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MINUTES OF JUNE 18, 2002 PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING

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 the Chair at 5:50pm Comm. Dupre was present at the gavel. Comm. Bonilla was excused. There was a quorum.
2.          (ACTION) Approval of May 22, 2002 meeting minutes.
          The minutes were approved as written.
(public comment) There was none.
3.          Public comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Juvenile Probation Commission
          Henry Breen asked about the items regarding LCRS, as they were not specific enough for him to understand what exactly was going to be discussed. The Chair said that they will be explained fully when they were reached in the agenda.
4.          (DISCUSSION) Review Dept assessments on the following TANF grants (up to the maximum levels shown). (Dept's assessment report on each grantee available through Community Programs Division)
Sheila Arcelona reviewed the history of where TANF came from and why these items were coming to the Commission as late as they are. In previous years the process would have been earlier, but this year the TANF program has not yet been approved in the State, and the JJCC has not yet reviewed nor approved the City's spending plan, so this is the first discussion of the possible plan. She mentioned that in the first 6 mos. of this year's contracts, over 700 people have been served by the grantees.
At this point, representatives from each grantee came to the mike to answer any questions the Committee had.
§          Bay Area Legal Aid ($100,000)
A question of difference between the time some clients are on case management and when their legal services end. Ans: clients remain on case management until all aspects of the case are attended to, or settled -in some situations taking more time than just the legal issues dealt with.
§          CARECEN ($100,000)
Not only do they do tattoo removal, but they do case management with their clients. By the end of 12/2001 they had served120 clients (past and currently active). The clients perform 50 hrs of community service for every tattoo removed.
§          Edgewood Center for Children and Families ($100,000)
For a while this program did not have a director. There is a search now ongoing to find a replacement.
One issue raised is the limited number of probation youth who are worked with (15) out of 57 served.
§          Girls After School Academy ($70,000)
They were without staff for a while, but are now stable.
Aside: There was a short discussion regarding PrIDE and TANF funds still going to it in the upcoming year.
S. Arcelona explained that in the next go around, after year 2003, if TANF is re-appropriated, then there would be an open solicitation for proposed services made in SF.
§          Girls 2000 ($100,000)
Formerly under the fiscal control of SLUG, it is now a 501c3 CBO. It began as a recreational and safe space program, and has expanded to work with families and others in the community.
Question: any recidivism? There is one who is under probation. This girl is a first offender.
§          Instituto Familiar de la Raza ($100,000)
Discussion on this tabled, no representative present.
§          Morrisania West ($100,000)
Serving hard to serve, older youth (18+).
Ques: out of the 53 clients served to date, how many are employed. About 44, which include those working in MYEEP. 4 recidivated into the juvenile justice system.
Ques: are those 18-19 yr olds being placed in long-term employment? The Program Coordinator said his job was mainly to get the clients prepared to get a job, and not to get a job for them. Some of the clients they work with have adult criminal records, so there's a challenge there in getting them jobs.
§          National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship ($50,000)
This contract has been cut back to working solely with students at LCRS, and not elsewhere. The organization has gone through staffing changes.
§          Richmond District Neighborhood Center ($96,418)
There were no questions. The representatives passed out copies of a publication they do, showcasing some of the work produced by students in their programs.
§          Samoan Community Development Center ($100,000)
This program has been changed structurally since its first funding. It has also undergone staff changes in the organization. Things are now stabilized and operating well.
§          Special Services for Groups ($100,000)
It was noted that this was the first grantee that fulfilled the PrIDE evaluation paperwork loads, and also that they were successful in bringing in significant foundation grants to extend their services to youth at LCRS.
§          Vietnamese Youth Development Center ($54,000)
There were no questions regarding this program.
(public comment) There were none.
5.          (DISCUSSION) Update on the progress of the LCRS Advisory Committee.
The Chair reported that there is a list of names for the initial membership of the advisory committee, and that those people will be contacted for a possible orientation meeting by next week.
(public comment) Henry Breen, of the Volunteer Auxiliary commented on how they have been doing with the organic gardening project in conjunction with SLUG. They have given SLUG $22K to begin this and there are 5 youth working with it. And while their excitement is high on this, Breen wondered what was being planned for LCRS. He was questioning the economic soundness of running the ranch with such a low enrollment and commented that it is a waste of such a beautiful resource. He also said that they (the Volunteers) were considering supporting this project with significant funds, as well as soliciting others for support, but unless they were assured that the place would be productively utilized, this might not happen.
L. Jackson-Simpson assured Mr. Breen that many things are being done to improve the situation at LCRS and commended him for being a concerned citizen who will continue to speak out for the needs of the youth there.
Comm. Dupre thanked Mr. Breen for his comments and said that Mr. Sanders should have been at this meeting to respond to these questions, as well as the agenda items regarding LCRS.
Comm. Richard said that he had asked the Secretary to place this issue on the next Program Committee mtg, and to ask Mr. Sanders to be in attendance. He also suggested the Mr. Breen come to the full Commission meeting.
Comm. Dupre repeated that he was disappointed that there was no representation from the Dept. administration (either the Chief, Asst. Chief, or D. Sanders). He directed Mr. Breen to Mr. Sanders for answers to his questions, and if he could find no satisfaction there, to take it up to the Chief.
The Commissioner said that the Commission had no desire to close LCRS at this point in time.
He recommended Mr. Breen join the Advisory Committee. It was recommended to ask the President of the Auxiliary if he could do so.
6.          (DISCUSSION) Update on the Emergency Notification System vendor selection process.
          L. Jackson-Simpson recounted how meetings in the past two years with community groups in the adjacent neighborhoods, regarding the JH replacement project, have shown a concern by the neighbors for public safety in the event of disasters or crises in the Dept; eg. escapes, fires, impacts on the community due to construction. So, a search for a firm to provide emergency notification in such events was begun. There were four responses to the call for proposals, and one has been selected: Dialogic Communications Corporation.
(public comment) There was none.
7.          (DISCUSSION) Revision of contract monitoring and oversight process at Log Cabin Ranch School, by Community Programs Division.
          L. Jackson-Simpson said that in an effort to better coordinate and oversee contracts the Dept has with various "vendors/providers", the Vocational Programs -the YGCIC—would be the primary body that will see all program operations at LCRS, as well as providing support for youth coming out of LCRS to help assure they do not stop their progress in getting re integrated in the community. L. Jackson-Simpson also mentioned that there would be resources coming from a grant obtained by the PIC that will enhance the opportunities at LCRS. Comm. Richard asked L. Jackson-Simpson to come to the orientation meeting of the Advisory Committee to explain this same thing to them.
(public comment) There was none.
8.          Announcements, requests for future agenda items: Comm. Dupre asked to have the issue of Hidden Valley Ranch's future put on the next Committee agenda, and to have Donald Sanders at the meeting to respond to questions on LCRS and HVR.
Comm. Richard commented that the National Gang Symposium that he and a SF contingent of about 50 people participated in last week was a very good experience.
(public comment) There was none.
9.          (ACTION) Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:47pm.

Meeting Information

Programs_Committee