sr-091410-8b~®
~;,YO, City Council Report
Santa Monica -~
City Council Meeting: September 14, 2010
Agenda Item:-~G
To: Mayor and City Council ~j~--~
From: Barbara Stinchfield, Community and Cultural Services Director
Subject: Proposed Youth Violence Prevention in Santa Monica: An Action Plan for
2010 and 2011
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Review, comment on and adopt the proposed Youth Violence Prevention in
Santa Monica; An Action Plan for 2010 and 2011 including its vision statement,
core values, and action steps.
2) Direct City staff to convene the Youth Resource Team (YRT) Policy Group to
review the effectiveness of current programs and activities; to establish priorities,
timelines and benchmarks to measure success of the Action Plan; and provide
periodic progress updates to the Council
3) Release $25,000 from designatioh account 1.345222 and appropriate funds to
expenditure account for support for the YRT including a facilitator and part-time
as-needed staff to provide administrative support.
Executive Summary
On January 26, 2010 during public input, community members presented a "white
paper" to the City Council entitled Developing a Comprehensive Approach to Ending
Youth Violence in Santa Monica and the Westside. The white paper requested that the
Council develop a comprehensive plan to prevent youth from joining gangs and address
gang violence in Santa Monica. It included recommendations for assessment of current
programs, creation of a Task Force, enhanced regional partnerships, and a range of
other related recommendations. As a result, Council directed City staff to formulate a
response. Youth Violence Prevention in Santa Monica: An Action Plan for 2010 and
2011 (Attachment I) provides the proposed response. Developed in consultation with
many stakeholders over the past five months, the plan outlines a framework building on
many existing community-based strategies, identifies areas for improvement and calls
for strengthening and reconfiguring the Youth Resource Team Policy Group to provide
sustained focus on the progress of this plan. The report also includes summary data
(Attachment II) from the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) related to homicides
and assaults with a deadly weapon which have a gang nexus. At its June 15, 2010
meeting, City Council approved $25,000 from Council contingency funds to support
these efforts.
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Background
Violence that affects youth can manifest itself in various forms from cyberbullying to
assault and homicide. Research shows that few individuals and even fewer families
experience violence as a single issue or as a discrete incident. Boys who grow up
exposed to domestic violence are significantly more likely to use violence later in life
than those who grow up seeing healthy resolution to conflict (California Office of
Criminal Justice, 1997). Girls, who have been victims of sexual assault have higher
rates of depression and anxiety, and like boys, are also more likely to engage in juvenile
delinquency (San Francisco Juvenile Justice Action Plan, 1997). Family history also
has a strong influence in determining whether young people become involved in
criminal activities. A 2004 Justice Department report, which was conducted across the
United States, showed that 48% of the 2 million inmates nationwide reported having
relatives who have also been incarcerated. Further, in 2005 the Justice Department
reported. that among all Americans, it is teens and young adults (ages 12 - 24) who
experience the highest rates of violent crime. According to a Violence Policy Center
2009 report, the largest percentage of California homicide victims ages 5 to 29 were
killed as a result of gang or drug-related activities - a statistic driven largely by Los
Angeles County homicide data. Thus, involvement of young people in risk conditions
may lead to violence. In any year, the death of one young person in any. community
remains unacceptable.
Youth violence, and specifically gang violence, in Santa Monica is affected by the larger
region of Los Angeles, which has one of the most significant gang violence epidemics ih
the nation. The Santa Monica crime data, while modest in relation to Los Angeles, is
important to consider and understand. Based on SMPD data, currently within Santa
Monica, there are three active gangs (Santa Monica Gang /Santa Monica 13;
Graveyard Gangster Crips; and 16~h Street) with approximately 100 street gang
members. The charts in Attachment II depict the number of homicides and aggravated
assaults in the City from 1995-2009. During this time period, there were 59 homicides
in Santa Monica, of which 25 individuals (42.3%) have died in what appear to be
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gang-related crimes. Additionally, there were 1,800 assaults with deadly weapons in
the City, of which 168 (9.3%) can be categorized as having a gang nexus. The average
age for arrests with a deadly weapon is concentrated between 16-21 years. Finally,
based on a SMPD analysis of local data, serious crime involving homicide and assaults
with a deadly weapon has decreased 36% over the past five years.
In Santa Monica, there has long been recognition regarding the importance of building
and supporting a network of effective resources. This network exists to prevent ,
violence as well as to improve a range of positive outcomes for all youth and families --
particularly those who are low income, lack affordable housing, are not ready for school
or struggle once they are in school, are non-native English speakers, are facing family
or community violence, are disabled, lack healthcare access, or are otherwise
marginalized within the larger community.
