Full_Commission

MINUTES  OF  JULY 27, 1999  PROGRAM   COMMITTEE   MEETING 

1.                  Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:08 pm by Comm. Hale. Comm. Aramburo was present at the gavel.  Comm. Dupre arrived at 5:52 pm.

2.                  Review of Program Committee meeting minutes of July 15, 1999

The minutes were tabled until the end of the meeting.  They were adopted with no amendments.

3.         Discussion/Action Items:

a.         Consideration and possible action to recommend to full Commission renewal of the 

                            GIRL Initiative with Westside Mental Health Center.

Cheyenne Bell reviewed the process by which this contract was entered.  It was the result of the Department requesting that separate organizations enter into a collaborative to provide a number of services to girls in the Dept.  These organizations had not formerly worked together in such an effort and there were problems in the formation of the collaboration and carrying out of activities under that structure.  The written report given to the Committee covers the main points of this experiment. 

Some salient issues are: having adequate referrals of young women from the Dept., having a consistent PO liaison between the program and the Dept, having age appropriate activities for the various age levels being dealt with.  The discomfort of going into other areas of the city where there may have been turf issues.  At the same time, many referrals of girls to the collaborative partners were same neighborhood referrals, meaning they were referred to one of the agencies of the collaborative that was in the same neighborhood, when the collaborative wanted to attempt to “cross” fertilize each other’s operation.

Reps from Westside summarized their impression of the experiment.  One important lesson was that even the best laid plans may not work, without the input from those being served. 

Another was that there is a serious social pathology among the girls which needs to be attended to, and not just their psycho pathology.

The art activities were a very positive asset to the program and were well received by the girls. 

The Commissioners were pleased at the efforts shown by the organizations in their work toward making the program work, and asked if there were other things the Department could do/offer in resources to help them out.

The Samoan Center site is in need of more staff support.

Horizons Unlimited described their Peer Leadership Program.  They concluded that if the girls had ownership of the program, it became more empowering.

Comm. Hale asked about the RYSE project in Oakland, and if this Department was any closer to a gender specific probation unit.  G. Tucker said talk is underway, but nothing is concrete yet.

Comm. Hale also asked about incorporating an economic development component in the program.  Comm. Arámburo asked if parents were oriented as part of the overall involvement in the program.  Not as a parents’ group, just individually with their case managers when the girls start the program, and whatever follow up they have with them.  Horizons reported that they hold a monthly family support nite at their site.                  

Three young ladies who were in the program spoke of their experiences. One parent also attended and gave her comments about the program.   All were positive about the various activities they did. All did some art project, had help with their schoolwork, and one did the cooking activity while another learned to sew.  Their ages ranged from 12 to 16 and time in the program was as little as 2-3 months, to one year.

The Executive Director of the Samoan Community Development Center echoed the previous comment that they needed a fulltime staff to further develop the activities the Center could provide girls. They are currently serving 5, ages ranging from 11 to 18 yrs.

A program counselor from Westside reviewed what they did.  Comm. Hale mentioned the potential of using SFUSD teachers. Comm. Dupré asked what the greatest need of the girls in probation was.  They need a lot of “hand holding,” a personal connection with the provider.  This personal recognition needs to be established before they get out of the hall.

If there were a Dept staff assigned to dealing with the GIRL program, the referral and preparation for referrals, would be more effective.  Comm. Dupré asked what more preventive services could be done to avoid the need for intervention at a later stage.

A representative from Horizons spoke off mike, comments not picked up. 

A representative from Southern Exposure (the art gallery/program) described what activities they did with the girls, and showed slides of some of the products done by the girls. 

Comm. Arámburo moved to recommend to the full Commission, renewing the contract with the GIRL collaboration.  Comm. Dupré seconded.  It was adopted.  3-0.

4.           Public Comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Juvenile Probation Commission.     none

5.         Unfinished Business  The meeting minutes for July 15 were adopted.

6.         Adjournment   The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.