HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/03/2013 09 Quarterly Gang Free Initiative ReportBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No.
For Meeting of: 12/3/2013
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ITEM TITLE:
SUBMITTED BY:
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Quarterly Gang Free Initiative report.
Steve Magallan, Magallan Consultancy
The 3rd quarter report of the City of Yakima Gang Free Initiative is respectfully submitted for
your consideration.
Resolution: Ordinance:
Other (Specify): Report
Contract: Contract Term:
Start Date: End Date:
Item Budgeted: Amount:
Funding Source/Fiscal
Impact:
Strategic Priority: Public Safety
Insurance Required? No
Mail to:
Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
RECOMMENDATION:
City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ 3rd Quarter Gang Free Initiative Report
Upload Date
11/13/2013
Type
Cover Memo
Yakima Gang Free Initiative (GFI)
Gang Free Project Implementation
Quarterly Report for the period ending September 30, 2013
Introduction
The central focus of GFI activities in the 3rd quarter of implementation activities included
screening, referrals and engaging youth in one or more of the GFI partner services. Additionally,
coordination efforts have focused on securing prevention and intervention services for FY2014.
The Advisory Group committees continue to meet bi-monthly to address the priorities
established in the previous quarter. The following is a synopsis of the 3rd quarter committee
work:
1) Planning and Development. No new activity to report.
2) Partnership Development. The 3rd quarter addressed several key issues in both services
delivery and partner relationships.
a. The first issue dealt with the method for making and communicating referrals for
services from outreach workers to the partners. From screening to referral to
service delivery has been averaging 2 to 3 week; however, the delay has largely
been due to the lack of adequate follow-up between the referral source and the
service partner. The partners were as of yet unclear on how to manage referrals.
The resolution included further definition of the roles and responsibilities of
partner agencies to include the following: Partner agencies are responsible for
follow-up and engagement activities associated with their direct services.
Outreach workers are responsible for low level participant involvement to the
extent that the Outreach worker encourage participation and inquire with partner
agencies on participant's utilization of the service.
b. The second issue dealt with site-based mentoring services. These services were to
target Barge Lincoln and Garfield elementary schools; however, outreach was
initiated at Washington middle school (fed by Barge Lincoln and Garfield). This
presented a challenge as 100% of the new participants were of middle school age
with no site-based mentoring available at Washington middle school. As of the
end of the 3rd Quarter no site-based mentoring matches have been completed. The
resolution to be implemented in the 4th quarter includes expanding outreach
efforts to Barge Lincoln and Garfield Elementary schools.
c. The third and final issue that presented in the 3rd quarter was as a result of the
completion of the state Criminal Street Gang grant. This grant funded one of the
two outreach workers and the reduction in funding resulted in the elimination of
the grant funded position. The resolution includes the continuation with one
outreach worker supported by volunteers at YPAL. Additional funding to support
YPAL expanding to two outreach workers is currently under review for FY2014.
3) Marketing and Community Education. The 3rd quarter focused on the public service
announcements. The committee worked together with People for People 211 to develop
a television and radio PSA strategy. The committee has recommended the use of existing
211 gang PSA's with minor modifications to be initiated in the 4th quarter. The
committee also led GFI's participation in the National Night Out and Southeast
Community Center car show sponsored by Barrios Unidos.
2013 Performance Measures YTD
Advisory Group Meetings (occurring bi-monthly) 4
AG Membership Retention Rate 13.5
AG Participation Rate 77%
AG Attendance Rate 57%
AG Member Satisfaction No Data
General Outreach (gang awareness seminars) 1
General Outreach 0
Targeted Outreach 74*
Completed WARNS 48*
Completed Referrals 29*
Completed INA's 19
Completed Individual Treatment Plans 12
Completed Behavioral Interventions 4
Completed Family Interventions 0
Parental Notifications No Data
Graffiti Violations No Data
Citations for Weapons Violations No Data
Gang Units 1 (1 pending)
Sustainable resources $140,000
Collaborative Grant Activities 4
Partner Network Activities (homeless youth grant) 1
Partner Investment $479,500
*adjusted from previous quarter. Incomplete outreach requests and WARNS were removed
from the official count.