The summary below highlights youth and family development efforts over the past
20 years:
In 1991, City Council adopted the City's Ten-Year Youth Action Plan which
documented the needs of children, youth and families with goals, detailed
programs and initiatives that required involvement and coordination of
government, school, community, faith, business, and neighborhood partners.
From 1991 - 1995, there were. major accomplishments involving new facilities
and an increase in programming. The Police Activities League (PAL) Youth
Center and Marine Park Child Development Center are examples of what was
created during this period and continue today in meeting the needs of children
and families within the community.
In 1998, when the City was beleaguered by five gang-related homicides within a
short period of time, the City recognized the need to assess gaps in
programming and partnerships. In 1999, there was an increase in total spending
on programs especially for older youth (ages 16-24). To better address the
needs of older youth and young adults in the Pico neighborhood, the Pico Youth
and Family Center (PYFC) was created by the efforts of community leaders
combined with City funding and support. This new older youth initiative also
included increased City funding for community-based counseling services
through Saint John's Child and Family Development Center.
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• Between 2000 and 2004, PYFC developed into an independent community-
based non-profit. Also during this time, other efforts were initiated, improved or
expanded to address Santa Monica's low income young children, youth and
families. Examples include: (1) With the City, Child Care and Early Education
Task Force (CCEETF), SMMUSD and other stakeholders, development of the
Early Childhood Initiative Plan to promote Santa Monica as a Lifelong Learning
Community; (2) significant expansion of child care subsidies through
Connections for Children supporting low income families to send their children to
quality pre-schools; (3) the creation, through PAL, of the Chris Carrey
scholarship fund to assist low income youth with attending college; and
(4) support for a wide range of construction projects to renovate and expand key
community facilities (eg. Venice Family Clinic Santa Monica location on Pico
Boulevard, new classroom for SMMUSD Pine Street pre-school for 44 children,
upgrades at Marine Park Child Development Center, construction of Cliff's Cafe
at Olympic Continuation High School, upgrades to 20 local pre-school
playgrounds to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.)
• In 2005, in collaboration with former State Senator Sheila Kuehl, the City
sponsored community forums to develop solutions in response to the gang
violence that had recently occurred. City efforts following those forums included
the re-opening of Virginia Avenue Park (VAP) providing a range of new programs
for children, teens and families. In particular, the VAP redesign included a new
Teen Center offering a range of art, cultural, social service, employment and
educational support resources. In addition to substantial City capital and new
operating funding for VAP, the City augmented the trades intern program at the
City Yards, initiated an evaluation of City-funded school based mental health
services, increased resources for homework assistance through CREST, and
PAL expanded scholarships for low income youth to attend college.
• In 2006, the City was awarded a three year grant ($246,800) from the
US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
for a focused gang intervention program, Night Bridges, extending VAP Teen
Center program hours into the evening to provide further opportunities for life
skills training, case management and support. While this grant recently ended,
City staff has redirected resources to keep the expanded VAP Teen Center hours
of operation and sustain other core elements of the Night Bridges program.
Additionally, City and PYFC staff initiated the Youth Resource Team (YRT) as a
monthly forum for social service, law enforcement, school and other agencies in
Santa Monica to collaboratively address the needs of gang involved youth.
• In 2007, the City provided four new or expanded grants including: (1) a
Preschool Early Intervention and Violence Prevention program operated by
Family Service of Santa Monica ($68,200); (2) community-based employment
readiness and job placement services to low income Santa Monica youth ages
16-24 based at St. Anne's Church and offered through Jewish Vocational Service
($50,000); (3) an increase to intensive mental health counseling and case
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management services for middle school and older high risk youth ($79,000)
coupled with new monthly coordination for all school-based mental health led by
the SMMUSD and City staff; and (4) funds for construction of the new Boys and
Girls Clubhouse at John Adams Middle School ($300,000).
• In 2008, the City completed a report on youth employment including an inventory
of all local employment programs and provided assistance to PYFC for tenant
improvements and relocation to their new location ($80,000).
• In late 2009 and 2010, subsequent to agang-related youth murder in Virginia
Avenue Park, several notable grassroots initiatives emerged. (1) The
presentation of a "white paper" to the Council in January 2010 requested a new
City plan to prevent youth from joining gangs and address gang violence in Santa
Monica. It included recommendations for assessment of current programs,
creation of a Task Force, enhanced regional partnerships, and a range of other
related recommendations. This led to considerable community dialogue and
creation of an emerging consensus for action moving forward, much of which is
summarized in this report. (2) The creation of regular dialogue between
approximately 20 youth leaders affiliated with PYFC, the VAP Teen Center and
PAL. Largely initiated by youth themselves and supported by the staff of the
three organizations, this effort has led to several joint events and trips along with
support from the Human Relations Council and PAL Board, who have actively
supported the joint youth dialogue, planning and community action.
