LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a motion to provide swimming lessons for young people in County juvenile halls and camps.

The motion was introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. It directs the Probation Department to work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to bring the County’s Learn-to-Swim program directly to juvenile facilities with swimming pools.

Nearly all County juvenile facilities have pools. Through a new partnership between the two departments, several Probation employees recently became certified lifeguards, allowing youth to safely participate in weekly pool activities for the first time in years.

However, many young people in the facilities do not know how to swim. Approximately 95 percent of youth in the County’s Probation facilities are Black or Hispanic—groups that national data show are disproportionately likely to report limited swimming ability.

“Every young person deserves an opportunity to learn to swim,” Hahn said, noting that the lessons will improve water safety while giving youth a skill they can enjoy throughout their lives.

Horvath said the program will also promote confidence, recreation, physical fitness and mental well-being while creating opportunities for growth and learning.

Participating facilities will include Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, Barry J. Nidorf in Sylmar, Campus Kilpatrick in Malibu, the Dorothy Kirby Center in Commerce and Camp Afflerbaugh in La Verne.

County departments will establish safety protocols, identify funding and create a consistent instructional schedule during this year’s swim season. A written report evaluating participation, demographics and program outcomes is required within 150 days.