health and Safety Code, Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations, and the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law. 

Wellpath, Inc. furnishes health services to the JTC. Functioning as a private medical provider, Wellpath delivers comparable services nationwide in jails and juvenile detention facilities. The medical personnel are present on-site for a minimum of six days a week, responsible for dispensing medications and performing physical examinations on youths requiring medical care. Youth can request to be seen by medical staff anytime they are on site. After regular business hours, an on-call medical team is accessible to aid staff with any inquiries or issues of a medical nature. Emergency situations are addressed at Barton Memorial Hospital. 

Blue Ridge School is located within the JTC and is operated by the El Dorado Office of Education (EDCOE). Youth receive at least 24 hours of instruction each week. The California Core standards-based curriculum is delivered to all youth through a direct and individual instructional model. Blue Ridge School Course of Study (grades 6 – 12) includes all subjects required for a youth to complete high school course requirements. Completed coursework and credits are transferable to all schools. Qualifying youth may obtain their high school diploma from Blue Ridge School. Resources are available to all special education students as stated in their Individual Education Plan (IEP). The coursework is rigorous and we use innovative approaches to working with justice-involved youth that includes trauma-informed practices, social/emotional curriculum, and character-building instruction. 

The JTC offers a well-organized program of daily activities. Besides mandatory school attendance, a minimum of three hours on weekdays and five hours on weekends or non-school days is allocated for scheduled program, recreation, and exercise.

Outdoor activity is strongly promoted and at least one hour of physical activity is scheduled outdoors, weather permitting.

Encouraging outdoor engagement, there is a requirement of at least one hour of outdoor physical activity, weather permitting. During evenings and weekends, the JTC provides supplementary recreational programs, encompassing activities like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, church services, movies, social visits, letter writing, arts and crafts, as well as open recreation slots that encompass both individual and team sports.