SR-01-24-1978-11GSanta Monica, California, January 11, 1978
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Truancy Program JAN 2 4 1971
Introduction
The City Council has directed staff to request proposals for a City - sponsored
truancy program. City staff submitted requests for proposals to the Santa Monica
Drug Abuse Council, The Salvation Army, and the John Rossi Youth Foundation.
This report contains an assessment of the merits of each proposal and recommenda-
tions related thereto. The delay in staff response is due to some legal ques-
tions which were raised, but have since been resolved.
tions Presented:
1. May a Santa Monica Police Officer arrest a juvenile found truant within
the City of Santa Monica or the Santa Monica School District?
Yes. A Santa Monica Police Officer may arrest a juvenile found truant
within the City of Santa Monica for the Santa Monica School District,
pursuant to Section 12405 of the Education Code of the State of California.
2. May a Santa Monica Police Officer deliver such a truant juvenile to the
John Rossi Youth Foundation?
A Santa Monica Police Officer may deliver such a truant juvenile who has
been taken into temporary custody or arrested to the John Rossi Youth
Foundation, so long as pursuant to Section 12406 of the Education Code
of the State of California, the school or district from which the juvenile
is truant has designated the John Rossi Youth Foundation as a proper
counseling center prior to return to the juvenile's home or school.
3. May a Santa Monica Police Officer arrest or deliver to John Rossi Youth
Foundation, a juvenile who is truant from a school district other than
the Santa Monica School District?
It is highly questionable whether a Santa Monice Police Officer may take
temporary custody of, or arrest, a truant juvenile, or deliver such
person to John Rossi Youth Foundation, when that juvenile is truant from
a school district other than the Santa Monica School District, and his
home is outside of the City of Santa Monica or the County of Los Angeles.
I'
JAN 2 4 1978
T0: Mayor and Council -2- January 11, 1978
4. Is there a violation of the Education Code if truants are picked up and
sent directly to a designated social service agency?
The District is bound by law to contact parents before any referral is
made, and this procedure will be followed. Therefore, there is no vio-
lation.
Background
The City Council budgeted $10,000 for Fiscal Year 77 -78 for a truancy program.
Those agencies expressing an interest in operating the program were contacted
and have responded. As a result of staff meetings with the Santa Monica Unified
School District, truant Santa Monica students are designated for return to the
School District. Non -Santa Monica residents may not be referred to a designated
agency for resolution of truancy problems. The School District cannot contract
with an agency to perform such a service, in that District staff can only make
such referrals when permission has been granted by the parent. This is the
arrangement that was followed in the past with agencies who have provided a
service to truants. The School District will cooperate with an agency that the
City designates.
In a letter dated August 25, 1977, The Salvation Army expressed their desire to
withdraw from competition and stated endorsement of the John Rossi Youth Foundation.
In an effort to provide a fair and objective assessment of the two remaining
agencies submitting proposals, staff has developed a criteria rating sheet. In
addition, staff worked with a review team to assess the rating criteria and proposals
submitted. The review team included representatives from the Santa Monica Unified
School District, Santa Monica Police Department, City Attorney's office and City
staff who administer the CETA program and have had occasion to work with each
competing agency. Attached for your review are the questions and answers for each
agency.
T0: Mayor and Council -3- January 11, 1978
Conclusions
1. Either competing agency could operate an adequate truancy program for the
City, but New Start would require major facility modification.
2. The John Rossi Youth Foundation has the experience of having operated a suc-
cessful truancy program in the past with no complaints. They propose the
following in their description of a methodology:
Upon receipt of Field Interrogation Report from police officer trans-
porting truant to the Rossi Youth Foundation, a brief counseling and
recording of information would be entered on a daily log for truants of
that day. These would be separated into two categories - -those of the
Santa Monica Unified School District, and those who are non - residents
apprehended within the confines of Santa Monica. In either case, trans-
portation would be provided to return the student to the Santa Monica
school site or to any other sites in the immediate Los Angeles area by
a counselor and a vehicle provided by the Rossi Youth Foundation. The
only exception to this method would be a youth so far from the area that
it would be impractical to drive such a great distance. In this instance
we would contact the local authority in the area of the youth and place
them aboard a bus to be returned. The daily log would be compiled into
a weekly report, which would then be consolidated into a monthly report
and would be submitted to the City of Santa Monica, bearing whatever
statistics and results you may desire on a monthly basis. In instances
where further counseling and follow -up is deemed advisable, the Rossi
Youth Foundation will assume that responsibility and so designate by a
separate report.
