SFGov

back to Juvenile Probation Department home page

Programs_Committee

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

MINUTES OF MAY 17, 2000 PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING
Held at Youth Guidance Center Cafeteria 375 Woodside Ave San Francisco, Ca 94127

1. (ACTION) Roll Call
The meeting was called to order by Comm Hale at 5:13pm. Comm. Dupré was present at the gavel. Comm. Arámburo arrived at 5:15pm
2. (ACTION) Review of Program Committee meeting minutes of April 24, 2000.
Comm. Hale tabled action on the minutes until a later time.
He made a short statement regarding the recent incidents and media coverage of violence in the Bayview community. He referred to a community meeting held in the Bayview to discuss this issue. He urged the communitiy agencies present to give the wider public a more accurate picture of what’s happening, than what they’re being fed by the media.
3. (ACTION) Consideration and possible action to recommend modification of the Performing Arts Workshop contract, to full Commission.
Chief Williams asked Sandy Brown Richardson to give the presentation, but gave a short introduction himself. This contract is a large part of the programming provided by the Robeson/Rivera Academy. There are currently 10 young people in the program, with 2 awaiting approval. He thinks they will make their target of 15 youngsters by June. He gave a short history of the program. Funds come from the Bd of Corrections, under the Repeat Offender Prevention Program, using a model from Orange County called the 8% project. The SF project is different from other counties funded under this grant. It is a collaborative between Dept of Health, Dept Human Services, and SFUSD. SF’s project got underway Nov. 99. As a result of participation in this program, the young people have better attendance at school.
S. Brown-Richardson reported that the original contract was for $188K for 9 months. This modification is for $693,090.00 which will run thru June 30, 2001. $240,145.00 is for this fiscal yr. This is $52,000.00 more than the original contract amount. The next fiscal yr’s amount is $452K. The increase is to take care of the expanded client numbers for next year.
The Chief said that the Governor has also extended the availability of funds for this grant program, for another year. The SF program is being funded by Bd of Corrections funds and TANF funds. Nancy Yalon, PO, said that they are hoping to have more participants during the summer, reaching up to 9th graders.
Comm. Hale asked if they were serving 30 now. Answer: No, 9 currently.
Upon motion by Comm. Dupré, and seconded, the item passed unanimously (3-0) for recommendation to the full Commission.
4. (ACTION) Consideration and possible action to recommend to full Commission the renewal of the following community based providers’ contracts:
The Chief briefly explained the process of selection.
a. Intensive Home Based Supervision:
Bayview Hunters Point Foundation
Comm. Hale yielded the chair to Comm. Arámburo, citing conflict of interest in this contract. Comm. Arámburo asked presenters to keep their presentations brief, as the Committee had already reviewed the proposals.
Karen Patterson-Matthews, Exec Director of the Foundation, and James McElroy, Program Director briefly gave an overview of the Foundation services. McElroy gave a short summary of the IHBS program. The Committee had no questions.
Comm. Dupré asked if there are any trends happening in the Bayview that they wanted to mention to the Commission. McElroy said that the youth are underserved, and more preventive programs are needed. There are more girls becoming involved in the programs.
Upon motion by Comm. Dupré, and seconded, the item passed 2-0, with Comm. Hale abstaining from the vote.
Portrero Hill Neighborhood House
Enola Maxwell, Exec. Director of the organzation, and Lavette Verdon, the Casework Manager for the IHBS program, representing. Their program, like others, does collaborate with other community based services, to attend to the individual in a holistic way. Maxwell commented on the problem of possible loss of the Summer Youth Employment Training Program.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously 3-0.
Chinatown Youth Center
Elizabeth Tuk, Casework Manager; Carol Wan, Program Manager, representing. Their program is doing something new this year, addressing youth leadership for 7 of the 13 in the program. The program is set in three stages, going from self discovery to social responsibility.
It was commented that the organization will be undergoing a name change, to Community Youth Center (in the fall).
When asked what were the primary issues for their youth in the community, they said that employment is probably the number one concern.
Comm. Arámburo wondered if perhaps Mr. Holmes could later comment on what he/the Dept could do to lobby for more employment for youth.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
Instituto Familiar De La Raza
This year they served about 22 youth, 7 completing the program. 6 were terminated without completing the program. On an aside, he thanked Chief Williams for giving them a sewing machine. He mentioned a few of the activities they’ve done with the youth. He commented about the leather workshop he is doing with the youth and how useful it is to have them there. It is a good opportunity to talk with the youth.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
Morrisania West Inc
Comm. Dupré stepped aside from discussion/action due to conflict of interest.
Charles Dixon, Program Manager, reviewed the improvements in the program and what has been going on.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed 2-0, with Comm. Dupré abstaining.
Vietnamese Youth Development Center
Louella Lee, Exec. Director of the agency, and Hong Le, Case Manager, described their services and connections to other organizations. Eg. they have a ½ time therapist at their site from RAMS. They also are doing collaborations with CYC. She invited the Commission to their Open House, July 27, in their new location.
Question: number one issue of their youth. Answer: lack of direction, negative view of their futures. Parent/child relationship-communication issue is an ongoing problem.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
