Youth in the News
Volume 2, Number 9, May 16-31, 2007
Contents
State Watch
Research
Government
STATE WATCH
- A community program in Vermont that focuses on positive youth development and substance abuse prevention celebrates ten years of successfully serving youth.
RESEARCH
- A new national study shows that parents and teachers see after-school programs as essential support for their children’s academic and social development.
GOVERNMENT
- A California county outlaws parties on private property where alcohol is consumed or possessed by people younger than 21 and will fine individuals responsible for the party.
- Illinois legislators talk about the lack of teen input in the legislative process.
- The Texas Legislature sends a bill mandating steroid testing for high school athletes to the governor.
- New York Assemblyman Peralta introduces four pieces of anti-gang legislation that address gang membership.
- The California Senate passed legislation that changes schools’ harassment policies by prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
- A bill in the New York Legislature would establish an advisory council that would review the effectiveness and use of the rating system for video games.
- Governor Schwarzenegger speaks about a new 48-million dollar initiative to combat gang violence in California.
- The North Carolina House Rules Committee will commission a study on moving 16-18 years olds into the juvenile court system, rather than treating them as adults.
- Vermont’s legislature passes a bill that will extend state foster care services up to the age of 21.
- The Virginia Tech tragedy prompts a bill in New Jersey requiring school crisis response action plans.
ARTICLES
VERMONT
It takes a caring community ...Caring Communities celebrating a decade of service
May 18, 2007
By Ethan Dezotelle
That’s one of the many lessons Jeff Benay has taken away from the first decade of existence of Franklin County Caring Communities, the county’s positive youth development and substance abuse prevention coalition.
“These 10 years have gone by really quickly,” Benay told the County Courier this week. “There have been a lot of things I have been involved with over the years, but Franklin County Caring Communities is one of many things I’m proudest of.”
The organization celebrates its 10th anniversary on Tuesday, May 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Chow! Bella Restaurant in St. Albans. To RSVP, call 527-5049 or e-mail beth@fcccp.org.
Benay’s pride stems in part from watching the organization grow from the seed of an idea into a coalition of Franklin County organizations that collectively work together to support the needs of the region’s young people.
In 1997, Benay approached area school officials about forming what would become Franklin County Caring Communities. Benay, who was working with the Abenaki Parent Advisory Council (PAC) through his job at the Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union, had been hearing from that group’s members of the need for an outcome-focused organization that would be community-based and work with Abenaki youth. At the same time, drug prevention money was made available to the Franklin Northwest, Central, and Northeast Supervisory Unions.
“Each of those supervisory unions was getting $100,000. It was a one-shot deal, and the schools would be able to use the money for whatever they wanted,” Benay said. “I suggested giving the schools half of the money, and the other half would be used for something community-based.”
Benay was able to convince the superintendents at that time of the importance of such an initiative. Following that, they together managed to convince area principals of the need for such an organization.
“Once the principals saw what it was really all about, they got right on board,” Benay said. “
With a collective seal of approval and $75,000 in seed money, Benay and the concept’s advisory group began looking for someone to hire to write grants and handle public relations. Underlying this search was a desire to make Franklin County Caring Communities sustainable.
“The Abenaki community and I had been looking at sustainability,” Benay said. “How do you take a grant and double it or triple it?”
Ultimately, the advisory group decided to hire two people, one for grant writing – Andrea Peterstadt – and one for public relations – Lucy Cunningham. One year later, the pair had managed to do exactly what Benay was hoping for: the organization’s budget had doubled, and self-sustainability was a reality.
Over the years, Franklin County Caring Communities has grown to include Watershed Mentoring, formerly Missisquoi Mentoring, as one of its umbrella groups. Additionally, the coalition oversees the Franklin Grand Isle Youth Advisory Council, which hosts an annual TeenFest each early spring; brings in educational resources and speakers for students, faculty, and communities; and actively works with other community-based organizations by offering whatever resources are available; as well as many other activities.
Benay stressed that one of the most important elements of the coalition’s success is the way members of the greater Franklin County Community have stepped up to its mission and done their part. For example, he pointed to the Franklin County Caring Communities’ Board of Directors, of which he is still a member. The board also includes Franklin County Sheriff Robert Norris, Marcheta Townsend of the United Methodist Church, and Angela Baker of the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs, among others.
Additionally, Watershed Mentoring counts among its adult participants a number of business professionals, as well as Franklin Northwest Superintendent Jack McCarthy, a person who, given his role in the community, “can only set a good example for others to follow,” Benay said. “When people like him step forward and do their part, even though they are so busy, that says a lot.”
Beth Crane, the current coordinator of Franklin County Caring Communities, has been with the coalition since 1998. As its first 10 years come to a close, she said the coalition is dealing with issues that still call for such participation.
“We’ve really tried to expand our focus, not just to the youth, but to community norms and adults, and the role they play in youth behavior,” Crane said. “Plus, we’re really going back to communities and finding out where they would like to see us focus our efforts.”
