Kitten Academy: A Therapeutic Program for Probation Youth

SESSION INFO

Monday, August 19, 2019
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session Type: Workshop

The Kitten Academy is an innovative collaboration involving the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the Department of Animal Care and Control, the Departments of Mental Health and Public Health, the Los Angeles County Office of Education, and Juvenile Court Health Services. This interesting eight-week program is offered at Camp Joseph Scott, a probation juvenile justice residential treatment facility for girls, and emphasizes the importance of the human-animal bond and its impact on both emotional and mental well-being while also providing an opportunity for youth to learn therapeutic interpersonal skills in an educational and supportive environment. The goal and hope of the Kitten Academy program is for program graduates to return to their communities having positively impacted and saved the lives of vulnerable animals while at the same time having undergone a rehabilitative experience with acquisition of new skills.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Jamie-Takisha Bender
Deputy Probation Officer I, Los Angeles County Probation


Ms. Bender has been employed with the Los Angeles County Probation Department for ten years. Her experience in the Probation Department includes Group Supervisor Nights, Detention Services Officer, and her current position as a Deputy Probation Officer I. She has been assigned with the Detention Services Bureau and the Residential Treatment Services Bureau.


Lorraine Dansby
Supervising Deputy Probation Officer, Los Angeles County Probation


Lorraine Dansby Program & Family Engagement Supervisor – Kitten Care Corner Ms. Dansby has been employed with the Los Angeles County Probation Department for 30 years. Her experiences in the Probation Department includes Secretary, Detention Services Officer, Deputy Probation Officer I & II, and Supervising Deputy Probation Officer. She worked for Ancillary Services Bureau, Detention Services Bureau, Adult Field Services Bureau, Residential Treatment Services Bureau, Juvenile Special Services Bureau, PRCS/AB109 Bureau.


Sharmane Franklin
Probation Director, Los Angeles County Probation


Ms. Franklin was instrumental in the coordinating and implementation of the Kitten Care Corner. Ms. Franklin has been employed with the Los Angeles County Probation Department for twenty-nine years. Her experience in the Probation Department includes Deputy Probation Officer I & II, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer, and Probation Director. She has been assigned with Juvenile Field Services Bureau, Juvenile Special Services Bureau, Adult Field Services Bureau, PRCS/AB109 Bureau, and Residential Treatment Services Bureau.


Leigh Marrisett
Deputy Probation Officer II, Los Angeles County Probation


Ms. Marrisett has been employed with the Los Angeles County Probation Department for 14 years. She worked Group Supervisor Nights, Detention Services Officer, Deputy Probation Officer I & II. She has been assigned to the Detention Services Bureau and Residential Treatment Services Bureau.