San Francisco Youth Commission
Youth Justice Committee Minutes
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
5:00-7:00 PM
City Hall, Room 345
1. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.
San Francisco, CA 94102

There will be public comment on each item.

Members: Joshua Cardenas, Jillian Wu, Alexandra Berliner, Sophie Edelhart

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:03 pm. Commissioners present: Cardenas, Wu, Berliner, Edelhart; Staff present: Adele Failes-Carpenter; There was quorum.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner Edelhart, seconded by Commissioner Wu, moved to approve the agenda. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. February 24, 2014
(Document A)

Commissioner Berliner, seconded by Commissioner Wu, moved to approve the agenda. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda (Discussion Only)

There was none.

5. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

A. Presentation on Family and Children Services Protocols
Presenter: Sylvia Deporto, Director, Family and Children Services

Ms. Deporto introduced herself and her background as the Deputy Director of Family and Children Services who oversees the child welfare division. Within FCS, there is an emergency response and investigative division that triages and conducts risk assessments. In DV cases, they send out a DV specialist. In general, FCS’ goal is to keep kids in families. They generally refer out except in cases of serious danger. In general, FCS is seeing fewer cases every month, but with more complex issues.

FCS has not seen an increase in referrals to FCS from the implementation of SFPD DGO 6.09. FCS does not currently have the ability in place to pull data on what cases were specifically referred by SFPD or from SFPD responding to DV calls. FCS was one of the California counties undergoing a routine audit last year and one of the findings was that there should be a set of protocols established for FCS’ interactions with law enforcement that sets guidelines for collaborative investigations. Ms. Deporto affirmed she would like to have input from both youth and DV advocates on those protocols as they are being drafted. Once established, there will be joint SFPD-FCS trainings on the new protocols. FCS staff are also being trained by CBHS on creating trauma-informed systems of care. CBHS plans to launch these trainings citywide.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about how youth/children are referred to CBHS services through FCS, if that indeed is the best place for them to be referred by SFPD or others. Ms. Deporto explained that CBHS is co-located at the child advocacy center and that they work with the Family Resource Centers, which FCS refers directly to. Ms. Deporto recommended the committee ask Ken Epstein for a presentation as well.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about what happens during non-arrest DV situations, or DV cases where a child is in the care of the surviging/non-abusing parent. Ms. Deporto explained that if a child is in the care of a non-abusing parent, it is not an emergency for FCS and they will respond to a referral within ten days to assess and provide resources. If parents are arrested and a child is left without a caregiver, FCS goes out immediately.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about DGO 7.04 and cases of parental arrest. Ms. Deporto explained that 7.04 is also an internal FCS policy. The staff is trained to only do a check on the individual designated by the parent to take custody of the child, to see that that individual is not under active investigation by FCS.

Committee members asked about what type of training on DV issues FCS staff receive to differentiate between domestic violence/partner abuse and child abuse and understand best practices for supporting survivors. Ms. Deporto explained that study of domestic violence issues is a core part of all training programs for social workers.

There was no public comment.

6. Business (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

A. Review outstanding questions regarding SFPD DGO 6.09

Committee members confirmed that domestic violence advocates would meet with them at their next regularly scheduled meeting. There was no public comment.

B. Review updates from feedback event on Center for Youth Wellness SFPD training

Committee members received an update from staff on the feedback session from Center for Youth Wellness on the Adverse Childhood Experience training for SFPD. There was no public comment.

C. Review updates from meeting with Sheriff Mirkarimi on Children of Incarcerated Parents priorities

Commissioner Edelhart updated the committee that the Sheriff had agreed to lower the county jail visiting age to 16 and create an online inmate locator. There was no public comment.

D. Review other committee priorities

Committee members discussed preparing their contributions to the annual budget and policy priorities and agreed to dedicate time to this at their March 24, 2015 meeting. There was no public comment.

7. Staff Report (Discussion Only)

Staff congratulated commissioners on a successful Vote16 rally and reminded the committee they would also be meeting next week.

8. Executive Committee Report (Discussion Only)

There was none.

9. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 pm.