Youth Services Section

The Youth Services Section (YSS) has existed for over 30 years. . We are dedicated to serving youth and their families through an array of services to help youth succeed at home, at school, at work and with friends.  Strengthening the family unit is the key to youths’ success.

YSS staff has extensive training and expertise in working with youth and families. YSS is comprised of a Sergeant, School Resource Officers, Family Support Worker, Counseling Interns, Mental Health Coordinators, Youth Development Manager, Program Coordinators, college interns, and support staff. YSS staff offices are located at Will C. Wood and Vaca High, and PAL offices are located at Shereen Wilkerson Academy and Vaca Pena Middle School in Vacaville. We welcome the opportunity to provide service to your family. Services are also provided in Spanish.

YSS Programs

Diversion

The Diversion program is a Restorative Justice Program designed to help juvenile offenders stay out of the Juvenile Justice System. It is an option for first time offenders and some second time offenders who live in Vacaville.

The Juvenile offender and parent(s)/guardian(s) are scheduled to attend a Diversion Hearing. At the hearing, the juvenile must take responsibility for their actions/behaviors and admit responsibility for the charges. (If the juvenile pleads innocent to the charge(s), the case is forwarded to Solano County Juvenile Probation, where a not guilty plea can be entered). The Diversion Team conducts a thorough assessment of the case, the circumstances and behaviors possibly involved directly with the case (e.g. school behavior and discipline, home behavior and discipline). If approved by the Diversion Team, the Juvenile pays an administrative fee and is assigned up to a six-month diversion contract. The contract may consist of any or all of the following: community service hours, drug and alcohol education, drug testing, letter of apology, Anger Management Group, Parent Project (for caregiver education), the Prison Outreach Program (POP), improvement of grades and school attendance, and frequent contact with the diversion team member. Upon successful completion of the diversion contract, the youth’s file will stay within the Vacaville Police Department and will not be forwarded to the courts.

Counseling

YSS offers counseling services to K-12 students enrolled in the Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD). These services are provided by counseling interns who are in Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Social Work master’s program.

Services are typically offered for 6 to 8 weeks. Referrals are received from police staff, school staff, caregivers, and partnering agencies.  Students may self-refer to receive counseling services.

To refer, send an email to: YouthServicesReferral@cityofvacaville.com

Teen Intervene

Early intervention/prevention curriculum for adolescents focused on harm reduction strategies for substance use. Groups are offered at middle and high school campuses.

Social Emotional Groups

Group are offered on various campuses based on need. Focus is to enhance the wellbeing of youth in schools. Some topics include anger management, social skills, and grief.

Parent Project

The Parent Project is a curriculum for caregivers of strong-willed youth. Caregivers receive the tools to change unwanted behaviors. Topics include early gang involvement, drug/alcohol use, relationships, academic performance, runaways, and others. Caregivers meet each week for two hours for a total of nine weeks. Caregivers will learn the importance of love and affection, positive strokes, and how to keep youth accountable.

Parent Project has been taught by the Youth Services Section for 20 years.

Youth Development Activities: (707) 449-1859

Vacaville Police Activities League (PAL): https://vacavillepal.com/ or VacavillePAL@cityofvacaville.com

PAL is based on the conviction that if young people are reached early enough, they can develop strong positive attitudes towards police officers in their journey through life toward the goal of maturity and good citizenship.

The PAL program brings youth under the supervision and positive influence of Vacaville Police Department staff and expands public awareness about the role of a police officer and the reinforcement of responsible values and attitudes.

Vacaville REACH Youth Coalition: REACH@cityofvacaville.com

The Vacaville REACH Coalition promotes the physical, emotional, and social well-being of all youth by advocating for policies and systems changes that unleash the power and potential for all youth to succeed. We strive to increase youth safety in the community and connect youth to existing resources.

Advocating for Wellness Adolescent Recovery & Education (AWARE): AWARE@cityofvacaville.com

AWARE implements strategies and programs to reduce the rate of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among Vacaville teens. 

Summer at City Hall: REACH@cityofvacaville.com 

The City of Vacaville, Vacaville Unified School District (VUSD,) and Travis Unified School District (TUSD) partnered to host the Summer at City Hall (SACH) program to expose 20 underserved high school youth to a 4-week job skill building experience. SACH will provide youth with an opportunity to acquire job readiness skills, job shadowing and work experience through a class and internship component. The class sessions include 21st Century workforce skill development, civic engagement, local government, resource identification, financial literacy and career interests through lecture, presentations, and technology. Application opens each March/April.

YSS Recognitions

YSS participates with NASRO (National Association of School Resource Officers). YSS was 1 of 10 diversion programs nationwide to receive a NASRO 2015 Model Agency Award.

YSS partnered with the Vacaville Unified School District to create a class called “Safety and Service in Today’s Society”. Our SRO’s began teaching the elective class at Vacaville High and Will C. Wood High beginning Fall 2017 and the classes continue to be taught by a retired Vacaville SRO.

Contact Us:

Vacaville High School: (707) 449-1820

Will C. Wood: (707) 449-6086

YouthServicesReferral@cityofvacaville.com