Seeking Safety Graduation at Valley State Prison
Graduates of the Junior Mentor Leadership Program received their diplomas at the June 3, 2021, graduation at Valley State Prison. (Photo courtesy of www.cdcr.ca.gov)
In March of 2021, Amity at Valley State Prison was awarded the first Youth Offender Program in California, which allows inmates under age 25 access to programs in lower security-level housing as a way to increase rehabilitation. This service provides one on one treatment planning as well as a curriculum designed to work with both PTSD and substance use disorders.
In July 2021, thirty-four students at the Valley State Prison Seeking Safety Treatment Program were the first class to graduate. The Seeking Safety Treatment Program is a collaborative effort between California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and Amity Foundation.
This is an innovative 11-week course that combines substance abuse help and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorders to combat destructive behavior. This program of study is listed by the American Psychological Association as having strong research support as a treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/substance use disorder.
About Amity Foundation:
The Amity Foundation is a non-profit organization that strives to improve health, and promote environmental, social and economic justice for those affected by recidivism, crime, homelessness and addiction. Amity’s model is based on decades of comprehensive community research evaluations and outcomes and is recognized around the world as an effective, evidence-based methodology. They use a holistic approach with interactive, culturally inclusive curriculum to help students process and heal core traumas, while also fostering personal growth, emotional literacy, and social responsibility.
Youthful Offenders Program (YOP):
The YOP, established through Assembly Bill 1276 in 2014, allows CDCR to afford special classification consideration for youthful offenders under the age of 22 admitted to state prison on or after July 1, 2015. On Jan. 1, 2018, the law extended the age of youth to 25 years old. The goal behind the YOP is to give youthful offenders the opportunity to be housed in lower-security facilities with more access to rehabilitative programming and positive influences.
Amity received $2.78 million to envelop the vulnerable youth offender population aged 18-25 with focused education and rehabilitation treatment, specifically addressing root-cause trauma at Valley State Prison.
About Valley State Prison:
VSP was established in 1995 and functions as a medium level facility. VSP is also a CDCR Re-Entry hub that focuses on needs based rehabilitative services including substance abuse and cognitive behavioral training. The prison houses approximately 3,034 people and employs nearly 1,100 people.