Santa Cruz County education and law enforcement officials have launched a new countywide initiative aimed at aggressively reducing the number of young people involved in the criminal justice system.
Led by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education in partnership with law enforcement and community-based organizations, Project ASCEND – Achieving Success Through Community, Education and Nurturing Development – aims to reduce juvenile recidivism rates and build a more restorative approach to youth justice.
The uses trauma-informed and restorative justice practices to help youth and families build resilience and foster a greater sense of belonging. The program’s goals include improving school attendance, cutting juvenile recidivism in half by 2028, and diverting at least 80% of eligible youth from detention or probation into supportive services.
“Project ASCEND reflects our collective — and data-driven — belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to grow, heal and thrive,” said County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah.
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