San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes of Full Commission Meeting of Monday, December 7, 2009
5:30-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order
Chair Quesada called the meeting to order at 5:32pm.
Commissioners present: Deng, Marshall-Fricker, Liang, J. Chan, A. Chan, Hirano, LaCroix, Davidson, Quesada, Ellington
Arrived tardy: Jones, Carlson, Quintero
Absent: Escamilla, Guerra
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Commissioner LaCroix. The agenda was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
Commissioner Liang moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 16, 2009, seconded by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker. The minutes were approved unanimously by acclamation.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
There was none.
5. Staff Report
6. New Business
A. Discussion and Possible Action: California Youth Connection (CYC) Presentation on Foster Care Policy Development and Legislative Change (Kate Teague and more)
Kate Teague, Janae Jones and Ruby Rosas explained that the California Youth Connection (CYC) is an organization of current and former foster youth that works to improve the lives of young people in foster care. The San Francisco chapter of CYC is working right now to repaint the San Francisco assessment center where young people are taken immediately after they are removed from their homes (by Child Protective Services) and before they’re moved to foster homes.
CYC’s 2010 statewide legislative priorities are:
—Getting the state legislature to pass AB12: California Fostering Connections Act, which would, among other things, allow California to opt into a federal program that would extend foster care until age 21.
—Getting the state legislature to mandate that all social workers working with foster youth be trained in the Family Finding and Engagement Program, which helps foster youth continue to maintain contact with their family.
B. Discussion and Possible Action: Honoring Emancipated Youth (HEY)—Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board Presentation (EYAB) on Strengthening Systems of Support for Foster Care and Emancipating Youth (Shavonte Keaton, Claudia Mendez, and Leslie Brown)
Shavonte Keaton explained that HEY, formed in 1999, works to convene, connect, measure & sustain the work of improving the lives of young people emancipating out of the foster care system (mostly 18-24 year olds). HEY produces both statistics sheets and guides (like the housing document that came out last year) and it’s EYAB provides trainings.
Claudia Mendez explained that the EYAB is a group of emancipated young people. They create trainings (they currently offer four) about how emancipation works.
Commissioners Marshall-Fricker and Jones asked questions, and Leslie Brown explained that HEY’s four priority issue areas were employment, health, housing and education.
- Discussion and Possible Action: Update on YouthVote (Peter Lauterborn, Youth commission staff)
Peter Lauterborn explained the role of the Student Delegate in the San Francisco Unified School District. The Student Delegate, who must be a current student at an SFUSD high school, is elected by students from all SFUSD high schools to represent students as a (nonvoting) member of the Board of Education.
- Discussion and Possible Action: 1st Reading of Resolution Urging the Board of Supervisors to Support HR 1064 Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education Act (Youth PROMISE Act). (Commissioner Carlson)
Commissioner Carlson read the resolution into the public record.
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker suggested that Supervisor Campos could sponsor this resolution, and asked if there would there be any cost for this action.
Commissioners Hirano and Quesada observed that the final whereas clause would function more properly as a resolved clause.
- Discussion and Possible Action: Update from each Youth Commission Committee
- Youth Justice (Commissioner Carlson): mentioned the committee’s visit to the Community Assessment Referral Center; explained the committee’s focus on issues of juvenile justice and police relations;
- Health and Wellness (Commissioner Davidson); talked about the committee’s interest in working on issues of teen dating violence;
- Land Use (Commissioner LaCroix): mentioned committee’s interest in getting discounted fast passes for transitional aged youth;
- Education and Employment (Commissioner Jones): discussed committee’s focus on school to career reform.
7. Old Business
- Discussion and Possible Action: 2nd Reading of Resolution Urging Every City Department to Support YouthWorks Interns
Given Commissioner Guerra’s absence, Commissioner Carlson moved to table the item, seconded by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker. This motion was passed unanimously by acclamation.
8. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
9. Adjournment
Chair Quesada adjourned the meeting at 7:15pm.
Supplemental documents for agenda items are available for review at City Hall Room 345. Minutes are also available on the Youth Commission Website at www.sfgov.org/youth_commission
ACCESSIBLE MEETING POLICY
The Youth Commission meeting will be held in City Hall Room 416. The formal address of City Hall is 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at the United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: MUNI Metro Lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, N-Judah, and T-Third Street at Van Ness and Civic Center Stations; 9-San Bruno, 19-Polk, 47-VanNess, and 71-Haight Noriega. For information about MUNI accessible services call 923-6142.
The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Accessible curbside parking spaces have been designated on the corners of McAllister and Polk, and Grove and Polk. There is accessible parking available within the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage at the corner of McAllister and Polk Streets, and within the Performing Arts Parking Garage at Grove and Franklin Streets.
If you require the use of an American sign language interpreter, a sound enhancement system, or a reader during the meeting, calendars and minutes of the meeting in alternative formats; such arrangements can be made by calling Mario Yedidia at (415) 554-6446, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible.
Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. The Ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City Operations are open to the people’s review.
For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact by mail: Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall Room 224, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102; by phone at (415) 554-7724; by fax at (415) 554-7854; or by e-mail at sotf@sfgov.org.
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from the Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.htm