CITY OF PASADENA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 REVISED SEE PAGE 5 CITY OF PASADENA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION COMMITTEE November 1 5,2007 Pasadena City College, Community Education Center 3035 Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena Vice Chair Lizardo called the regular meeting of the Youth Development and Violence Committee to order at 7: 12 p.m. CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS Members Present: Members Absent: Bill Bogaard (Arrived at 7:11 p.m.), Jean Burch, Consuelo Rey Castro, Renatta Cooper, Jacquelynne Corby, Jarvis Emerson, Victor Gordo, Ed Honowitz, Tim Kelly, Esteban Lizardo, Sue Miele (as alternate for Jeanette Mann), Anna Pembedjian, and Jacque Robinson (Arrived at 7:23 p.m.) Steven Madison COMMMENTS BY CHAIR APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice Chair Lizardo recognized Mr. Rick Hodge, Pasadena City College (PCC) Community Education Center (CEC), who welcomed the Committee, provided an overview of free non-credit courses offered on the campus, and spoke of various parenting programs. He distributed and spoke on the results of a nationwide program called The Parent Project, designed to help parents with at-risk youth, and noted that Ms. Jill Shook, a Pasadena resident, has partnered with the Lake Avenue Church, to bring some of the project's ideas to Pasadena. Mr. Mark Jomsky, Sr. Assistant City Clerk, stated that the minutes for the October 18, 2007 meeting have been amended to include two paragraphs on Page 6 that were inadvertently omitted during editing. It was moved by Member G~rdo, seconded by Member Cooper, to approve the minutes of October 18, 2007 as revised. (Motion unanimously canied) (Absent: Chair Bogaard, Vice Chair Robinson, and Member Madison). 1/24/2008 Item 2

2 PRESENTATION BY PASADENA POLICE DEPARTMENT ON RECENT ACTIVITIES In the absence of Lieutenant Lisa Perrine, Commander John Perez, Pasadena Police Department (PPD), provided an update on local activities involving youth violence since the last Committee meeting, reporting on a homicide involving the shooting of a Latino male that occurred on November 1, 2007, and a robbery involving three Afhcan-American females who robbed a Latino male. On the order of Vice Chair Lizardo, the information was received. CORRESPONDENCE TO LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S OFFICE (LASO), DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS), PROBATION, PAROLE, AND MENTAL HEALTH INVITING THEM TO MAKE A PRESENTATION Ms. Janet Pope Givens, Adjutant to the Chief of Police, reported that the letters to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Office, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Probation, Department of Parole, and Department of Mental Health, have been drafted and are in the Mayor's Office awaiting his signature. On the order of Vice Chair Lizardo. the information was received. FOLLOW UP ON YOUTH EMPLOYMENT Ms. Pope Givens provided an update regarding the presentation on youth employment given by Mr. Horace Wormely, Neighborhood Services Administrator, at the November 1, 2007 Committee meeting. She noted that the City of Burbank has the Summer Trails Program and Monrovia has the Youth Employment Services (YES) Program. She noted that the County's funding employed kids from several San Gabriel cities, including Pasadena/Altadena, San Gabriel, Monrovia, Duarte, and South Pasadena. Chair Bogaard arrived at 7:33 p.m. The Committee requested information regarding the number of summer youth program participants employed by neighboring communities, as well as the different types of employment opportunities available, and the funding streams utilized for the different programs. Ex Officio Members Emerson and Corby were requested to check with their respective legislative offices to find out if there are any opportunities for grants to fund summer youth employment and whether Senator Scott or Assemblymember Portantino would consider sponsoring legislation to fund these types of programs. Member Miele provided information regarding Pasadena City College (PCC) work study programs with jobs provided to part-time students that carry at least nine units.

3 There was discussion regarding the role and potcntial participation in youth employment by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce in working with local businesses to match City funds for the Pasadena Rose Summer Program. Member Emerson reported that he had an opportunity to speak with the new CEO of the Chamber, Mr. Paul Little, who expressed interest in participating and talking with the Committee. On the order of the Vice Chair, the information was received. PRESENTATION BY PROBATION DEPARTMENT Mr. Jitahadi Imara, Deputy Director of Special Services of the County of Los Angeles Probation Department, stated that Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich has a desire to see a reduction in the violence and deaths, and has instructed the Probation Department to get involved by providing resources in a collaborative manner to the Committee. He introduced Ms. Felicia Cotton, Bureau Chief for Juvenile Special Services, which involves the gang, mental health, and school base units. Bureau Chief Cotton introduced members of her Department, noted their willingness to act on Committee recommendations, and provided an overview of the scope of services that are available to the City of Pasadena. She addressed the current school based probation program which consists of three probation officers assigned to John Muir High School, Pasadena High School, and Rose City Continuation High School, provided details regarding the probation gang unit that works with the Pasadena Police Department (PPD), detailed the role of the suppression and enforcement unit assigned to PPD and the adult unit that works with the emerging adult offenders years old who are in the system. Bureau Chief Cotton identified programs that are available to the Pasadena area, including a Gang Intervention Progam, Gender Specific Progam, and Homc Basc Services. Mr. Imara noted that from the probation perspective, there is a need for a comprehensive assessment of what is driving youth violence, a gap assessment of services and resources, and establishing a multi-agency steering committee that would be responsible for assessing data, creating a plan of action, coordinating the resources that will be needed, and coordinating and directing the planning process for both long-tern and short-term strategies. Bureau Chief Cotton responded to questions regarding the employment program, and discussed the need for better advertisement of services and communication among the different agencies and levels of government in order to ensure that at-risk youth and families are receiving needed services.

