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MINUTES OF MAY 31, 2000 REGULAR MEETING
Held at Youth Guidance Center, 375 Woodside Ave. San Francisco

The Minutes of this meeting set forth all actions taken by the Commission on the matters stated, but not necessarily the chronological sequence in which the matters were taken up.

1. (ACTION) Roll Call
The meeting was called to order by Comm. Julian at 5:45pm. Comms. Aramburo, Dupre, and Jackson-Drake were present at the gavel. Comms. Hale, Chuck were excused.
2. (ACTION) Review of April 26, 2000 meeting minutes
The minutes were approved as written.
Comm. Julian added an item to the agenda; presentation of a certificate of appreciation for Lefty Gordon. Given to his son, PO Gregory Gordon. Comm. Julian said that while he didn’t personally know Lefty, he grew up in the Western Addition and knew that Lefty was loved and respected by many, and gave his condolences to Gregory Gordon.
3. (DISCUSSION) Chief Probation Officer’s Report:
a Status reports:
1. Juvenile Hall replacement project
Chris Bigalow summarized the progress of the project. Final programming workshop is done. Final draft document describing the programming, operational needs and a schematic on how to proceed is being prepared. Document will be ready on June 26. A ’hazmat’ report, facilities condition, geo-technical survey is being readied for the general contractor. 3 artists have been chosen for the public arts project. The Advisory Committee has put togther a budget for an additional $15 million of work to be done over the duration of the project, to be matched by state funds. There may be a need to perform various environmental protection tests/reports to comply with federal requirements. If so, it will demand an extension of time and additional costs.
2. Special programming for girls in Juvenile Hall
A planning group including Comm. Hale and Comm. Willis of the JJC has held a meeting where they discussed and will continue to plan for setting up a system of services and program enchancements that all girls coming into Juvenile Hall will be channeled through, attending to all of their particular needs as girls. The Dept will attempt to involve all current community providers and new resources to make the programs especially relevant to girls. They will be using JJC Commissioner Laurie Shaftner’s report and recommendations on girls in the system, to come up with their own. One goal they will be keeping in mind is the reduction of girls in juvenile hall and in placement.
3. Population Management Project
They will be ready to implement a preliminary project in July, which will utilize a Sr. Supervising PO, a Juvenile Probation Officer, and a case manager and monitor from an existing community based organization, to do reports that hopefully will hasten the release of youth from detention. This will work in conjunction with #4, the Community Partnership Initiative. The Office of Samoan Affairs, The Samoan Community Development Center, Soul’d Out Productions, The Bayview Beacon Ctr, Community Boards, and For Girls Coalition want to work on the Community Partnership Initiative.
4. Community Partnership Initiative
Mentioned in #3 abovre.
b. Highlights
1. Youth Expo
Chief Williams briefly recounted that the event was a very successful one. Janet Medina described in more detail what went on that day. Approximately 100 youth participated in the program that day. Tim Diestal, Assistant Dir. Also echoed the amazement and pleasure he felt from the event.
2. Softball tournament
Bob Wertz talked a little about the Dept’s softball team which played with the Dept. of Human Services to help raise money for the Children’s Workers’ Fund. The fund was set up by workers at DHS to serve foster care children in San Francisco.
c. Emerging Issues/Upcoming Events
1. Juvenile Hall population discussion
The Chief said that this is the time of the year when they usually experience population spikes, currently at 125, but has been as high as 152. They will be doing more assessments on what factors impact the population during different times of the year. This will be an ongoing concern.
Comm. Arámburo asked if CARC has helped much in this problem. The Chief said that this problem is bigger than CARC. He said that the numbers served through CARC will exceed the 400 they projected over 3 years.
2. Change in summary reports to the Commission
The Chief informed the Commission that the one page summary, which was previously separately issued, is now a part of the monthly report.
d. Staff Recognition
Presentation of Certificate from Assemblyman Kevin Shelley to Bryan Thomasson, Juvenile Hall counselor.
T. Diestal presented the certificate acknowledging Thomasson’s positive influence on the youth in the hall. Thomasson thanked everyone and acknowledged the help and cooperation of all the staff in the hall.
Comm. Jackson-Drake commented that she was very excited by what she saw the day of the Expo, and hoped that there will be other such events in the future.
The Chief said that a goal of the event was to get new resources to begin an ongoing partnership with the Dept in providing services to the youth in the hall and that they will be having an initial meeting tomorrow with the Ballet, Opera, SF 49ers, to talk about doing the event as an annual one, and also to see if ongoing things can be started.