(3) Recognizing that consistent with national data, the majority of Santa Monica
homicides involve males, City staff joined with the Westside Domestic Violence
Network (WDVN) on a Male Violence Prevention Community Initiative based on
the work of internationally regarded leader, Dr. Jackson Katz. Scheduled next
steps include two intensive daylong trainings for all City youth program staff, and
a second upcoming WDVN community leadership workshop, to be co-sponsored
by the City, featuring Dr. Katz in October 2010. City staff (CCS/Human Services
and Police department) has dedicated staff and department funding to support
this new community initiative.
• In addition to the range of projects described above, the partnership between the
SMMUSD and City has been strengthened and solidified over the past decade -
the centerpiece of which is the City's ongoing funding commitment to the
community's public schools through the Joint Use Agreement, currently at over
$7.8M annually. All totaled, the City's FY 2010-11 budget includes $32.4M in
funds for the SMMUSD, non-profit grants and programs across all City
departments especially designed for youth and families.
There is no doubt that these many efforts, resources and ongoing partnerships are part
of what supports the success of Santa Monica youth and families as well as keeps our
community safe. However, youth violence has not been eradicated.- The City and its
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partners continue to grapple with how to continuously improve and evaluate efforts, as
well as augment local efforts with increased regional action. Gang violence will not be
solved within Santa Monica absent increased action in Los Angeles and other
surrounding communities
Discussion
In response to the January 2010 "white paper" and subsequent Council direction, City
staff developed the proposed Youth Violence Prevention in Santa Monica: An Action
Plan for 2010 and 2011 (`Action Plan'). This Action Plan (see Attachment I) was
created with extensive discussion and input from the Youth Resource Team, various
City Commissions, survey responses from dozens of community members (sent to over
350 people) and a team of City staff from multiple departments.
Using a similar framework as the City's Action Plan to Address Homelessness and
borrowing from youth plans in other communities including Denver, Oxnard and the
State of New York, the proposed Action Plan is intended to be a working document that
can be refined over time. It pulls together key elements of Santa Monica's approach to
violence_prevention and builds on the outcomes-from the 2005 City and (then) State
Senator Sheila Kuehl workshops on gang violence. The proposed Action Plan includes
a vision statement, core values, action steps, and references several external and local
report resources. The action steps -conceived to be accomplished in 2010 and 2011 -
cover a spectrum of areas including prevention, intervention, structural and system
recommendations and community engagement.
To monitor progress, ensure a sustained focus, offer refinements and assessment of
progress, City staff recommends that the existing Youth Resource Team (YRT) be
strengthened and reconfigured to play an advisory role regarding the Action Plan. Over
the past several years, the YRT has played a coordinating role for Santa Monica's
programs addressing older youth. In early July 2010, the YRT held a retreat to provide
input to the draft Action Plan as well as to plan for its future work. Generally, the YRT
retreat participants felt that clarifying the group's role by refining its focus on policy,
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program assessment and data analysis, coordination of resources, developing joint
outcome and accountability measures, and establishing consistent membership would
increase the YRT's effectiveness. This YRT retreat discussion was. timely, as the
group's desire to refine its purpose and increase its effectiveness, has emerged
concurrently. with the City's need for an advisory group to help guide and assess the
Action Plan. Therefore, City staff recommends that the YRT Policy Group play this role.
Membership of the YRT Policy Group, currently made up of a diverse group of
stakeholders from SMMUSD, City (Human Services, Library, Police), youth
development and social service agencies and County agencies (departments of Mental
Health and Probation) would continue, if they desired. However, the agencies
represented would be expanded to include Santa Monica College staff, additional youth-
serving agencies, representatives from faith, neighborhood and business organizations
as well as liaisons from the Social Services Commission and Child Care Task Force, if
interested. Up to 25 staff and volunteer leaders from these partner organizations would
be asked to commit to regular attendance at the. YRT. In making this commitment,
members would work as a group to review existing data and outcomes (from programs,
law enforcement, schools), establish priorities, timelines and benchmarks to measure
success of the Action Plan, develop recommendations for regional action, and provide
periodic updates to the Council on progress. City staff would convene the YRT Policy
Group by mid October, assist the YRT in organizing itself, and provide the group with
staff support along with identifying a facilitator for meetings. It is recommended that the
YRT provide its first progress report to Council within three to six months, ideally by
January 2011.
