County approves swim lessons at Los Padrinos

DOWNEY — Youth held at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall will receive swimming lessons under a new Los Angeles County program approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The board approved a motion by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey P. Horvath directing the county Probation Department to work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to bring its Learn-to-Swim program to juvenile halls and camps with swimming pools.

Los Padrinos in Downey is among five facilities expected to participate, along with Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, Campus Kilpatrick in Malibu, the Dorothy Kirby Center in Commerce and Camp Afflerbaugh in La Verne. County officials will establish program protocols, identify funding and develop a consistent instructional schedule during this year’s swimming season.

“The pools we have at our juvenile facilities are great opportunities for the young people in our care to exercise and find some peace — but many of them don’t know how to swim,” Hahn said. “Every young person deserves an opportunity to learn to swim.”

Hahn said the lessons would help make youth safer around water while teaching them a skill they could continue using after leaving county custody.

The program follows a partnership between the Probation Department and county Parks and Recreation that recently certified several probation employees as lifeguards. The certifications allowed youth to begin receiving weekly pool time for the first time in years, according to the county.

County officials said many youth in probation facilities do not know how to swim. Approximately 95% of youth in the facilities are Black or Hispanic, populations that national data show report disproportionately lower swimming ability, according to the motion.

“While young people are in our care, we have a responsibility to ensure every day is an opportunity for growth, healing and learning,” Horvath said. “Expanding access to swim lessons gives youth a life-saving skill while opening the door to recreation, confidence and better physical and mental well-being.”

The lessons are intended to teach water safety while building confidence and supporting participants’ physical and mental health.

The motion also calls for a written report within 150 days evaluating the program. The report will include participation rates, demographic information, program outcomes and lessons learned.