Trailblazing Social Ecologist Changed Treatment of Juvenile Delinquents

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Margot Carlson
Margot Carlson

Margot R. Carlson, a long-time Laguna Beach resident, died July 23, 2015, after a brief illness. Carlson, 85, held the role of executive director of Community Service Programs since 1986 and continued to support victims, shelter children, counsel families, and educate communities until her final days.

The executive team in place at CSP will manage the nonprofit until a successor to Carlson is appointed.

“Margot Carlson was a passionate advocate for hundreds of thousands of abused children, struggling families, troubled adolescents, victims of crime, people in need of mediation, and individuals in crisis during her more than 40 years’ association with CSP,” said Kris Thordarson, principal at K2 General Contractors and CSP board president. “We express our immense appreciation for the contributions she made to Orange County.”

“Margot’s work helped to shape partnerships with local law enforcement and courts, making Orange County more sensitive to the needs of at-risk youth and victims of crimes,” Thordarson continued. “Although no words can sufficiently express our sadness at Margot’s death, we know her legacy of social justice will continue to aid individuals who are struggling to find their place in the world and others who are dealing with crisis.”

As a graduate student at UC Irvine, Carlson studied under Dr. Arnold Binder, the esteemed researcher of criminology, law and society. She embraced the emerging discipline of social ecology and joined Dr. Binder in establishing CSP, the professor’s academic response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s establishment of the Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice.

In its first year of operations in 1972, CSP tackled juvenile delinquency rates and high recidivism rates, succeeding in dropping the rate of repeat offenders by 33 percent. At that time, grant funding for CSP totaled $35,000, and intern Carlson sat in the Huntington Beach Police Department bullpen among a dozen or so officers.

In retrospectives, Carlson said the more CSP worked with juveniles, researchers and law enforcement officers understood they could stem delinquency by increasing communications between parents and youths. Even in its infancy, CSP recognized that adolescents needed more employment opportunities to build their self-esteem and better collaboration with their families.

When Carlson became CSP’s executive director in 1986, the organization often served as the last resort for youth caught up in the juvenile justice system.  Under her leadership, however, CSP evolved to define and offer more than 10 other major programs, each cultivated in response to shifting economics and demographics as well as the changing face of Orange County.

Today, the programs include the CSP Youth Shelters, Children’s Crisis Residential Program, Victim Assistance Programs, Dispute Resolution Services, PATH-Positive Action Toward Health drug and alcohol prevention and public education, Families First Outpatient Program, Gang Prevention and Positive Youth Development, Youth and Community Programs, Youthful Offender Wraparound and Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnerships, and Juvenile Diversion Services.

By the time of her death, Carlson built up CSP to serve more than 100,000 children, victims and families throughout Orange County annually $15 million budget. In 2014 alone, CSP aided approximately 111,000 people.

“Margot was loved by her family, friends and treasured by her colleagues,” Ronnetta Johnson, director of CSP Victim Assistance Programs said. “And whether they knew her name or not, she made a difference to all who entrusted CSP to help them during the most fragile times of their lives. Abused children, struggling families, acting- out adolescents, victims of crime, people in need of mediation, and individuals in crisis can all thank Margot for providing shelter, counseling and alternatives to the juvenile justice system.”

Carlson lived in Laguna Beach for the past 54 years after relocating from Chicago with her husband.

Carlson is survived by six children, five daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren.

A service for Carlson is set for 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, 33926 Calle La Primavera, in Dana Point.

 

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