Juvenile Crime/Violence Workgroup Meeting Minutes

Objectives

Policy, Practice or Program

Notes

Who to Partner with

Timeline

Specific Evaluation Tools

Provide each child with a positive, caring adult role model/mentor.

12/17:Sub-objective:

Need uniform referral process

Sub-objective: Ultimately redirect youth to positive, healthy lifestyles

Citywide mentoring program with first responders as mentors to at-risk kids in the public school system.  

12/17: need to set up training and orientation for first responders once procedures for notification; assessment of youth procedures; and referral process are identified and defined

12/17:Priorities:

Identify agencies that have mentoring.

Need clearing house/coordinator to handle process.

Need process of referral and tracking

Need to learn how to recruit more adult volunteers

School District; First Responders; Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

12/17: First responders will be recruited

Mentoring agencies list due Jan meeting

Mark to start calling agencies regarding mentoring programs

Big Brothers/big sisters can start now

Number of mentees paired with mentors.

Number of hours spent in relationship.

If possible, track mentees:

·         School attendance

·         Increase in grades

Ensure that social service information is available and accessible to the community.

Relay 211 information on prevention/resources to schools/parents.

Faith Based Organizations; Cumberland County Court; Big Brothers, Big Sisters, RAFT program @ VHS & Wallace Middle School;  Laura Zink Marx, 211

Number of calls to 211 from Vineland residents and professionals working in the city.

Translate 211 resources available in multiple languages such as, Polish and Russian so that everyone can take advantage of those resources.

Laura Zink Marx, 211

Increase available programming to bring children together and keep them off the streets.

Secure additional space for programs like Boys and Girls Club after school programs to bring them to scale (schools, churches)

Number of additional kids enrolled in these types of programs.

Objectives

Policy, Practice or Program

Notes

Who to Partner with

Timeline

Specific Evaluation Tools

Educate youth in schools on gang violence and ways to avoid gang membership.

Presentations in Vineland High School about gang prevention during school hours and afterschool.

Janelle Diaz, Boys & Girls Club; VHS; Vineland Police (Juvenile Unit); Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office (GREAT Program, Phoenix Program, Juvenile Unit); School District

Pre- and Post- tests measuring a change in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding gangs and gang involvement.

Conduct gang intervention/ prevention programming to public housing spaces.

Public Housing Complexes; Vineland Police (Juvenile Unit); Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office (GREAT Program, Phoenix Program, Juvenile Unit);

Conduct gang intervention programs in the Middle/ High School / In-home as well as with parents (because there are many parents who are also in gangs).

12/17:Vineland PD Juvenile Unit currently facilitating on-going GREAT program curriculum in selected Vineland Schools (Need to identify schools)

Prosecutor’s Office, Boys and Girls Club; School District

12/17:Current

Objectives

Policy, Practice or Program

Notes

Who to Partner with

Timeline

Specific Evaluation Tools

Increase sense of community by having youth participate in community service opportunities.

Require community service for high school graduation.

School District

Number of community service hours worked by youth.

Ensure effective community service is given to youth under supervision/station house adjustment.

-Increase number of community service hours given as punishment/restitution

-Better connect youth with programs/organizations that will increase their investment in the community (local park, program of a younger sibling, etc)

-Find resources for transportation to community service opportunities

- Better connect supervisory officers with organizations that will increase investment in the community in order to establish community service programs.