Youth Transition Campus Students Take In-Person College Course

Nearly 20 students at the Youth Transition Campus (YTC) are taking an in-person college course for the first time ever.

Through SDCOE’s partnership with Palomar College, Counselor Chris Toomey is teaching a four-week, hybrid college course, Counseling 110, at YTC to two cohorts of students.

While students at YTC have been taking college courses for years, this is the first time the course has been offered in person and to a co-ed cohort.

“It’s one of the many transformational experiences we’re making available to our students in both our court and community schools,” said Roberto Carrillo, Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) executive director. “It’s critical that all youth have access to these opportunities, to see the possibilities, and to get the tools they need to be successful.”

Toomey said Counseling 110 covers the basics of what students need to be successful in college and helps them get in the mindset that college is possible for them.

“Most of our students don't come from a household that has any college-going family members," Toomey said. "And they're not really in the environment of learning about college, so giving them that access, and giving them a chance to figure it out and try, is one reason the course is so important."

The class meets every Monday and Wednesday for three hours. Students also work with an education specialist on campus to complete assignments and upload work to Canvas.

Students receive a full three units of college credit (which is equivalent to 10 high school credits) depending on their status, as some have already graduated from high school.

Palomar College and SDCOE have partnered for years on SDCOE's dual-enrollment program. Palomar offers enrollment assistance and help troubleshooting issues, and has been instrumental in bringing this course to YTC.

“This has been a team effort involving Palomar College, the San Diego County Probation Department, Rising Scholars, Children's Initiative, the Office of Youth and Restoration, and SDCOE,” said Principal Nathan Head. “YTC already looks like a college campus, and with the addition of on-site professors, it is truly a place for higher education. We are all extremely proud of our students and their academic successes,” he said.  

Toomey has been teaching the course at multiple JCCS sites for about 10 years. He said it’s an honor to teach the class and to build on the college-going culture we're trying to foster.

“It's so exciting to be providing such opportunities and access to our students," he commented. "It's good to see a lot of the kids latch onto it, and start to believe and say, ‘I can do this, and I will do this.’”

Enrollment for a summer course on counseling is in progress and they are also planning a sociology course for the fall.