The new director of La Plata Youth Services is working to bolster mentorship for at-risk youth, especially in Bayfield and Ignacio.
Katy Pepinsky started as executive director Sept. 1 after working for the nonprofit for two years.
She took over from Steve Brittain who is still working for the nonprofit.
The organization works with mainly 11-to-17-year-old students who have committed a criminal offense and would otherwise enter the juvenile justice system.
“For lower level criminal offenses having youth enter the criminal justice system may do more harm than good,” she said. But if youth can complete the Youth Services diversion program, the students can keep their criminal records clean.
The nonprofit staff also helps students engage in their community and develop better problem-solving skills.
Her nonprofit also works with those who are chronically truant to help those students re-engage in school.
From June 2014 to June 2015, the nonprofit worked with 93 young people from across the county referred from either the criminal-justice system or school staff.
Only 6 percent of the students had new charges filed against them during this time period. “I think we are on a positive trajectory,” she said.
Pepinsky said she plans to continue to build on the strong foundation already in place at Youth Services.
The nonprofit has been working on reaching more students in Bayfield and Ignacio, and because demand has grown in those communities in the last year a Youth Services staff member recently started working part-time in Bayfield, she said.
La Plata Youth Services also started a mentorship program this school year to pair at-risk youth with students pursing their master’s degree in social work and sociology to provide therapeutic mentorship to the youth.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
