Parents will get an opportunity to speak one-on-one with members of Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Juvenile Intervention Team (J-Team) on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at “Java With the J-Team.” The informal event will be held at Crazy Otto’s Diner located at 25373 Wayne Mills Place, Valencia.

Over a cup of coffee, J-Team detectives, deputies and an intervention specialist will discuss with parents the current trends that they are seeing regarding local teens and drug use. Parents will get an opportunity to ask questions and learn ways to engage their children about drug use, recognize the signs and how to create a positive dialogue.

“Oftentimes, families want to know what drugs their kids are being exposed to, they want to know what drugs we’ve seen in the Santa Clarita community, or they just have basic questions about drugs,” said J-Team Detective Bill Velek. “We want to educate our community on the trends we’re seeing so they can learn what’s going on, recognize the signs, and keep their families safe.”

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s J-Team works to break the cycle of drug abuse, which involves much more than traditional law enforcement. The team’s outreach is not limited to strictly juvenile narcotic offenders, but help is also extended to young adults who are struggling with drug addiction. J-Team detectives follow-up with young adults who have been arrested on narcotic charges, with the mission of offering help and resources to them and their family members, aiding in the fight against addiction.