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Meeting Information



Programs_Committee

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MINUTES OF AUGUST 30, 2006 PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING of the JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION  held at Youth Guidance Center conference room  375 Woodside Ave  San Francisco, CA  94127

 

The Minutes of this meeting set forth all actions taken by the Committee on the matters 

                                                             stated, but not necessarily the chronological sequence in which the matters were taken up

                                                            (documents referred to in the minutes can be found attached to the meeting agenda on the

                                                             webpage)

 

1.

(ACTION)  Roll Call

Chair, Comm. Fetico called the meeting to order at 5:17pm.  Comm Beijen was present at the gavel, Comm Rojas arrived at 6:00pm   Toni Powell, Dennis Doyle, Nancy Yalon represented the Dept, Julie Posadas, Garry Bieringer, Art Taylor attended.

 

2.

(ACTION) Review and possible approval of minutes of June 8, 2006

Minutes were moved to full Commission for action.

(public comments)

There were none.

 

3.

Public comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Program Committee of the Juvenile Probation Commission

 There were none.

 

4.

(DISCUSSION/ACTION) Update on girls’ services

Comm Beijen read his report (attached) on the status of girls’ services in the Dept, and asked to have his recommendations moved to the full Commission for adoption.

Julie Posadas (United Way) said there needs to be rehabilitative plans for girls in YGC, for when they leave the Dept and are back in the communities. Plans need to address their underlying causes for delinquency. CBOs need to be coordinated with to make sure the appropriate services are enlisted.  If not, those factors that bring them back into the system just exacerbate their delinquency.  Training for POs will give them a holistic response for those clients and will reduce their recidivism. 

About a 1/3 of those girls detained here are not SF residents.

There needs to be assurance for implementation of the girls’ initiatives’ recommendations for treatment plans for those girls. This is not currently a given.

Comm Beijen commented that this needs to be acted on in a measured way, but the Commission should lay out the policy that this is to be done.

 Toni Powell (LCRS Director) said that there are barriers that are out of the control of the Dept that interfere with effective interventions for girls.  The main one being the reluctance/refusal of the girls’ to accept counseling and therapy.  She expressed her concern that the specialization of POs (along gender specific service lines) will add to the difficulty of doing probation work overall –POs being less well rounded to deal with all kids.  There are advantages to having POs dealing with both, but of course special training to deal with girls would be valuable. 

Comm Beijen said youth he spoke to in his research were excited about having a gender specific unit.

J. Posadas emphasized the need for detention and probation staffs to work together. She also mentioned Title II funds through the State for juvenile justice initiatives might be a source to fund developing this initiative as an institutionalized intervention.

A comment was made that the Dept needs a grant writer.

Lonnie Holmes said the first girls’ initiative was begun 10 yrs ago with Westside Mental Health and worked well.

(public comments)

there were none.

 

5.

(DISCUSSION/ACTION) Status report on contracted programs services to Dept youth.

L. Holmes did not have a report on the status, he deferred to the Chief.  He mentioned that 3 CBO contracts (not from the current RFP) were entered into the system.  There was a document left by the Chief that showed the current progress on the CBO contracts from the RFP.

After perusing the document L. Holmes could not say when all the contracts would be completed and “online”.  He projected all contracts would be complete by the end of September. 

(public comments)

there were none.

 

6.

(DISCUSSION/ACTION) Log Cabin Ranch School & Hidden Valley Ranch program changes.

Toni Powel reviewed the one page summary of what is being offered at the Ranch now.  She commented that the therapy portion of the program is varied, the group therapy being easier to implement than individual therapy.

The Anger Replacement Therapy is revealing some interesting moments, and is continually adjusting its approach to be able to “manage” potential emotional manifestations.

Comm Beijen said he was at LCRS on August 9, with the Chief and Alan Nance (MOCJ), along with some DPW engineers, who said the money available for LCRS “improvements/upgrades” would impose ADA reviews/approvals and would probably not get much done.  The work will remain on the simple repair level for “safety and livability.”

What are the goals of the programs there. T. Powell said she is still disappointed at the previous programs  and want better programs. She doesn’t think life skills classes are what are needed. There needs to be a strong aftercare, re entry program in the communities.  Because many (50%) of the residents are 18rs or older, they need training in a trade.  There aren’t many such training programs whose schedules coincide with ranch “graduations” so the youth can slip right into their training.

She reiterated that with a lack of consequences for poor decision making (youth getting “time” for misbehaving), there is less incentive to “go straight”.  Even going AWOL doesn’t receive any serious discipline so there’s no external deterrent, like CYA.  Comm Rojas agreed that the Ranch did not represent any serious commitment to the youth (from her discussions with some youth who have been there).  Are there any immediate tie-ins to vocations when the youth come out of the Ranch?  Not currently.  There is not enough staff to do any “sub-tract” of studies to prepare for this.

(public comments)

Art Taylor, from an architectural design firm, has been in discussions with the Chief and Alan Nance since last August about LRCS and his company has put together some ideas for how to change the environment. No details were given. Further discussions are scheduled.

 

7.

(DISCUSSION) Evaluations of department programs: Dept.'s plans for internal evaluation. What standards will be utilized to assess outcomes?

L. Holmes deferred to the Chief when he returns from vacation.

Comm Rojas asked if this topic was about just the contracted programs/services or also about Dept run programs.  It was understood to be both.

N. Yalon referred to her written report that briefly summarized how 4 program/services were being measured. She mentioned SB 163 that gives a portion of support for out of home placement, which can be used for preparing a transition program for leaving the placement and re integrating into the community.

Anger Replacement Therapy is being implemented in LCRS, JH, and YGC. Comm Rojas suggested including a youth self assessment form to go along with those done by the POs.

(public comments)
there were none.

 

8.

(DISCUSSION/ACTION) Program planning for new juvenile hall facility.

Dennis Doyle reviewed the document that showed a list of existing programs and some planned programs.

Comm Beijin said he hopes the practice of selling food products to the youth in JH (for cash the youth are not supposed to have) is not carried over to the new facility.  D. Doyle has not heard of this practice going on.  It will be looked into.

Ques: are searches done at LCRS?  T. Powell explained how it was done but said they are looking at revising the process for better control, but they need more staff.

(public comments)

there were none.

 

9.

(DISCUSSION) Public comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Program Committee of the Juvenile Probation Commission

there were none.

10.

(ACTION) Announcements, future agenda items.  Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:22pm.

 

 

Documents related to the various agenda topics have been attached to the committee agenda page on the Commission webpage