“Together with people in the community, The Probation Department, teachers, school principals, Local 685, and many fellow probation officers in the School Based Unit, we were able to save funding for this important probation program,” explained Local 685 Fields Vice President, Dwight Thompson.
The school-based program consists of Deputy Probation Officers assigned to school sites to advocate and ensure that youth receive resources available and alternatives to suspension or expulsion with the goal to keep kids in school. The Probation officers also support and empower parents to become the primary charge agent for their children.
“A lot of parents come to us because they see their kid on the verge of hanging out with the wrong crowd, flirting with gang activity, not going school,” Deputy Chief Felicia Cotton said. “The parent doesn’t know what to do. They come to us.”
It was indeed great to hear panel member unanimously vote “Yes” on behalf of this program and fulfilling that Local 685 could start the year with something so positive, it’s our first battle, but many more to come,” said VP Thompson.