Program Summary
GFI Partnerships
YPAL — Outreach, Screening & Referral, Life Skills
YMCA — ASPIRE Mentoring
Union Gospel Mission Madison House — Academic Support (Tutoring)
People for People — Gang Free Yakima Connects (211 Call Center)
Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health — Youth Development Team
Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health — Multisystemic Therapy
GFI Program Participants
19 referrals were received by the YDT during this reporting period (many of these referrals had
been logged for several months prior to processing) and basic service delivery plan
recommendations were made for 12 of them. Of these 12 cases, eight recommendations were
made for individual counseling, two for mentors, two for educational tutoring, and four referred
to Multisystemic Treatment (MST). Of the seven referrals that were not processed two were
noted as reduction in risk and therefore no YDT services; the others were not processed because
outreach workers were not involved with the YDT before the opportunity was available. All 19
referrals were involved in YPAL either prior to YDT referral or as a follow-up to YDT referral.
No follow-up information is available.
Warns reports
Pre -warns: 41 warns were conducted
Post -warns: 8 out of the 12 that were eligible for post warns were conducted (4 of those have not
been able to contact with multiple home visits/phone calls with no success)
Service provider referrals — youth who are eligible to start services
YMCA — 34
YPAL — 37
Madison House — 38
YDT — 23
Partner Services
The following is a detailed report of the activities of each partner agency over the past quarter:
YPAL
• Attended all partnership meetings with the exception of one quarterly GFI Advisory
Meeting.
• Met with Madison House and YMCA to create understanding of how we can work
together.
• Performed WATCH background screening for employees, and/or volunteers who are
involved in youth development activities. The names of the people for this reporting
period are:
Linda Kraft
Manuel Martinez
Alma Rabadan
Gloria Garcia Gonzales
Maria Caro Sanchez
Ed Shoenbach
Jorge Garcia
• There will be a staff change at YPAL for outreach services, as Manuel Martinez has
announced his return to school. We will begin using Alma Rabadan, who has been
working with our outreach program as coordinator for bi-lingual communications in
homes and at YPAL. We will assess whether this is a permanent placement in the
following 30 days.
• We have cobranded with the City of Yakima GFI at all community presentations during
the summer months. We achieved this by including large GFI logo and website
information at booths, table top fairs, and by handing out GFI materials. We have
included YMCA and Madison House brochures.
• Yakima PAL rearranged its physical offices to accommodate partners' presence in the
facility. On a limited basis, the outreach worker for the Yakima County Juvenile Justice
has used space at YPAL.
• Parents are opting to meet with us often at YPAL in our "family room". We have been
surprised at how many seem to prefer coming to the center.
• From June 1 to August 3, we offered three life skills classes several times a week. It has
been a challenge to enroll the high risk youth and then to keep them in attendance for all
13 weeks. We held make up sessions, called parents daily if needed, and texted the
youth.
• Upon graduation, we gifted each graduate with a YPAL membership and enrollment of
their program of choice. We are delighted to have our first graduating class, which
represents 11 youth who were all involved in gangs. An outcome of the program is that
of the 11 youth, 6 have become regular YPAL attendees, signing up for one or more
programs, and now volunteering with chores around the center. We also had a 7th student
join their school's football team, a major milestone, one student who has been meeting
with Madison House for tutoring.
• In coordination with Yakima Juvenile Justice staff, 75 families have now been involved
in our outreach process. We understand 22 youth have moved out of the area, or the
family has changed addresses and cell phone numbers without notification to schools, or
the Center. YPAL outreach will attempt to relocate these families in the fall as we contact
area schools.
• We have worked to identify the best procedures for the outreach coordinators, and have
created several refinements to our processes. We now understand that we need to work
more closely with school counselors, as well as administrators and YPD school resource
officers. We also feel quite strongly that in many instances, two outreach workers should
go together for home visits. We also know that we must have food for these kids when
they come into classes, as many are coming from homes where regular meals are a
problem. We also feel it would be advantageous to have mental health professionals at
the Center to become "familiar faces" to youth and families.
• YPAL attended weekly meetings with Comprehensive during the summer months to
provide information and to participate in the designing of the Youth Development Team.
Through these meetings, 2 youth were accepted to MST from the outreach worker's
referrals. There are 8 more pending services.
