Ademir Escobar-Bonilla is a Transition Age Youth (TAY) Probation Officer for Hennepin County. Over the past two years in this role, he has focused on guiding young adults aged 18 to 24 as they navigate the transition into adulthood. His approach emphasizes community safety while fostering meaningful connections with my clients. By leveraging their strengths and promoting autonomy, he aims to empower them to make better life choices. His work is grounded in a person-centered approach, utilizing Motivational Interviewing techniques to help these young adults become more self-sufficient. 

Before joining Hennepin County, he spent several years at FamilyWise, where he began his career in 2017 as a Wraparound Facilitator. High-Fidelity Wraparound (commonly called Wrap) is a nationally recognized model designed to support youth with significant behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues by “wrapping” the entire family in resources and support. During his time at FamilyWise, I was deeply involved in the Wraparound process, which allows youth to remain in their communities instead of being placed in correctional or residential treatment facilities. He progressed through roles as a Wraparound Coordinator and coach, eventually serving as the Wraparound Program Manager. In these capacities, he was integral to developing plans that established teams of formal and informal support, which helped families meet their goals and build long-term community support that persisted even after the Wrap process ended. 

He was also part of the process of onboarding and training new facilitators, with a particular focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by the Latino community, particularly the disparities beyond language barriers. The experience and values he gained at FamilyWise continue to shape his work with criminal justice-involved youth with severe mental health needs, a population he has supported for nearly eight years.