In summary, it is expected that the YRT will benefit from a more directed purpose and
endorsement of their role by the City Council. These changes would address the
Council and community's concerns that the Action Plan, once adopted by Council, be
sustained through focused attention, supported by a cross section of key community
and City leaders, include a component of regional action and ensure that practices are
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continually assessed in order to deliver the best outcomes for all Santa Monica youth
and families.
Commission Input
The Social Services Commission, Commission on the Status of Women (COSW) and
the Recreation and Parks Commission have provided input to the plan. Further, the
Recreation and Parks Commission endorsed the draft proposed plan at their August 19,
2010 meeting. The Social Services Commission endorsed the draft proposed plan at
their August 28, 2010 meeting. The COSW will provide their comments directly to the
Council on September 14th.
Financial Impacts ~ Budget Actions
At its June 15, 2010 meeting, City Council approved $25,000 firom Council contingency
funds for the implementation of a youth violence prevention action plan. In order to
assist the Youth Resource Team (YRT) Policy Group in focusing, prioritizing and
providing effective advice to Council, City staff would hire a facilitator and as-needed
staff for administrative support at a cost that would not exceed $25,000. Funds
available in designation account 1.345222 need to be released and appropriated to
expenditure account 0126210.555060 to support the YRT Policy Group.
Prepared by: Julie Rusk, Human Services Manager
Patty Loggins, Human Services Administrator
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Barbara Stinchfield Rod Gould
Director of Community & Cultural City Manager
Services
Attachment I: Youth Violence Prevention: An Action Plan for2010/20t 7
Attachment II: SMPD Homicide & Assaults with Deadly Weapon Arrests 2000-10
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~ Attachment I
^'^ ""°'"' YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN SANTA MONICA:
AN ACTION PLAN FOR 2010 AND 2011
(September 2010)
VISION
Santa Monica is a community of supportive and caring adults and families that provide our
youth with a sense of belonging and equal access to opportunities that nurture them as
they grow and develop into contributing members of society.
Through collaboration-and cooperation, the City of Santa Monica, education and non-profit
agencies, neighborhood organizations, governmental partners, business, and faith
communities will strive to keep our youth safe and secure from violence. As a community,
we will build the framework to leverage our combined resources and ensure positive
outcomes for our youth. We will work with our neighboring communities and partners to
form collaborations that address the regional nature of youth violence and promote the
social, educational, and healthy development of youth in Santa Monica.
CORE VALUES
Violence, including gang violence and domestic violence, is not an intractable social
problem or an inevitable part of the human condition. Individuals are affected by their
environments in general and their families, schools, neighborhoods in particular. Human
beings will thrive in environments where they feel safe, connected, healthy, and validated.
Santa Monica has many excellent .resources and programs for youth of all ages and their
families. The following core values guide our efforts:
Everyone has a role in promoting positive outcomes for Santa Monica's youth from
birth to adulthood.
Together the City including law enforcement, schools, social service agencies, faith,
business and community members will contribute to building support for our young
people.
City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Santa Monica
College, as key institutional partners, must work together to ensure success.
Community members, including youth, will provide a voice in planning,
implementation, and evaluation and are critical for success and sustainability.
We will build on what works.
Programs must have clear goals and be developmentally appropriate.
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• Through staff training and mentoring as well as collecting and analyzing data, we
will continuously improve our outcomes.
Programs cultivate staff that youth can identify with in terms of race, gender,
culture; offer activities that affirm cultural and ethnic heritage; and provide
opportunities for interaction between youth of varying ethnic and cultural
backgrounds. .
• Our coordinated efforts will be characterized by transparency and accountability.
Increasing positive outcomes for youth of all ages will require a lifelong commitment
to continuously ensure that all youth and their families are thriving in Santa Monica.
ACTION STEPS
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Early Childhood • Maintain support of developmental and mental health
assessments and interventions for infants, toddlers and
preschoolers who are potentially at-risk for serious problems so
as to:
o increase understanding of social and emotional
development and its impact on school success and
o link and bridge systems and services on behalf of young
children, their families and programs.
Afterschool activities • Maintain a range of afterschool activities, both structured and
unstructured, across the city for young people from elementary
school through high school that provide safe, social gathering
places.
• Promote the City's Financial Assistance program so that all youth
have access to City sponsored classes and programs.
School Community • Improve coordination from early childhood programs through
high school to ensure smooth transitions and readiness from
elementary to middle school and middle school to high school
and high school to community.
