Joplin Youth Center 19480 Rose Canyon Road Trabuco Canyon, CA. 92678 (949) 635-2600

The Joplin Youth Center is a juvenile correctional facility which provides residential treatment for teenage boys ages 13 to 15. It is located in a rustic setting in the midst of oak groves in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains at the 1,800-foot elevation. Originally established as the Joplin Boys Ranch in 1956, the Orange County Probation Department operates the facility, which has a maximum capacity of 64 boys who are serving commitments ordered by Juvenile Court. Boys sent to Joplin typically have 30 to 90 days remaining on their Juvenile Court commitments. Youths assist in maintaining the site and providing services by working in the kitchen, doing laundry, performing custodial work, and other duties. Off-site, Joplin minors undertake supervised community projects which include graffiti removal, assisting in a physical therapy program for severely handicapped children, and maintaining a portion of Santiago Canyon Road. The school day at Joplin consists of five 55-minute classes in which the boys work on individualized courses of instruction. They also receive special education classes, employment training, computer education, and math tutoring as needed. Rehabilitation is stressed along with academics at Joplin. Joplin staff and the Orange County Health Care Agency provide counseling for boys who have abused drugs or alcohol. Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous hold meetings on-site on a weekly or every-other-week basis.