New Horizons

The New Horizon’s Program in Fresno, Calif., is a 30-bed Therapeutic Community for adolescent boys who were formerly committed to the State of California Department of Juvenile Justice. They are from a variety of rival gangs and socio-economic backgrounds and represent different races and cultures. They have serious criminal histories. In 2008, the counties in California were asked to retain the adolescents who were considered less dangerous offenders and keep them in their own Juvenile Justice Centers in an attempt to rehabilitate them in a location where they could also be accessed by their families.

The New Horizons Program is modeled after the Floyd Farrow Substance Abuse Unit, in providing co-occurring treatment (both substance abuse and mental health) to all of the commitments who need these services as well as individual and family therapy; alcohol and drug education; 12 Step introduction; gang re-direction; anger management; parenting; life skills; and art, music and recreational therapy.

The program accepted its first commitment in February 2009. He is now, after only four months in the program, a high school graduate who is enrolling in classes at Fresno City College. One other New Horizons commitment is joining him in classes at City College this fall.