March 17, 2025
Contact:
pio@dyd.lacounty.gov
LA County Department of Youth Development and 2nd Call Partner for Youth Support and Safety at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
The Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development (DYD) and 2nd Call are partnering to provide programming and staffing that promote safety, mentorships and learning opportunities at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.
“2nd Call will assist probation officers with escorting youth from units to classrooms to help ensure they have safe, equitable access to education,” DYD Director David J. Carroll. “This partnership will reduce barriers to learning and introduce valuable new mentorship opportunities to young people.”
Since 2006, 2nd Call, a community non-profit organization, has offered impactful services for high-risk individuals in Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire. Their programs include intervention, counseling, and life skills classes, designed to foster community healing and growth.
“Our goal is to help young people achieve positive growth through trauma-informed care, which addresses mental health and enables lasting behavioral changes,” said 2nd Call Executive Director Skipp Townsend. “We’re proud to team with DYD to mentor young people, support learning, and promote healthy development.”
As part of DYD’s award-winning Credible Messenger Transformative Mentorship program, 2nd Call will employ 20 Credible Messengers to ensure safe passage to classrooms and assist youth with their studies, through a partnership with the Los Angeles County Office of Education. 2nd Call will also deliver weekend violence intervention workshops and healing spaces, and in-unit Credible Messenger support.
The programming partnership, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Probation, will launch this month and continue into 2026. To learn more about DYD’s Credible Messenger program, visit dyd.lacounty.gov/reentry.
About the Department of Youth Development: DYD represents LA County’s first centralized, systemic approach to connecting young people with vital resources and programs. Through innovation and collaboration with youth-serving partners, DYD aims to reduce youth involvement in the justice system and guarantee fair access to developmental services, opportunities, resources, and care-first efforts that demonstrably improve youth well-being and community safety. Learn more at dyd.lacounty.gov.