4 Following discussion, Mr. Imara noted that PPD and the Probation Department have already done individual assessments and indicated that it would take approximately 30 days to do a comprehensive assessment. Member Miele suggested that the Committee support the request for the creation of a multi-agency steering committee to do the assessment, identify service gaps, and bring back a recommendation to the Committee for action. There was discussion relating to the results of Probation Department's evaluation report, the effectiveness of supervising at-risk youth, engaging parents to participate in the education process, the use of trained Department Probation Officers in Multi-Systemic Therapy and Functional Families Therapy, and the method that contract providers are selected by the Probation Department. There was public comment fiom Mr. Rick Hodge, PCC Community Education Center, who questioned if there is an opportunity for PCC to collaborate with the Probation Department regarding the Parent Project training, the possibility of training to increase the number of individuals to teach the parent class, and whether the Probation Department intends to pursue a court mandate for parents of at-risk youth to take the parenting course. Bureau Chief Cotton acknowledged an opportunity of collaboration between PCC and the Probation Department, and that the first class of the Parent Project training has been conducted by the community base providers. Vice Chair Lizardo expressed appreciation for the Probation Department's presentation and noted that action on the recommendation would be held until after the presentation by Mr. Tony Massengale. REPORT FROM SUBCOMMITTEE FOR MASTER PLAN CONSULTANT SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT It was the consensus of the Committee to defer this item to the next Committee meeting. REPORT FROM TONY MASSENGALE REGARDING INTERVENTION PROGRAMS Mr. Tony Massengale, Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, distributed and presented his report entitled, Community Gang Intervention and Re-Entry as a Priority Strategy for Violence Prevention, Youth and Young. Adult Develoument, and Community Transformation and identified short-term actions by the Committee that would have an immediate impact, including the application for Cal-Grip grant funds, increasing the capacity of the youth employment programs, meeting with

5 the Chamber of Commerce and the local business community for assistance and support for the youth employment programs, continuing and expanding the Neighborhood Outreach Worker (NOW) group, that would include employing additional gang intervention outreach workers for the Altadena area and the Latino community, and hiring a consultant in order to provide adequate staffing for the Committee. He suggested that the City reinvest in NOW, to remove it from under the Police Department jurisdiction so that it may become a community driven body, and engage a community collaborative like the Western Justice Center Foundation to coordinate the effort. Member Gordo reviewed the recommendations provided by Mr. Massengale and stated his appreciation for Mr. Massengale's report, efforts, and recommendations, but expressed his concern with moving NOW outside the City structure. Mr. Massengale explained that "VV nr.n the reason for his recommendation was due to interruptions in services and the potential for cutting, programs such as NOW, which can occur when City funds are cut or are limited due to other needs. In discussing the recommendation to expand the interventionist work in the Altadena and Latino communities, Mr. Massennale suggested that the Committcc should include the Amer-I-Can program to work in a collaborative effort with the NOW program. Member Honowitz suggested that the Committee look at a multi-year commitment in funding the NOW program by seeking State and Federal funding and leveraging local resources. Mr. Massengale spoke of a national Latino parenting and strengthening program called "Urban Strategies" that uses a church-based approach to reach families, along with the "Parent Project" Ms. Jill Shook plans to bring to Pasadena. Discussion ensued regarding the joint powers agreement of "Project Day", and Member Miele suggested that the programs operate out of accessible locations like the community centers of Jackie Robinson Center, Villa Parke, or Farnsworth Park in Altadena. Member Castro suggested that the Committee accept the recommendations and forward them to the City Council and expressed concern regarding the lack of a coordinating agency to recommend and oversee the dispensation of programs and services, as well as how to get those programs that are City-based and non-profit services to answer to a coordinating agency like the Western Justice Center. Following discussion, Member Kelly suggested that the Committee support the stated needs of Mr. Imara and to ask the City of Pasadena to direct the Police Department and the County to direct the Probation

