Juvenile Crime/Violence Workgroup Meeting Minutes
Vineland Prevention Policy Board
Juvenile Crime/Violence Workgroup
Meeting Minutes
December 17, 2010
JUVENILE CRIME: Goal: Increase connections between at risk youth and appropriate social services.
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Objectives |
Policy, Practice or Program |
Notes |
Who to Partner with |
Timeline |
Specific Evaluation Tools |
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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
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School District; First Responders; Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
12/17: First responders will be recruited
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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 |
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Ensure that social service information is available and accessible to the community. |
Relay 211 information on prevention/resources to schools/parents. |
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Faith Based Organizations; Cumberland County Court; Big Brothers, Big Sisters, RAFT program @ VHS & Wallace Middle School; Laura Zink Marx, 211 |
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Number of calls to 211 from Vineland residents and professionals working in the city. |
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Translate 211 resources available in multiple languages such as, Polish and Russian so that everyone can take advantage of those resources. |
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Laura Zink Marx, 211 |
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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) |
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Number of additional kids enrolled in these types of programs. |
Additional Notes: Goal # 1:
- Priority is objective # 1
- Mark to meet with Arianne (Big Brothers/Big Sisters) January 5th to go over details of mentoring programs and process etc.
- TASK: Mark to call agencies to see if they offer mentoring; criteria for mentoring etc. Develop initial list for referrals
- Arianne to provide referral form and parent permission form that Big Brothers Big sisters uses so that working group can see a model of mentoring process
- Arianne provided overview and handouts of Big Brothers Big Sisters program; School based mentoring program recommended as model for initial implementation
- Evelyn to provide Vineland Faith based organizations/churches that Southwest Council works with so that we can contact them regarding mentoring initiative
- All working group members will inform Mark if they know of any agencies they think might offer mentoring services
- Must decide who/which agency will be the clearinghouse/initial coordinator for this mentoring initiative for Vineland youth
- Discussion that the Court’s informal hearing officers are looking for programs to refer youth; opinion of working group is that mentoring would be very beneficial
- Need to work on advertising services
- Overall, group will work to develop and implement an official working mechanism that we can use for assessment and referral of Vineland youth into identified mentoring programs
Goal 2: Increase education for youth on the dangers of gangs.
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Objectives |
Policy, Practice or Program |
Notes |
Who to Partner with |
Timeline |
Specific Evaluation Tools |
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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. |
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Janelle Diaz, Boys & Girls Club; VHS; Vineland Police (Juvenile Unit); Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office (GREAT Program, Phoenix Program, Juvenile Unit); School District |
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Pre- and Post- tests measuring a change in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding gangs and gang involvement.
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Conduct gang intervention/ prevention programming to public housing spaces. |
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Public Housing Complexes; Vineland Police (Juvenile Unit); Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office (GREAT Program, Phoenix Program, Juvenile Unit); |
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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 |
Juvenile Crime
Goal: Increase investment among youth in their community
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Objectives |
Policy, Practice or Program |
Notes |
Who to Partner with |
Timeline |
Specific Evaluation Tools |
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Increase sense of community by having youth participate in community service opportunities. |
Require community service for high school graduation. |
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School District |
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Number of community service hours worked by youth.
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Ensure effective community service is given to youth under supervision/station house adjustment.
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-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. |
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Additional notes Goal 2: 12/17/10 - VPD also offers gang awareness education for parents and school staff