4. (ACTION)
a. Consideration and possible action to approve Program Committee’s recommendation for modification of the Performing Arts Workshop contract for their continuing work with the Robeson/Rivera Academy.
Nancy Yalon, Project Director for the Academy. She reviewed that this is a project funded by Bd of Corrections Repeat Offenders Prevention Program grant. It’s been running for 6 mos. The Dept’s Prevention/Diversion unit oversees this. It targets first time offenders.
Sandy Brown-Richardson said that this was a contract modification of $693,090. The original amount for a 9 month period was $188,000. This modification increases it and extends it to June 30, 2001 (contract period now is Oct. 1, ’99 thru Jun 30, ’01).
Upon motion, and seconded, the contract modification was approved, 4-0.
b. Consideration and possible action to approve Program Committee’s recommendations for renewal of community based contracts, as follows:
Comm. Arámburo gave a short review of what the Program Committee did. She thanked all the CBOs for their attendance during the Committee mtg and the Full Commission mtg. She said that the CBOs were doing a good job, for example the IHBS programs, maintaining their capacity at a high level. She made a motion that all contracts be approved, as recommended by the Program Committee. A vote was taken on each contractor.
Intensive Home Based Supervision:
Bayview Hunters Point Foundation
Portrero Hill Neighborhood House
Chinatown Youth Center
Instituto Familiar De La Raza
Vietnamese Youth Development Center
Office of Samoan Affairs
Comm. Arámburo moved that the contracts for all IHBS programs as listed, be approved.
Comm. Julian asked a point of information. How many proposals were submitted for IHBS. Answer: 11. For Home Detention there were 10, for Boys and Girls Mentorship there were 5. Girls Mentorship,2, Peer Counseling, 3, Pre Placement Shelter, 1, Status Offenders, 1.
Upon motion, and seconded, the contracts were approved 4-0.
Morrisania West Inc
Comm. Arámburo moved to approve the contract to Morrisania West for the IHBS program. Comm. Jackson-Drake seconded. The question was called, and resulted in a 3-0-1 vote, with Comm. Dupré abstaining due to conflict of interest.
Girls Mentorhip Program: YWCA
Comm. Arámburo moved to approve this contract as recommended. Upon motion, and seconded, the contract was approved, 4-0.
Co-ed Mentorship Program: Ella Hill Hutch Community Center
Comm. Arámburo moved to approve this contract as recommended. Upon motion, and seconded, the contract was approved, 4-0.
Home Detention Program: Mission Neighborhood Centers
Comm. Arámburo moved to approve this contract as recommended. Upon motion, and seconded, the contract was approved, 4-0.
Comm. Arámburo expressed her pleasure at the cooperation shown by different CBOs for the desire to help each other in the provision of services to youth in all neighborhoods, so it goes beyond CBOs based in certain communities serving only youth from those communities, to cross geographic services.
Gina Castro, Youth Services Director, thanked the Commission.
Peer Counseling: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House
Comm. Julian commended Jack Jacqua for the fine work being done by his program.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the contracted was approved 4-0.
Status Offender Program: Huckleberry Youth Services
Comm. Arámburo moved to approve this contract as recommended. Upon motion, and seconded, the contract was approved, 4-0.
Pre-Placement Shelter: SF Boys and Girls Home
Comm. Arámburo moved to approve this contract as recommended. Upon motion, and seconded, the contract was approved, 4-0.

5. (DISCUSSION) Report on the Life Learning Academy program on Treasure Island: Carol Kizziah, Delancey St. Foundation.
          Carole Kizziah, Dean of the Academy, reviewed what’s been going on in the program. This is the 2nd year of operation, with 50 students. This year 4 will comprise the Academy’s first graduating clsss. It is an SFUSD Charter School. Two other staff (Don Bartlow, Mike Delane -Lt, SFFD), and four studetns spoke from their own personal perspectives of the school.
Of the 50 students, only 6-7% live on the island. Kizziah mentioned that the American Family Institute is planning to open a much expanded girls residential center on Treasure Island come the fall. They would be able to take up to 30 girls in residence. Question: how do students get into the school. Answer: self referred or referred by others. Ultimately it is a voluntary placement. They have to choose the school. There is no forced assignment.
Bartlow described the Café project of the school.
Shiran (spelling) spoke very highly of the school and expressed his growing interest after starting to study there. He has developed interests in art and business.
Ella is part of the student council at the school. She is a tutor in academic classes and acts as a mentor for new incoming students. She also spoke highly of the program and how they felt an investment in it because they had a hand in actually building parts of it (physically).
Kelly, another student said that the smaller classes make learning more personal, with enough attention. They also feel it is a safer place. They hold mediation groups to resolve personal differences.
Kentdrik mentioned their mentor program. He liked that the school exposes students to new places. The mentor program consists of having Delancey St. residents paired up with each student.
There are also volunteers from the Old Navy store, and the California College of Arts and Crafts, and SF State.
Mike Delane talked a little about the Jr. Fire Cadet program. And the college tours they have conducted. The students present had all gone on the tours and had in mind some institution they wanted to go to.
Question: how will you know the effectiveness of the program? Answer: The SFUSD has an evaluation team doing reviews of the program. They also have pre and post assessment tests and the STAR 9 tests (A state evaluative test) . They also established a control group of 50 to which they will compare the Life Learning Academy students.
Question: are there any ’3632’ students there? There are special ed students, but no identified ’3632’ kids. The demographics of the student body (ethnic breakdown etc. was outlined in the written report given the Commission)
6.          (DISCUSSION) Public Comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Juvenile Probation Commission.
none
7. (DISCUSSION) Announcements, requests for future agenda items.
          none
8. (ACTION) Adjournment 7:30 pm
          The meeting was adjourned with a moment of silence in memory of Lefty Gordon.

Meeting Information

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