1. Located at Fresno County Juvenile
Justice Campus
3333 E American Ave, Fresno, CA 93725

2. *Becoming a positive resource to the
incarcerated youth; to increase the
youth’s success rate once they are
released, as well as reducing crime and
violence within the community.

3. Governing
Board
Advisory
Board
Chief Executive Officer
(Nancy Pressley)
Executive Assistant
(Kirsten Lief)
Bright Futures Program Manager
(Patricia Aranas)
Program Coordinator
(Kirsten Lief)
AmeriCorps-Vista
(Justine Medrano)
Interns and Volunteers

4.  Youth that are currently incarcerated at the
Juvenile Justice Campus
 Youth that are currently in the foster care
system
 Typically most of the youth that are
incarcerated may come from impoverished
areas, single parent homes, oppressed
populations, or gang involvement.

5.  The entire Juvenile population that resides at the Juvenile Justice
Campus, can be seen as at risk. Due to the fact that they are now at
a disadvantage because they have entered into the Juvenile Justice
system.
 But as stated earlier many of the youth that enter the system may
have come from a single parent home, have children of their
own, face poverty, abuse, and gang affiliations.
 Youth’s needs can vary, and Focus Forward does their best to
address them all. A mentor can provide insight and support for
the youth, what ever their situation may be. Bright futures offers
parenting sessions for the youth and helps build a healthy
relationship with their child.
 The agency has a resource binder that provides services for
healthcare, legal advice, educational services, such as
Trio, childcare, such as parenting classes, employment, such as
Eoc program and DMV services, such as low-cost Identification.

6.  Established in 2005, as a non-profit
organization
 Their Mission: “Creating positive
change and promoting successful
outcomes for youth in the Fresno
County juvenile justice and foster
care systems.”
 (http://www.focusforward.org/home)
 Their Aim: Through their programs they
hope to equip the youth with tools for
success, which will in turn, reduce
recidivism, decreasing social and
monetary costs of incarceration, building
healthier communities, and offering a
new fresh start for all parties involved.
 (http://www.focusforward.org/home)

7.  The Bright futures program is a prime example of
creating positive change, the staff are well invested into
this program, and show this through their involvement
with the youth, and the learning sessions they provide.
 Through observations focus forward staff is very
professional with the clients, as well as still showing
that they care. Staff have went out of their way to
throw two youths a pizza party because they
graduated from the Bright futures program. One of my
own youths are still allowed to participate in the family
sessions in order for him to have that one on one time
with his child, even though he has already completed
the program. Both of these examples show that focus
forward promotes successful outcomes as well.

8.  While their intent is to equip youth with proper
resources for successful outcomes, this is easier
said then done. Focus forward does provide
many resources that are helpful, but there is no
guarantee that the youth will utilize these
resources once they are released. This is where
focus forward falls short, due to the fact that
there is follow-ups on the youth once they are
released, unless they are in the bright futures
program.

9.  Art (People from the community come in to donate their time to offer art, music and writing
workshops. These workshops offer self-worth as well as a positive relationship between the
youth and the adult.)
 Reproductive Health Education (Offered to youth ages 12- 17, the program titled “Healthy
Options” offers health services, Medical education curriculum, and transition services. Classes are held at the
JJC and led by Fresno Barrios Unidos. The goal is to provide the youth with, “education and opportunity to
participate in wise family planning and to develop healthy and productive.” )
(http://www.focusforward.org/initiatives/teen-pregnancy)
 Bright Futures ( The program is funded by First 5 Fresno County, their goal is to strengthen
families and youth at the Juvenile Justice Campus who are either pregnant or have children ages 0-5.
The incarcerated youth participants in a visiting session with the child, in a room furnished with toys
and videos. The 35 minute sessions are recorded by facilitator. They also proved a program called
“Incredible years” for teens who have children, but for one reason or another, they can’t make it to the
JJC site. The program entails 6 sessions taught by an instructor on a one on one basis. The Bright
Futures program also offers case management, which includes job training, educational assistance as
well as child care. )
 (http://www.focusforward.org/initiatives/bright-futures)
 Mentoring and Case Management ( Youths are offered the opportunity to have a
mentor, who is there to listen as well as engage the youth. The mentor also participates in case
management with the youth by offering resources that can be utilized within the faculty as well as
resources available to the youth once they are released. Mentors are usually individuals from the
community that volunteer their time, as well as interns.)
 Foster Care Programs ( Best dressed kids: Offer clothes to foster youth in order for
them to have proper clothing for school, as well as improve their self-image. Scholarships and
Fundraisers are also provided in order to promote higher education for foster youth.)

10.  Focus Forward provided training which covered setting professional
boundaries, as well as covering what our role would be within the
agency. Focus Forward expects mentors to model appropriate
behavior, as well as provide resources to the youth.
 The first two weeks at Focus Forward, none of the interns were allowed
to see any of the youth within the pods; Focus Forward and the Juvenile
Justice campus made it a priority that all volunteers attend safety
training, and for interns, mentor training as well, before we were allowed
to begin mentoring.
 A background check is also performed for all volunteers and interns. This
process helps focus forward eliminate any potential risks that might come
along with someone having serious crimes on their record and working
with the youth.
 Mentor training was very helpful, because it helped identify our
purpose, as well as setting expectations, before having contact with the
youth.

11.  Social Justice: Focus Forward provides youth with outside resources
once they are released, in order for them to make changes within their
current status; so they may have equal opportunities in life. An example
would be: Best Dressed Kids for foster youth.
 Social Work Values: Focus Forward embraces all of the core social work
values:
 * service: Providing programs: Bright Futures and Mentoring
* social justice: Resources for a equal playing field
* dignity and worth of the person: Treating the client with
respect and not judging them due to their crimes
* importance of human relationships: Building rapport with
the client, and seeing them at least once a week
* integrity: Setting proper boundaries with the client
* competence: Understanding our role as a mentor and
knowing the resources we can provide
 Human Rights: Focus forward upholds the youth’s human rights
through allowing self-determination , protecting their rights as
child, as well as providing resources for education.