Our Impact
Sonoma Valley Youth and Family Services was established in 1997 through a partnership between the City of Sonoma and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office to prevent Sonoma Valley youth from entering the juvenile justice system. This has allowed Sonoma to maintain local community control of the consequences facing our youth. SVYFS provides a path for diversion, leadership and interpersonal growth tools, opportunities for community connection and belonging, and parenting classes and supports.
SVYFS grew from the desire to hold youth accountable and maintain community control of the consequences facing our youth while supporting juvenile probation in their need to reduce overcrowding at juvenile hall. The program provides services for families who live within the boundaries of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD), although they may be attending schools out of that district. In this way, all youth in the Sonoma Valley can be assured of consistency and equal access to services. Law enforcement, schools, parents/families, and other community agencies can refer youth.
SVYFS partners with numerous public and private agencies and with the Sonoma Police Department and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department to provide wrap-around support for the youth and their family. Youth who have committed a criminal offense, or are at risk of offending, are often experiencing challenges in other areas of their life, for instance, at school or in the home. In order to successfully reduce the likelihood that a youth will re-offend and create a platform for future success, all areas of concern must be addressed.
The Sonoma Police Department currently refers all eligible cases and citations involving youth less than 18 years of age to SVYFS. The goal is to centralize the review of offending activity in order to provide the most appropriate community response and support for the youth of Sonoma Valley.
In many cases, SVYFS refers youth to programs, classes, or counseling appropriate to the circumstances. Anger management, alcohol, and other drug programs are free and offered locally in Sonoma Valley or in other surrounding areas in the county.
The Sonoma Valley Youth & Family Services program continues to be successful. As of 2011, we are the only program in the county that continues to operate as a locally run diversion program for youth. Budget cuts at Juvenile Probation eliminated funding to services offered to first-time offenders. This equates to minimal consequences and no early intervention. Juvenile Probation continues to refer juveniles to SVYFS. Our program offers immediate consequences, accountability, and early intervention at the local level outside the court system. This is the foundation for our youth to turn their lives around within our community.