A collaborative initiative in Riverside County is transforming the way probationers and community members access vital services. The Day Reporting Center (DRC) has become a one-stop shop where individuals referred by probation officers can find comprehensive support under one roof.

“We wanted to have a one-stop shop where participants can be referred over from the probation officers, and we have a ton of agencies as a collaborative effort,” said Melissa Duran, a DRC program representative. “We have Behavioral Health on site, we have Riverside Office of Education on site, we have Workforce Development on site, and the Department of Public Social Services.”

The center’s wraparound approach ensures that participants can simultaneously receive behavioral health services, pursue their GED or high school diploma, and work with Workforce Development to secure employment. “Everybody has to talk in order to ensure that this person is getting the best of the needs that they need,” Melissa Duran added.

For many, the program has been life-changing. One participant shared their journey: “I was able to get a job—actually not even a job, a career—at a place called Motivational Recovery Service, and I’m a counselor. Miss Kim (Riverside County Workforce Development staff), she’s great. The way that she was just so compassionate, she didn’t treat me like a criminal. She understood that I really wanted to get back out here and work and do all the things that I need to do for my life.”

Employment remains a critical need for participants, and the presence of Workforce Development at the DRC has proven invaluable. “Everybody that comes through those doors needs employment, and that’s a very important need for a lot of our participants to be fully employed. Having Workforce Development here is awesome because we know that we have that connection,” Melissa Duran explained.

The impact of the program extends beyond immediate services. Graduates often return to the center to share updates on their progress. “One of the things that we really like, that’s really special for us and reminds us of why we do what we do, is when we have an individual that completes their programming. They’ll come in and check in with us and say, ‘Hey, I’m still doing okay. I still have my life together.’ That’s a really good feeling when you have all these agencies that invested time and really believed in and gave support to that individual.”

The DRC team expressed gratitude for the role Workforce Development plays in the program’s success. “We want to thank Workforce Development for their integral part here at the DRC on site. You do a great job, and we always like to hear those successful stories. Keep it going.”