The Department of Youth Development Launches July 2022

The Urban Peace Institute’s sustained advocacy for youth justice resulted in a historic vote from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to establish the new Department of Youth Development by July 1, 2022. Urban Peace Institute and our partners with the Los Angeles Youth Uprising Coalition have been demanding this new Department to support youth for decades! We celebrate this as a huge step forward in the continued implementation of Youth Justice Reimagined.

This victory is crucial to ending youth incarceration and will guide The Urban Peace Institute’s advocacy efforts to expand funding for transformative youth services. The Department of Youth Development will also launch Youth Development Network hubs to increase access to housing, mental health and substance use treatment, education and legal support, and more in the areas of greatest need.