6 Department to convene a multi-agency steering committee that would bring back a comprehensive assessment in 30-days regarding the reasons for a current spike in gang homicides in the Pasadena area, noting it would not preclude taking action on Mr. Massengale's recommendation. Following discussion, Member Honowitz suggested that Western Justice Center be the lead coordinating agency. Member Gordo suggested that the Committee take action to accept, in concept, the recommendation put forth by Mr. Massengale as intermediate and long-range planning measures as part of a Youth Master Plan, recommend that the NOW Program be extended to continue and expand services beyond the initial pilot program, which would include identifying three additional interventionists to work with Mr. Pickens, assigning one to the Latino Community and one to the Altadena Community, with the cost of the expansion to be priced out and presented to the respective governmental agencies of PCC, Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), the City, and the County to determine the level of funding available. Mr. Gordo clarified that these suggestions could be immediate steps for the committee to take back to the respective authorizing agencies in order to see whether there is a willingness to contribute and participate. Discussion ensued regarding a budget to support the recommendations made to the Committee including the salary levels for the interventionists, examples of existing agencies prepared to assist in the violence prevention effort, such as Outward Bound Los Angeles, options on how to move forward with regard to the recommendations made by Mr. Massengale, and the need for a subcommittee to prepare and submit a recommended budget to the Committee in order to move beyond a concept document. Member Pembedjian requested that the Probation Department be involved in evaluating and looking at Mr. Massengale's recommendations, as well as what other programs can be provided to supplement what is being discussed. Member Castro restated her suggestion that the Committee conceptually approve the recommendations made by Mr. Massengale and stated that the funding of the NOW program should be conducted as a separate action. There was discussion regarding whether to include the finding of the NOW program with the conceptual approval of the recommendations made by Mr. Massengale and issues related to potential funding sources. In response to the discussion, Mr. Pickens stressed the urgency for a decision because the NOW Program contract and funding is scheduled to end in one week.

7 Member Gordo reconfirmed his proposcd action that the Committee recommend that the NOW Program be renewed and continued, that it remain under the supervision of PPD, that the City look at funding options including Cal Grip and any other funding options for interventionist work, and asked that a budget come back to the Committee for review before taking it to the respective authorizing agencies. Member Honowitz suggested that a budget include identifying a stable and ongoing funding for the NOW program. Following discussion, it was moved by Member Gordo, seconded by Member Cooper, to recommend continued funding and renewal of the NOW program, with the City to seek funding options through programs such as Cal Grip, that a budget be prepared for the Committee's review that would include funding for three interventionists, including the additions of an interventionist for the Latino community and one for the Altadena Community, and that following the review of the budget, the Committee would make a recommendation to the legislative bodies of PCC, PUSD, the City, and the County towards creating stable and ongoing funding for the program. (Motion unanimouslv carried) (Absent: Member Madison). It was the consensus of the Committee to include the County Probation Department in the budget discussions. It was moved by Member Castro, seconded by Vice Chair Robinson, to approve in concept the recommendations made by Mr. Massengale. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: Member Madison). It was moved by Member Kelly, seconded by Vice Chair Robinson, to request the City of Pasadena to direct the Police Department and the County Board of Supervisors to direct the Probation Dcpartmcnt, Sheriffs Department and State Parole, to convene a multi-agency steering committee to conduct a comprehensive assessment in order to determine the driving issue behind the recent gang violence in the PasadenaIAltadena area, identify where gaps in service occur, and report back to the Committee in 30-days with findings. (Motion unanimously carried) (Absent: Member Madison). Member Pembedjian offered support and assistance to the City in pursuing the gang intervention, suppression, and prevention grants. There was public comment from Ms. Jill Shook, a Pasadena resident, who expressed support for the Parent Project and a strong collaboration between local churches and education requiring parent participation.

8 PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Ms. Bonnie Armstrong, a Pasadena resident, distributed a handout entitled Youth Master Plan Implementation and provided an overview of the development of a Youth Master Plan. CONSIDERATION OF CHANGING THE COMMITTEE'S REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE FROM TWICE A MONTH TO MONTHLY MEETINGS, WITH SPECIAL MEETINGS AS NEEDED Member Castrowas ~xcused at 10:39 P.m. Following discussion regarding the need for maintaining the current meeting schedule, Ms. Pope Givens proposed that once specific issues have been identified, subcommittees could be formed, with the larger body meeting once a month to discuss subcommittee actions, findings and recommendations, and this would be a way to expand involvement and engagement of the community. It was moved by Member Honowitz, seconded by Vice Chair Robinson, to table this discbssion. Motion unanimouslv carried) (Absent: Member Madison). MISCELLANEOUS Member Kelly was excused at 10:44 p.m. Following discussion, the Committee agreed by consensus to dedicate the December 20, 2007 Committee meeting to receive public comment from local youth and young adults. Ms. Pope Givens distributed a future meeting handout and noted the next meeting of the Committee would be Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. located at the PUSD Board Room. ADJOURNMENT On the order of Vice Chair Lizardo, the regular meeting of the Committee adjourned at 10:55 p.m. Bill Bogaard, Chair Youth Development and Violence Prevention Committee Beverly Bogar, Recording Secretary