History of YTEC - Youth Treatment and Education Center

The Drug Court movement gained prominence in the 1990s, and drug courts were shown to be an effective method of dealing with increasing numbers of drug offenders. San Francisco opened its first adult drug court in 1995, after years of planning.

Judge Ina Levin Gyemant was part of the drug court planning committee, and when she was assigned to Juvenile Court in 1995, she learned that some California Counties were also establishing juvenile drug courts. Judge Gyemant brought together representatives from the District Attorney’s office, the Police Department, Probation, the Sheriff’s Department, Department of Health, and the School District to study the creation of a juvenile drug court for San Francisco. After two years of planning and funded by Federal grants, the Youth Treatment and Education Court took in its first youth in November 1997.

The YTEC organization came together under the leadership of Margot Gibney, who served as Executive Director until 2007. Most juvenile drug courts visited during the planning phase sent youth out for treatment, therapy, etc. Margot’s vision was to provide the services ourselves so that YTEC could monitor attendance and program quality.

In 2000, YTEC partnered with the San Francisco Unified School district to create an on-site alternative high school, YTEC Academy, serving youth full time. The Academy expanded and moved to a new location in 2004. In the meantime, YTEC had also implemented a Leadership Program for youth who have “graduated” from drug court.

YTEC changed its name to Youth Treatment and Education Center in 2005 to reflect its growth in programs far beyond those required by the drug court.

Moving forward, in an initiative spearheaded by Judge Pat Mahoney, they went on to open the Principals’ Center Collaborative, an alternative high school. The PCC expands on the model of integrating treatment and education, with the school district in charge of the educational programs and YTEC in charge of delivering all behavior-related services. The program now serves over 60 youth.

In 2007, Johnette Pagán assumed the role of Executive Director. Prior to joining the YTEC team, Ms. Pagán served as Executive Director, Fiscal Manager, and Chief Operating Officer for other nonrofits, provided consulting services to many nonprofits throughout the SF Bay Area, and worked as a consultant for the City of San Francisco Department of Youth and Their Families.

In 2009, Davis Ja & Associates, conducted an independent study of youth at PCC from 2006-2009 and reported a 55% reduction in crimes against persons. A 2010 study by Davis Ja & Associates found that felony arrests dropped from 55.9% (pre-entry) to 3% (post-entry), and crimes against property and alcohol.drug related arrests declined from 32% (pre-entry) to 3% (post-entry) over the period from 2006-2010)

In 2010, PCC began the transition to becoming a "Big Picture" School. Big Picture Learning is an organization dedicated to leading vital changes in education. SFUSD staff and YTEC staff participated in training from April - August 2010 to transition to the Big Picture educational design, and students have responded positively. The design incorporates community internships and mentors.

In August of 2011, Executive Director Johnette Pagán, Clinical Director Ernest Brown, and PCC Principal Judith Fernandez attended the Big Picture School Big Bang training event to learn more about the internship model and the project-based emphasis of the Big Picture program.

Later this year, PCC will be moving to a remodeled school site provided by the San Francisco School District in the Upper Sunset District. More information will be provided as the site is developed.