Title
Receive an oral update of the Monterey County Gang Violence Prevention Initiative’s (MCGVP) Progress Report for the Action Plan for Building Safe & Thriving Communities.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, Health and Human Services Committee:
a. Receive an oral update of the Monterey County Gang Violence Prevention Initiative’s (MCGVP) Progress Report for the Action Plan for Building Safe & Thriving Communities.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Office of Community Engagement and Advocacy of the CAO functions as the Backbone Agency to the Monterey County Gang Violence Prevention Initiative (MCGVP) and a liaison between Monterey County departments, community based organizations, grass roots organizations and local municipalities to further advance local efforts to reduce youth and gang violence.
MCGVP Community Engagement:
On June 9, 2015 the Board of Supervisors approved the Action Plan for Building Safe & Thriving Communities. Direction of the Board of Supervisors was to include a Community Engagement component to the Action Plan for Building Safe & Thriving Communities.
Since then, MCGVP staff has met with several general community groups and established two specific population groups to include the voice of lived experience. The general community groups include: Castroville Neighborhood Watch, enLACE - Leadership and Civic Engagement Spanish Cohort in Salinas and South County Four Cities for Peace (4C4P) Police Chiefs. The two specific population groups were formed in partnership with MILPA in Salinas and The Village Project in Seaside. These groups include individuals who have experienced incarceration in local, state and federal institutions for a varying number of terms and sentences, including gang enhancements.
All groups were given a full overview of the Action Plan for Building Safe & Thriving Communities and were engaged in dialogue that confirmed relevance of the Action Plan’s indicators and focus areas. The dialogue also informed MCGVP staff of pertinent issues and challenges communities face that effect their personal lives as it relates to the Action Plan’s indicators. Continuous engagement will further allow the community and MCGVP staff to collaborate in identifying solutions, strategies and recommendations that can be incorporated into the Action Plan’s implementation.
Reaching Teens - Dr. Ginsburg:
Reaching Teens is a professional development tool developed by Dr. Ginsburg, who presented during a workshop hosted by Natividad Medical Foundation in March 2015. Dr. Ginsburg offered Monterey County the opportunity to become a pilot site for implementation of Reaching Teens. Upon conducting further research including a site visit to Ft. Worth, Texas in June 2015, MCGVP Initiative Manager and CHOICE Program Coordinator Kristen Spencer have collaborated in identifying the best method for implementation. Behavioral Health Bureau of the Health Department has been in the process of developing a framework for a trauma-informed system of care for the past couple of years and is considered the best fit for further exploration of the implementation of Reaching Teens as a strategy within the larger framework of the bureau.
Natividad Medical Foundation has secured a $50,000 grant from the Giannini Foundation for the implementation of Reaching Teens.
Pay for Success Grant - Social Innovation Bond Grant
The Board of State and Community Corrections has released the Pay for Success Grant opportunity to fund innovative private investment programs geared towards recidivism reduction. Funding is made possible by AB1837 and requires investors, local government and services providers to partner on goals and programs for reducing recidivism. The MCGVP Initiative is partnering with Monterey County Probation Department and the Workforce Investment Board to develop a proposal that will enhance and expand workforce development and vocational training programs that would be a viable program. The Pay for Success Grant requires a 100% match for a proposal with a minimum of $500,000 up to $2 million.
Literacy Campaign:
Third grade reading proficiency is a priority indicator of the MCGVP Initiative. A countywide Campaign to promote literacy is currently being developed in partnership with Early Childhood Development Initiative (ECDI), First 5 Monterey County and Literacy Campaign of Monterey County. All partners are making financial contributions to the development, launch and evaluation of the campaign. MCGVP Initiative will present a funding augmentation request to the Budget Committee to be allocated for this purpose.
Governing for Racial Equity:
The root causes of violence and gang involvement, racial and ethnic disparities and lack of opportunities for academic and economic success rise to the surface. Risk factors for violence are higher for men and boys of color who are living in disadvantaged communities are caused by societal and community characteristics, including economic deprivation, inequality and discrimination (Agnew, 1999). MCGVP Initiative Manager collaborates with the Health Department - Policy, Evaluation and Planning Unit, East Salinas-Building Healthy Communities, Cities of Salinas, Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield to further inform and identify specific strategies for implementing Governing for Racial Equity tools in Monterey County communities. MCGVP Initiative Manager and the Health in All Policies Manager will present to the full Board (as directed by HHS - 06/09/2015) of Supervisors on the outcome of a Monterey County delegation to the Governing for Racial Equity Network Conference in Seattle, Washington.
Research Analyst:
The strategic planning process shed light on the need for technical support to our internal and external partners for more cohesive data collection and analysis, including the need for a comprehensive data sharing system. MCGVP Initiative will present a funding augmentation request to the Budget Committee to be allocated for this purpose.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Partners of the Monterey County Gang Violence Prevention Initiative include: District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Probation Department, Sheriff’s Department, Department of Social Services, Economic Development Department, Health Department, Behavioral Health Bureau, and the Monterey County Free Libraries. Community Partners include: City of Seaside, Blue Ribbon Task Force, City of Salinas, CASP, City of Gonzales, and Four Cities for Peace and California Endowment’s East Salinas Building Healthy Communities.
FINANCING:
Accepting this oral report has no impact on the County General Fund Contribution at this time.
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Manny González Date
Assistant County Administrative Officer
Interim HR Director
County of Monterey