• This summer our efforts focused on working to ensure that all 75 families were reached
out to; and all but 22 were successfully contacted. Not all accepted services, but we will
be tracking the 52 that we have had conversations with.
• In coordination with Juvenile Justice, a spreadsheet has been created that provides
demographic information about each case, including dates of service, etc.
• YPAL will continue to make referrals for tutoring and mentoring to partners.
June 29, 2013 Royal Image Car Show held an annual event for which approximately 2,000
people attended. Two staff from YPAL made on-stage presentations about GFI services.
July 27, 2013 A Show and Shine event was held from 11-4 at Larson Park, at which time
YPAL provided outreach through a booth and on-stage presentations. There were approximate
900 people in attendance.
August 24, 2013 Outreach worker participated as a guest at the Kermes annual event held by La
Casa Hogar in front of the Season's Performance Hall. We provided GFI information, with
attendance estimated to be 1,500 community members.
Madison House
No report submitted.
People for People 211
Activity, Output and/or Interim Outcomes
Contract Outcomes Report -
Objective 1: Develop screening tool and protocols to facilitate a brief assessment of the youth's
current status to determine immediate/intermediate individual and family priorities,
Deliverable(s): GFI Screening Tool.
Status- Complete GC 2-1-1 has completed and successfully submitted the GRIP
Outreach Request for 7 individuals since the start of the program. Forms are submitted
electronically to GFI Outreach Workers for follow-up.
Objective 2: Establish call center screening and referral service capacity to field calls during
peak and off peak hours.
Deliverable(s): Gang Free Yakima Connections Call Center.
Status- Complete Call Center hours were extended from 8am-5pm to Sam -bpm.
Individuals that call in to receive GFI assistance are asked 1. If they are a resident in the
City of Yakima, 2. If the person of concern is a youth, and 3. If they are concerned the youth is
involved or at -risk of becoming involved in gangs. If they answer "yes" to the 3 initial questions,
a GRIP Outreach Request form is completed and sent electronically to the GFI Outreach Worker.
GC 2-1-1 provides follow-up, via phone, with each caller approximately one week after the
initial referral was made.
Objective 3: Develop policies and procedures for making referrals.
Deliverable(s): GFI Call Center Policies & Procedures Manual
Status- Draft Complete GC 2-1-1 submitted the Gang Free Yakima Connections Policy
& Procedure manual to Magallan Consulting on April 26, 2013. GFI information and
requirements were incorporated into our existing AIRS accreditation Standards and GC 2-1-1
Policy & Procedure manual. The Policy & Procedure manual was presented to the GFI Advisory
Group on June 6, 2013. 2-1-1 staff has been trained to follow the GFI Connections Policies and
Procedures when handling a GFI call.
Objective 4: Provide screening and referral services to 60 youth at risk of or involved in gangs
annually.
Deliverable(s): Quarterly Activity Report.
Output: 60 callers screened, 60 callers referred to GFI resource or service partner by
October 31 2013.
Status — In Progress As of 9116113, GC 2-1-1 has received 17 calls related to the GFI project.
This is the number of callers who chose the GFI option during the front-end
2-1-1 message. A total of 8 referrals have been sent to GFI Outreach Workers. Call volume
should increase significantly when the media campaign begins to air Public
Service Announcements on both local television and radio. GC 2-1-1 is actively involved in
outreaching to the Yakima community at a variety of events.
Objective 5: Working with GFI Advisory Group and other Screening & Referral providers to
establish and coordinate crisis response mechanism targeting project clients following episodes
of violence.
Deliverables: GFI Crisis Response Protocols. .
Status- In Progress GC2-1-1 follows AIRS Standards and has an Internal protocol for handling
crisis calls. In general, Information & Referral Specialists try to deescalate a caller and, when
appropriate, transfer them to a crisis hotline in their area. GC 2-1-1 will work with the GFI Team
to develop a specific protocol for crisis calls related to GFI callers.
Objective 6: Integrate the Gang Free Yakima Connections resource call center into the existing
211 call center service.
Deliverable(s): Gang Free Yakima Connections 211 Call Center
Status- Complete Current GC2-1-1 staff has been trained in providing service to GFI callers
within our current 2-1-1 call center structure.
