Full_Commission

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION

JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

Regular Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

5:30 p.m.

City Hall, Room 408

#1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA 94102

Commissioners

Rebecca Woodson, President

Katharine Albright, Vice President

Dirk Beijen

Julian Chang

Ellouise Patton

Sarah Ching Ting Wan

Meeting Minutes

1.       Roll call

• The Commission President called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  Commissioners Beijen, Chang, Wan and Woodson were present.  Commissioners Albright arrived at 5:34 p.m.  Commissioner Patton was not present.   
  
  

2.   Public Comment

• Joanna Hernandez, Families Understanding the System, said their group will be meeting twice a month and that the Parent Handbook has been finalized and published.  Chief Siffermann said that Garry Bieringer would be here tonight with copies for the Commission.
• No further public comments.
  
  

3.   Review and Approval of the Full Commission Minutes of October 14, 2009 
(ACTION ITEM)

·         Motion to approve the Full Commission Minutes of October 14, 2009 by Commissioner Beijen, second by Commissioner Chang, and approved by the rest of the Commission.

·         No public comments.

4.  SingleStop USA Presentation by Elena Chavez Quezada (DISCUSSION ONLY)

·         Elena Chavez Quesada, Program Director, said that SingleStop USA was founded on the principles that there are over $65 billion dollars in public benefits and tax credits that are not being utilized and that there are over 20 million people living below the federal poverty level.  SingleStop consist of the following services: benefits, legal, financial and tax credits.  It provides free, confidential, one-on-one advice in the following areas: free assistance with getting benefits (food stamps, child care, health insurance, etc.), free financial help (credit and debt issues, budgeting, savings, etc.), free legal advice (housing, public benefits, family law, etc.), and free tax preparation.   SingleStop connects clients with resources that lead to self sufficiency.  They provide services, typically distributed through community partners, targeted to underserved, low-income households.  SingleStop is primarily funded through private philanthropies, drawing down federal funding for food stamps, Medicaid and funding through the Mayor’s Office. 

·         No public comments.

5.  Resolution Advancing LCR Plan (ACTION ITEM) 

·         Recommending the Board of Supervisors allow the Juvenile Probation Department to Advance the Plan for LCR. 
COMM Beijen said that in regards to the MYSI approach, the Program Committee met on November 4^th at LCR to see what they had done under the Missouri Youth Services Institute (MYSI).  Two youths spoke enthusiastically about their recovery, prospects, the safe environment and education opportunities.  The approach had not changed since LCR opened in 1953.  The facility was closed for two weeks and the staff was trained. 
COMM Beijen motioned to pass the resolution, second by COMM Chang and approved by the rest of the Commission.

·         No public comments.

6.  Report to the Commission (DISCUSSION ONLY)

a.  Chief’s Report

·         Update on Study Hall and Young Father's Program by Joseph Tanner.  Mr. Tanner said the Study Hall Program started in February ’09 and there are 21 young men in the program.  It has inspired young men in the Hall to move forward with their education. 
The Young Father’s Program meets every Sunday at 10 a.m.  This program shows young men that there is a different way to raise their children.  Since the program started, they have been asked to speak at group homes and to expand within the Hall.  Karen Brown, care coordinator, added that the youths have seen the negative patterns of their fathers and want to show their children something different.  They want to empower the youths in setting goals and keeping them.  They build service plans with youths and follow up with them upon release.  Jim Martin, coordinator and director of Bayview YMCA, feels it is important for incarcerated youths to develop a positive development toward fatherhood.  He helped develop the structural needs of this program on the outside.  This program began in the institution and will work toward the after care program. 
COMM Beijen asked COMM Woodson to consider “appointing a committee to carry out the duties and investigating the worthiness of a Juvenile Probation civic commendation for Mr. Tanner for the Study Hall and Young Father’s programs.” 
COMM Woodson thought it was a great idea. 
Chief Siffermann stated that the value of these two programs exemplify the new direction the department is taking. 

Update on “Moving Forward Initiative” by Allison Magee
Ms. Magee stated that three years ago the department received a grant from the Zellerbach Foundation for an organizational development and strategic planning initiative, which expires at the end of this calendar year.  The grant was funded to have three goals: 1. reform the department’s organizational structure to capacity and culture; 2. introduce and implement the principles of evidence based practice; and 3. restore effective partnerships with stakeholders and CBO’s.  In terms of the department’s organizational structure, they initiated a series of leadership trainings, which were followed by intensive coaching.  They established a bi-monthly newsletter, The Peaks, which informs and engages staff, and have worked to increase accountability and to improve the general day-to-day operations within the department.  Regarding the evidence based practices, they contracted out and had trainings from the University of Cincinnati.  They have had workgroups, focusing on MYSI and YASI, to better implement those tools.  In terms of partnerships with stakeholders and CBO’s, they have reached out to city departments to partner with their contracting process to improve accountability.  Through their efforts, they earned around $1 million in grants by partnering with the Public Defender’s Office and CJCJ.  They received an additional grant from the Zellerbach Foundation to continue with the “Moving Forward Initiative” in the amount of $150,000. 

