Therapy Goldendoodle joins Portage County Juvenile Court team

Struggling with drugs and/or alcohol can be scary for anyone, particularly for a child or teenager. To help those youths, Portage County Juvenile Court took on a new team member: Ravioli, a three-year-old Goldendoodle trained to provide comfort and emotional support to youths participating in Unity Court.

Unity Court identifies youths whose drug and/or alcohol use has resulted in their becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. The court focuses on recognizing and building upon the youths’ strengths and on forming strong partnerships with community organizations. A volunteer-based initiative, Unity Court involves the youths’ families as essential partners at every step in the process.