Recommendation
Following the analysis of the two proposals, the team review and on -site visits
to both agencies, City staff recommends that:
John Rossi Youth Foundation be awarded a contract in the amount of $10,000
to operate a truancy program for the City of Santa Monica as outlined in
their proposal, and that the City Manager be authorized to execute same.
2. The terms of the contract shall become effective immediately to terminate
June 30, 1978.
Prepared by: Martha Brown Hicks
MBH:nm
Attachment
9/13/7?
JOHN ROSSI YOUTH FOUNDATION
RATING CRITERIA
1. Has agency established realistic objectives?
Objectives are clearly stated; simple, but realistic.
i
2. Does agency have experience in youth programs; particularly handling of
truants?
Yes, agency activities are - restricted to youth. Agency conducted truancy
program at no cost to the City for three semesters. Loss of funding from
Los Angeles County prohibited continuing the program.
3• What is agency share or commitment?
Agency has agreed to commit approximately 30% in -kind of the estimated program
cost.
4. What has been aaencv's intra - aaencv exneriPnra?
9/13/??
JOHN ROSSI YOUTH FOUNDATION
U
RATING CRITERIA
1. Has agency established realistic objectives?
Objectives are clearly stated; simple, but realistic.
2. Does agency have experience in youth programs; particularly handling of
truants?
Yes, agency activities are- restricted to youth. Agency conducted truancy
program at no cost to the City for three semesters. Loss of funding from
Los Angeles County prohibited continuing the program.
3. What is agency share or commitment?
Agency has agreed to commit approximately 30% in -kind of the estimated program
cost.
4. What has been agency's intra- agency experience?
a. CETA - The CETA experience was too restrictive for the kind of flexi-
bility necessary at Rossi. It was the Rossi Foundation decision to
withdraw.
b. Other City programs (Police Department) - Rossi has run excellent
truancy program in the past. No complaints.
C. School District - The School District encountered a positive experience
when Rossi Foundation ran the truancy program before. The most posi-
tive reaction is the long -range experience in follow -up counselling
provided to both the child and family beyond the truancy program.
5. What are linkages to other locally available resources, referral mechanisms, etc.?
Agency has excellent social service agency linkages. Review with other referral
agencies substantiates this claim.
9/13/-77
SANTA MONICA DRUG ABUSE COUNCIL - NEW START
RATING CRITERIA
1. Has agency established realistic objectives?
A total of fourteen goals and objectives were listed that extend far beyond
what can realistically be accomplished within the budget. If 20 -60 truancies
identified actually exist, it would require several staff persons to meet the
stated objectives. Objectives will need to be quantified for the purp6se of
evaluation.
2. Does agency have experience.in youth programs; particularly handling of
truants?
Yes, agency has large youth population in its program. Agency determined
need for truancy program, but has not actually established such an activity
3. What is agency share or commitment?
Agency is committing large share of in -kind services. The question is whether
staff time will hinder their initial operation. Unless the magnitude of objec-
tives is reduced, the program could encumber almost 85% of the Executive Director
and Program Supervisor's time, although review of staff capacity indicates high
rate of volunteerism from graduate students which might alleviate the problem.
4. What has been agency's intra- agency experience?
a. CETA - The CETA experience encountered a few administrative problems
in the beginning because the amount of funding was too large. The
operation improved considerably the second year.
b. Other City programs (Police Department) - Good relations exist between
the Police Department and the agency.
C. School District - The School District has not had the experience of
a truancy operation with this agency. Other program experiences have
been positive. Concern is raised over young truants being referred to
New Start at its limited facility and encountering heavy drug users.
5• What are linkages to other locally available resources, referral mechanisms, etc.?
Agency has excellent social service linkages. Review with other agencies sub-
stantiates this claim.