COMM Albright had to leave due to a family matter and the Finance Committee presented before the “Update on Second Chance Act for Juvenile Offenders” (see “Committee Reports” below).

·         Update on “Second Chance Act for Juvenile Offenders” by Allison Magee
Ms. Magee said that JPD received a federal grant to improve reentry planning for youth returning from out-of-home placement and provided copies of the budget to the Commissioners.  JPD has been meeting with the planning team, comprised of a probation officer, public defender, and a case manager, to identify the first group of young people to receive services.  The award was in the amount of $600,060 and required an additional match in the same amount.  Half the match needed to be “in kind” and the other half had to be cash.  JPD is using existing revenue and contract services that were already budgeted for the cash match.  

·         Update on “CSA $100K Grant Application” by Garry Bieringer
Mr. Bieringer stated that three years ago, JPD unsuccessfully applied for a state grant to reduce their dis-proportionality.  They realized they needed a staff member to work on this issue.  A year and a half ago, they were able to hire Tanya Red.  This year they were successful in the state application and are funded for three years, at $100,000 per year, the second and third year contingent upon meeting the first year benchmark.  The key to reducing dis-proportionality in SF is to look at it as a system approach, for example, where the major decisions are made in the Juvenile Justice process.  JPD will be focusing on the several key points, specifically in their partnership with Bayview Hunters Point Police Station.  They got notice of the grant, need to do the A&E expenditure and proposal for the expert consultant, and negotiate the final contract with the state.  The grant starts on January 1^st. 

·         Update on “JJC Census Report” by Chief Siffermann
Chief Siffermann stated that the charts provided reflect a dramatic reduction in the Juvenile Hall census over the last three months compared to a year ago.  A new policy suggests that schools are addressing discipline in different ways and are not sending kids into detention prematurely.  In addition, they are fewer youths returning to Juvenile Hall. 

·         Department updates
Chief Siffermann will discuss any updates at the next meeting.

b.  Committee Reports

·         Programs
COMM Beijen previously spoke about the November 4th meeting (see Item 5).  The next meeting is unscheduled at this time, but anticipates looking at the Young Father’s Program and the upcoming commendation.  

·         Finance
COMM Albright said the Finance Committee met on December 3^rd and Sue Wong, Finance Director, provided the FY 09/10 budget updates and mid-year reductions, as well as the FY 10/11 budget planning and target reductions.  Ms. Wong stated that on November 15^th, the Mayor’s Budget Office issued instructions to all departments for a mid-year cut.  Every department was asked to cut about 3.9% from their existing general fund.  That equaled $990,000, approximately $1 million that JPD has to cut now.  The Mayor’s Budget Office requested all departments to submit mid-year cut proposals by December 4^th.  The same week, the Mayor’s Budget Office issued budget year instructions for FY 10/11.  The cut target was 30% of JPD’s general fund budget which is equivalent to $7.6 million dollars.  The reduction proposal for the budget year process is due on February 20th.  The mid-year cut amount is $720,000.  It still falls short of what the Mayor’s Budget Office has instructed JPD to cut.  Ms. Wong stated that since it is a proposal, she did not want to go through specific job classes until it has been finalized.  The Administration Division will cut 3.5 positions.  One position is vacant, the balance are filled positions, which will be layoffs.  On the probation side, the proposal cut 10 positions.  These are filled probation officer positions and they will be laid off.  One Professional Services contract will be cut, an electronic monitoring contract.  At LCR, the position is not a layoff or cut, they are going to shift the funding for this position from general fund to grant funds.  This is the beginning of the negotiations with the Mayor’s Budget Office.  In summary, the timeline for the Mayor’s Budget Office is quick.  They are hoping to finalize their cuts by end of next week and will keep the Commission posted on the final list. 
COMM Albright asked Ms. Wong to discuss details on the FY 10/11 budget cuts and the process.  Ms. Wong stated that they are still in the early planning phase.  To meet a $7.6 million dollar cut is almost impossible.  They are strategizing on how to communicate this message to the Mayor’s Budget Office, the Mayor and his Chief of Staff. 
COMM Albright indicated that the Finance Committee will meet in early 2010 to discuss FY 10/11 cuts and the impact of those cuts and positions.  

Public Comments:

·         Gabe Calvillo, President of the SF Deputy Probation Officers Associations, said that losing 10 probation officers at Juvenile Probation would be a tremendous service cut to the most at-risk youth.  The cut is going to affect around 300 at-risk youth who will not get intensive supervision because of the rise in case loads, not to mention public safety.  

·         Lisa Smith, JPD employee.  Ms. Smith has been with the department since 1987 and supports the administration.   

·         No further public comments. 

7.  Future Agenda Items (ACTION ITEM)

Announcements

·         JPD’s holiday party is scheduled on December 17^th at 2 p.m. in the JJC.

·         No public comments.

8.  Adjournment (ACTION ITEM)

·         The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.