Specialties
Objective - Increase the success rate of those classified as "dropouts" throughout San Bernardino County by providing case management, educational opportunities, leadership development, and our career pathway programs. With these supportive services, we are confident that we can assist San Bernardino County in achieving more success of the disconnected youth. Foster Youth, Teen Parents, Homeless, Mental Health, and those experiencing the Judicial System.
What we do: Out-of-school youth often seek services from community based organizations or public agencies. Understanding the challenges of this population, Operation New Hope (ONH), in 2010, formed a successful collaboration to create a Youth Opportunity Center to provide meaningful life skill resources for disadvantaged youth. As a result, ONH was able to stimulate, sustain and engage "dropout" youth into comprehensive services in San Bernardino County. Since 2010: 2356 have completed our Career Pathway Program, 316 graduated with an accredited high school diploma; 83% entered employment, enrolled in higher education or technical schools.
History
Established in 1982.
Established in 1982.
Operation New Hope (ONH), an Inland Empire-based youth rehabilitation program, began 35 years ago as a means of preparing at-risk youth for the realities of adulthood. The program originally began as a court-ordered recovery program for teens that were incarcerated and housed in California's Youth Authority (CYA).
ONH's founder, Bill Degnan, who worked at CYA, saw a growing trend: young men were frequently returning to the institution once they were paroled. To help combat the problem, Degnan decided to address the issue outside of the prison walls. In 1993, ONH, a learning facility, was formed for those who were not incarcerated. The thought process was simple: educate and rehabilitate at-risk youth before they become incarcerated.
ONH is based on the premise that behavior is a system of unrecognized, therefore, unsolved problems. Once the problem is identified, it can be "treated" by understanding the difference between positive and negative decisions.
Meet the Business Owner: Russell D.
Russell is a passionate change maker who has followed in the footsteps of his father who founded ONH. In the community he is known as Mr. Community Collaborator. Selected as 1 of 25 "Men of the Year" by Assembly Member Eloise Reyes (2018).
1996 he began his career journey as a Life skills group facilitator assigned to ONH's contract with Riverside probation and LA County Juvenile Parole.
2009 Promoted as Executive Dir. His goal was to elevate ONH from a successful "mom and pop" non-profit in to a thriving Youth Opportunity Center, ultimately a key-stakeholder in the communities they served.
2015 Promoted as CEO
Today ONH is an evidence based "trauma informed" Youth Opportunity Center providing transitional-aged youth (TAY) the life skills resources to succeed.
Under his Leadership ONH has restored youth & communities.
315 high school graduates
2121 youth have successfully completed our Career Pathway program.
81% employed or enrolled into post secondary