Other Activity-
• June 25, 2013- Media interview at Youth Development Center
• June 25, 2013- GFI Open House Event at VPAL Youth Development Center
• July 9, 2013- GFI Partner Meeting at People For People
• July 19, 2013- Safe Yakima Benchmarking Action Team Meeting
• July 25, 2013- Meeting with Magallan Consulting re: PSA Script
Development
• July 27, 2013- Show & Shine Under the Shade Outreach Event at YVCC
• August 1, 2013- GFI Advisory Group meeting
• August 5, 2013- National Night Out Event at Southeast Community Center
• August 6, 2013- National Night Out Event at OIC
• August 15 & 16, 2013- Table at Migrant Education Program Conference in Yakima
• August 15, 2013- Yakima Neighborhood Health Services Health Fair
• August 24, 2013- La Casa Hoar Kermes Fiesta Event
• September 5, 2013- GFI Partners Meeting at Magallan Consulting
• September 12, 2013- Ridgeview Elementary Open House Event
• September 13, 2013- GFI Partner Meeting at People For People
• September 14, 2013- Fiesta de Salud Event in Yakima
Upcoming Activity-
• September 18, 2013- Garfield Elementary Open House Event
• September 19, 2013- Stanton Open House Event
• September 24, 2013- Gang Commission Meeting
• September 25, 2013- Gilbert Elementary Open House Event
• October 3, 2013- GFI Advisory Group Meeting
• October 16, 2013- Eisenhower High School Open House Event
• October 17, 2013- YV TECH Open House Event
2. Policy Development -
This quarter, we participated in the Gang Free Initiative Advisory Group meetings and the GFI
Partner meetings and continue to provide program feedback and input that helps to fine tune the
current GFI policies. One example of this includes streamlining the partner referral process to
ensure that families are responded to in a timely fashion. We have also requested information on
the other GFI programs in Yakima County so we are able to direct individuals and families living
in other communities to the GFI resources in their area. We will begin attending the Gang
Commission meetings to stay up-to-date on the resources being offered in our area.
3. Costs on Track/Different Than Anticipated
Costs are on track
4. Additions or Changes in Project Personnel -
Current personal working with Gang Free Yakima Connections includes:
1. Madelyn Carlson- CEO
2. Stacy Kellogg- GC 2-1-1 Operations Manager
3. Teresa Sanchez- GC 2-1-1 Operations Supervisor
4. GC 2-1-1 Resource Database Specialist
5. 4- Information & Referral Specialists**
6. People For People Information Technology staff
7. VISTA member- as of July 15, 2013 (addition)
** 75% of eligible call center staff is certified by Alliance of Information & Referral Systems
(AIRS). Certification is a measurement of documented knowledge in the field of I&R
reflecting specific competencies and related performance criteria
5. Changes in Project Organization-
• There have been no changes in the project organization
6. Involvement of Other Agencies or Resources in Accomplishment of the
Proj ect-
• Worked with the entire GFI team to put on the first GFI Grand Opening
• Ceremony event at the Youth Development Center on June 25th
• Attended the Safe Yakima Benchmarking Action Team and updated the committee on the
GFI
• Continued to work with the other GFI partner agencies and GFI Advisory Group
representatives to understand the role of everyone involved with GFI and how People For
People's project fits within the GFI structure.
• Met with the GFI Advisory Group and GFI Partners on a monthly basis to share
information and address questions and concerns.
• Attended and participated in numerous outreach activities to educate the community and
fellow service providers about the GFI and available resources.
7. Progress of improved Attendance and a Decrease in Behavior Incidents•
N/A
8. Highlights and Barriers-
Barrier -
A more comprehensive marketing/media push will help to inform the community that 2-1-1 is
available to them if they have questions or concerns about gangs or want to refer someone who is
currently involved in or at -risk of becoming involved in gang activity. 2-1-1 is ready to receive
more calls from the community and increase the number of referrals to GFI Outreach Workers.