Office of Samoan Affairs
They have worked with 26 youth this year, 13 every half yr. At the moment they are working with 7 Samoans, 3 African Americans, 1 Pilipino, 2 Ethiopians. 5 are graduating seniors. They have included parenting classes, and work with local ministers.
Question: number one issue for youth. Answer: the Samoan community is still underserved. There need to be more girls services.
Upon motion by Comm. Dupré, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
b. Girls Mentorhip Program: YWCA
They are also collaborating with Cole St. Clinic, in a program called Girls Circle, to work with girls not yet in the program, but awaiting enrollment. They aren’t able to work with all the girls who apply. They are also working up a joint project with the Lorraine Hansberry Theater.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
c. Co-ed Mentorship Program: Ella Hill Hutch Community Center
Participants are in the Children of the Sun program, (the Ujima Project) where they have lessons in values, culture, history, education. They target youth in the City, the Probation Dept. youth, and LCR youth.
Question: issues with youth in the community. Answer: how to help the youth in the area of education. Many do not graduate from high school.
Upon motion by Comm. Dupré, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
d. Home Detention Program: Mission Neighborhood Centers
Sam Ruiz , Exec. Director; and Gina Castro, Youth Services Director, represented. Ruiz made a short presentation about how the Neighborhood Ctrs are structured. It has been around since 1959. They operate Head Start in the Mission district. They have a Senior program, and youth services, and operate 5 branches in the community.
G. Castro explained that the Home Detention Program is based on their existing program, Avenida de la Communidad, which is an intensive case management program, working with Juvenile Hall youth. In their work, they also help parents deal with the juvenile justice system. She also enumerated other program services that not only impact the youth themselves, but improve the conditions in the community.
The numbers of youth to be served in this program can be up to 120 a yr.
There was a comment that there is a feeling the Mission is not a safe place to be, so are there other places the youth can go to be served by this program. Castro said that they have 3 different locations where case managers will be. And they are working on identifying an organization in the Bayview Hunters Point community to partner with them. The Bayview Hunters Point Foundation offered their help to Mission Neighborhood Centers for this.
Question: what are the issues for youth in the Mission community. Answer: (Ray Balberon) Gentrification. Displacement of families. Language access to services. Child abuse, substance abuse. Hunger. Gang violence. Need more late night programs, street intervention. Culture shock and disintegration.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
e. Peer Counseling: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House
Jack Jacqua described the program as one of self determination, and peer mediation. He cited a couple of success stories of past participants (two of whom are graduating from college, one planning to come back and be a counselor at LCR).
Question: what is the critical issue as he sees it. Answer: Desperation, lack of hope.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
f. Status Offender Program: Huckleberry Youth Services
Bruce Fisher, Exec. Director of Youth Advocates, represented. He gave a short history of Youth Advocates (Huckleberry Youth Services). They work singularly as well as in collaboration with other organizations, such as Larkin St. Youth Ctr -which used to be a part of Youth Advocates, but split off. He mentioned that the Status Offender Program is not just a program, but the entire "system" for SF for status offenders, which is open 24/7 to serve youth. Fisher brought up the issue of staff turnover, stating that due to lower salaries, keeping staff in non profits is difficult. The Commission commiserated with Fisher on this issue.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
g. Pre-Placement Shelter: SF Boys and Girls Home
Kent Eagleson, Exec. Director, Sharon Douglas, Supervisor at the Shelter, and Denise (Program Manager for the Boys and Girls Home) representing. The organization operates a longterm boys, and longterm girls residential group home in the City. And the pre placement shelter. He recounted some of the changing characteristics of the services they provide. Where they used to provide schooling in the shelter, they now work with the SFUSD to do the educational programming at Bay High School, a part of the county community day school system.
The other thing they are working on and hope for in the future is the establishment of therapeutic services in the communities so their youth can continue receive therapy after leaving the shelter.
Question: do they work with Edgewood Kinship Services? Answer: they have had a couple of youth who were served by Edgewood, but they do not work directly with the Kinship program. Eagleson said he’d keep them in mind for future reference.
Upon motion by Comm. Arámburo, and seconded, the item passed unanimously, 3-0.
5. (DISCUSSION) Public Comment on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Juvenile Probation Commission.
None
6. (ACTION) Adjournment
          Comm. Hale asked Comm. Dupré to reflect on the recent passing of Lefty Gordon.
          Comm. Dupré commented that the loss of Lefty Gordon was a great one. Lefty gave to his community, and city, without regard to his own health. He grew up in the Western Addition, a member of a gang called the Bulls, later becoming a youth director at Booker T Washington Center, and one of the first African American basketball referees throughout the city. He held the high school record in the hundred yard dash in SF. His commitment was to youth, not only in the Western Addition, but to the entire City. He asked for a moment of silence in Lefty’s memory.

The meeting was adjourned in memory of Leonard "Lefty" Gordon, at 7:30pm.

                               Minutes adopted August 15, 2000

Meeting Information

Programs_Committee