• Continue law enforcement outreach in the schools and
community through trainings, workshops, presentations, youth
programs, and on site presence.
• Provide comprehensive school based mental health services that
range from health promotion and universal prevention strategies
in classrooms to intervention services.
Parent Involvement • Provide opportunities for parent involvement and leadership in
areas that affect the safety and positive growth of their children.
• Strengthen parent outreach strategies to include established
parent groups and organizations.
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Youth Employment • Offer annual Job Workshop/Career Fair for high school students in
collaboration with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, SMMUSD, SMC,
and the City.
• Work with community partners on summer jobs and internships for Santa
Monica youth.
• Develop structure for and implement a program for local hiring of Santa
Monica youth and adults.
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Programs ~ that support at-risk youth
• Offer city operated and community based programs
of all ages with mentoring by positive adults, enriching experiences, and
opportunities.
• Expand the Trades Interns Program through grant funding.
• Fund agencies that provide support to at-risk youth and their families
including encouraging continued collaboration for effective case management
services.
Los Angeles County Youth • Stay involved with LA County's efforts to develop a regional re-entry plan for
Offender Master Plan youth offenders.
• Work with LA County Probation to identify Santa Monica youth currently
incarcerated and develop evidence based re-entry strategies.
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Youth Resource Team (YRT) • Strengthen and reconfigure the YRT Policy Group to become the mechanism
to monitor and evaluate this plan including addressing youth priorities,
assessing current programs, establishing timelines and benchmarks for
measuring success, and review strategies moving forward.
Analysis of Data and Trends • Review data trends related to youth violence.
• Use data to identify and target services to specific needs and gaps.
• Consider the use of data to secure additional funding and resources needed
for programming.
Create clear goals and outcomes • Create clear goals and systems to ensure the integration of outcomes across
programs, such as early childhood, after school and school based mental
health programs, for ongoing program planning, improvement, and
evaluation.
School Based Mental Health • Under the leadership of SMMUSD, continue to build collaborative
Collaborative relationships among service providers.
• Strengthen coordination and integration of services for youth and their
families including coordinated case management efforts.
Best Practices • Review strategies for ongoing systems of feedback and evaluation.
Review data collection and performance measures.
• Develop improved mechanisms for joint planning, program development, and
evaluation between SMMUSD, SMC, and the City.
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Youth Dialogue/Engagement • Foster the development of the collaborative youth leadership group
throughout the city.
• Enhance the support of the Human Relations Council Community Dialogues
through programs such as Kids with Cameras.
Male Violence Prevention • Continue to work with the internationally regarded researcher on developing
Initiative (Jackson Katz) to violence prevention strategies for Santa Monica with community
Address Community Violence stakeholders.
• Work with community leaders to identify. next steps in violence including a
community "campaign" -engaging schools, sports groups, religious groups,
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and neighborhood groups.
Communication • prepare periodic written and oral reports to the City Council, School Board,
College Trustees, and the community including outlining the purpose and
work plan of the YRT Policy Group, youth employment opportunities, and
other youth prevention and intervention programs.
• Improve use of communication tools such as websites, Facebook, and a-mail
blasts to share our program information as well as receive feedback from
residents.
EXTERNAL RESOURCES
Developing a Comprehensive Approach to Ending Youth Violence ("White Paper"),
January 2010
• Denver's Youth Agenda, Advancing the Mayor's Action Challenge, City of Denver,
January 2010
• The State of City Leadership for Children and Families, National League of Cities
Institute for Youth Education, & Families, 2009
• Putting It All Together.• Guiding Principles for Quality After-School Programs Serving
Preteens, Public/Private Ventures, April 2008
• Strategic Action Framework for Empowered & Thriving Youth, Community Action
Partnership, City of Oxnard and the County of Ventura, May 2008
• Youth Violence Reduction Strategy: Goals and Guiding Principles, State of New York,
March 2004
CITY DOCUMENTS
• Community Development Program Service Provider Guide, FY 2009-10
• Critical Elements of Quality After-School Programs: A Review of Best Practices,
December 2008
• Gang Violence Action Partner Update, Information Item, April 2008
• Increasing Youth Employment Opportunities in Santa Monica, January 2008
• Community Voices Final Report, 2006
• Evaluation of School-Based Mental Health and Support Services by WestED for City of
Santa Monica, August 2006
• RAND Report -City of Santa Monica Community Profile, January 2003
• Santa Monica Early Childhood Initiative Plan, August 2001
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Attachment II
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(September 2010)
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Age ®f Suspect Arrested
Assaults with sadly iiVeap~n Arrest Incidents
2000 - 2009