Highlights-
• Participating in the GFI Grand Opening Event to introduce GFI to the community
• Being interviewed by all major media outlets; KAPP, KIMA, NBC and
• Yakima Herald Republic, about the GFI and 2-1-1's role and services
• Completing our first GFI GRIP Outreach referrals
• Receiving feedback that the referrals sent by 2-1-1 have a high success rate, since
individuals are calling in because they are choosing to get help (it is not being forced on
them)
• Public Service Announcement advertising GFI and 2-1-1 started airing the week of
September 9th
• When individuals call 2-1-1 for GFI information and referral, we are also able to assist
them with additional resources that help meet their basic needs and stabilize their family
Success Story -
A mother called 2-1-1 and asked the Information & Referral (I&R) Specialist if there was a
program that would provide "punishment" for her son and two other young teenage boys because
they had been caught smoking marijuana. She and the other two mothers wanted the boys to
"learn a lesson" and ensure this didn't happen again. The I&R Specialist started asking additional
questions about the behavior of the boys and other possible concerns. She told the mother about
GFI and asked if she was interested in referring her son to this program. The mother was
unaware of this program, but was very interested in having her son referred and getting some
assistance and intervention with his problematic behaviors. The other two mothers also wanted to
have their sons referred and completed the GRIP Outreach Request form with the Specialist. All
three boys were referred to the program and had an outreach worker contact them directly.
YMCA
Report not submitted
Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health
Comprehensive provided a Youth Development Team (YDT) coordinator. The coordinator,
during this report period, organized and convened the Youth Development Team with
participants from Yakima police athletic league (YPAL) of the gang free project and of Yakima
County juvenile court. Included among these participants were two outreach workers, one each
from the juvenile court and YPAL. The YDT established procedures and principles of operation.
19 referrals were received by the YDT during this reporting period (many of these referrals had
been logged for several months prior to processing) and basic service delivery plan
recommendations were made for 12 of them. Of these 12 cases, eight recommendations were
made for individual counseling, two for mentors, two for educational tutoring, and four referred
to Multisystemic Treatment (MST). Of the seven referrals that were not processed two were
noted as reduction in risk and therefore no YDT services; the others were not processed because
outreach workers were not involved with the YDT before the opportunity was available. All 19
referrals were involved in YPAL either prior to YDT referral or as a follow-up to YDT referral.
No follow-up information is available.
Several barriers began to surface in regards to the functioning of the YDT during this reporting
period; primarily, the loss of the outreach workers had the greatest impact. Without specific
YDT outreach workers follow-up on recommendations made by the YDT and subsequent
coordination with families/youth and service providers to develop individualized service plans is
ineffective. Furthermore, the YDT was planned to have involvement from the Yakima police
department and Yakima schools district, this did not happen during this reporting period.
Attempts were made to improve on this but no coordination was established by the time of this
report preparation.
MST is an evidenced based treatment model that is centered on families in their home
environments. Services are offered through Comprehensive. To date, four referrals have been
made from the YDT to the MST team. Of these, one has accepted and is receiving MST
services. Two referrals were denied by the youth/families because "they are not needed"
according to the families. One referral was denied by MST because the youth did not meet age
requirements specified by the model for participation. Anticipated acceptance of referrals of
MST participation was higher than actual outcomes, likely the discrepancy is due to lack of
engagement with families who were referred because of absence of targeted YDT outreach
workers.
In general, the YDT convened and progressed relatively well until the outreach workers were no
longer involved as they are the team members who carry out the action plans. Also, there are
low numbers of referrals which is likely caused by the lack of coordination between referral
sources and the YDT. In order to address these barriers, the YDT has been reaching out to
community partners in service delivery and working with GFI directors. To have consistency of
YDT performance, targeted outreach workers, increased coordination between referral sources,
and involvement of community partner
(i.e. school and police) is needed.
GFI Development Activities
The following are descriptions of the development activities undertaken over the past the
months:
No development activities were undertaken in the 3rd quarter.
AmeriCorps
The City of Yakima was not awarded the AmeriCorps grant.
Community Based Violence Prevention
The Yakima County joint application with City of Yakima was not approved for funding.
GFI Next Steps
The GFI Coordinator has initiated contract continuation procedures for existing partners.
Recommendations for continued funding and adjustments to funding will be considered in the 4th
quarter.
GFI will be moving toward establishing a more permanent management and coordination
structure from within the city's administrative office. A Project Manager search is planned for
the 4th quarter with a potential hire date of January 1, 2014.
The Washington State Department of Commerce Research Services evaluation component has
been tabled until after the Project Coordinator is hired.
Submitted on November 12, 2013
by Steve Magallan