Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development Programs Earn National Recognition for Advancing Public Safety and Opportunity

National Association of Counties recognizes care-first, community-based approaches that connect young people to mentorship, opportunity, and support

LOS ANGELES – The National Association of Counties has honored four Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development programs with its 2026 Achievement Awards, recognizing Los Angeles County’s innovative efforts to support young people through mentorship, prevention, reentry services, and community-based care.

The awards highlight L.A. County’s emergence as a national leader in care-first approaches to youth development and public safety strategies that connect young people to opportunity while reducing involvement in the justice system.

“Young people are among Los Angeles County’s greatest assets, and they deserve every opportunity to thrive,” said DYD Director David J. Carroll. “These awards reflect the power of investing in young people’s strengths, supporting community partnerships, and challenging traditional approaches. By integrating trusted mentors with lived experience and making the most of innovative tools to support our partners, we are helping build a new blueprint for youth development that strengthens communities and creates brighter futures.”

The following DYD programs received 2026 NACo awards:

• Credible Messenger (Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety): This program delivers culturally responsive mentorship within juvenile facilities using mentors with lived justice-system experience to create therapeutic environments. Through over 16,000 mentoring sessions, it has successfully increased youth engagement and strengthened connections to community-based resources.

• Youth Development Networks (Category: Children and Youth): This initiative provides free, culturally responsive services through 34 local organizations to support youth ages 12–26 in communities heavily impacted by systemic inequities. Serving over 5,000 young people since June 2024, the network has significantly increased participants’ hopefulness and community connection.

• Reentry Action for Youth (RAY) (Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety): RAY transforms how justice-involved youth transition from detention back into their communities through a network of 18 community organizations. By combining peer mentorship with case management, the program has helped over 300 youth access stable housing, education, employment, and behavioral health resources.

• Provider Invoice System (Category: Information Technology): This centralized, web-based platform replaces a manual, email-driven billing process to streamline invoicing for the department’s community-based service providers. The digital transformation has drastically reduced administrative burdens, accelerated vendor reimbursements, and ensured uninterrupted continuity of youth services.

DYD advances a care-first approach to public safety through prevention, diversion, and reentry programs. Prevention efforts help young people build strong foundations through access to mentorship, education, employment, and community supports. Diversion programs connect youth to services and opportunities that address challenges before they lead to deeper involvement in the justice system. Reentry programs help young people successfully transition back to their communities with the resources, relationships, and support needed to thrive.