One area of concern Crane is focusing on right now is the perception Franklin County teens have that they are not valued by their communities.
A recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that a large percentage of students feel this way, and she would like to find out why and what to do about it.
“We want to try and turn that curve, bring youth into the mix so they can grow up feeling that they are a part of their community,” Crane said. “To do that, we need to even look at how teens define ‘community.’”
Above all else, though, the underlying premise of Franklin County Caring Communities remains the same as it was 10 years ago. As Crane put it: “The real issue is building community, making sure all our youth and families are taken care of.”
To learn more about Franklin County Caring Communities, visit www.fcccp.org.
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
After-School Programs: More than Safe Places for Children
AScribe Newswire
Working parents and teachers see after-school programs no longer as optional, but as an essential support for children as they grow and develop, according to a new national study of after-school programs, released today by the Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds. Nearly 80 percent of parents surveyed in the study said that after-school programs helped their children cope with behavioral problems and helped them obtain new skills to meet increased demands in school.
At a time when states and the federal government are pressing harder than ever for improved academic achievement by all children, a three-year study shows that after-school programs, particularly in low-income communities, are an effective and affordable way not only to keep children safe and out of trouble, but also to keep them engaged in school. The report concludes that children in school-based after-school programs benefit both academically and socially in programs that offer a diverse set of activities. The report findings are significant given the emerging debate over whether or not basic skills can be effectively taught only in programs that exclusively focus on academics or whether such skills can be taught in a variety of program activities such as art, sports, book and chess clubs.
Public/Private Ventures (P/PV), Philadelphia, PA, and the Manpower Demonstration Research Corp., New York, NY produced the study, Multiple Choices After School: Findings From the Extended-Services Schools Initiative, which was commissioned by the Wallace Funds and was based on an evaluation of after-school programs supported by the Funds over the past decade.
"Given the challenges to children's lives and the complex set of skills needed for work in the 21st century, we need to prepare our nation's children to develop a broad range of core competencies from basic skills to leadership and team building skills," said Jean Baldwin Grossman, lead researcher of P/PV. "We found that these after-school programs, which are not strictly focused on developing basic skills, appeared to help participants develop multiple talents and abilities that they'll need for their future."
Extended Service Schools (ESS) are school-based programs that provide a variety of academic and enrichment activities for young people during non-school hours, from homework help to career awareness. The facilities typically operate before and after school, on weekends and over the summer months. Well-designed programs support families, too. "Parents with children in ESS programs said that their children's attitudes and behaviors in school changed and it kept their children out of trouble. As a result, their children's attendance improved. Parents were also able to manage their work schedules better, attend classes and get better jobs," Grossman said.
The ESS study involved four national models of after-school programs in 17 communities across the country. The models, Beacons, Bridges to Success, Community Schools and WEPIC (West Philadelphia Improvement Corps), differed in organizational structure and management, but all sought to promote positive youth development during out-of-school hours. Each ESS site was located in a school and operated by a community-based organization. All the programs focused on a mix of academics, cultural and recreation activities. The study sought to answer four key questions about after-school programs:
- Which children and youth come to after-school programs and why? Are the programs attracting the young people who could benefit most from participation?
- What do high-quality activities in after-school programs look like?
- What benefits do the youth and their families gain from participation?
- What is the cost to operate after-school programs, and how to finance them? The study showed that:
- Effective after-school programs positively affect student attitudes and behaviors in school and their ability to achieve learning goals. Eighty to 90 percent of ESS parents said their children obtained new skills and became more confident learners, while 85 percent of parents said their children enjoyed school more and as a result their school attendance improved.
- Effective after-school programs help students stay out of trouble. Over 70 percent of parents surveyed said the programs help their children stay out of trouble and learn to settle arguments without fighting. After-school participants were less likely to start drinking or skipping school.
- Effective after-school programs helped families. Three quarters of parents said the programs helped their child get along with family members better; 80 to 90 percent said they were less worried about their child's safety after school and learned to appreciate their child's talents; and half said their child's participation in after-school activities helped them to manage their jobs better, such as adjust work schedules and take advantage of classes or job training.
Practical lessons from the report, such as cost and program design, are highly relevant to local program managers providing after-school services and to state agencies that are administering 21st Century Community Learning Centers for the first time this year.
"This study can help communities create effective programs that have positive outcomes for children," said M. Christine DeVita, president of the Wallace Funds. "It demonstrates that there are ways to develop educational and developmental services out of school that can help children be successful in school and in life." The Funds supported nearly 60 such ESS programs in communities across the country to help transform underused public schools into neighborhood centers.
A complete copy of Multiple Choices After School: Findings From The Extended Service School Initiative is available online by visiting the Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds website www.wallacefunds.org, Public/Private Ventures www.ppv.org or MDRC website www.mdrc.org. Printed copies are available through P/PV.
The Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds seek to create opportunities for people to enrich themselves through better schools, enhanced community activities and participation in the arts.
CALIFORNIA
County supervisors put a cork in youth drinking
Law jumps into effect in June
May 23, 2007
Insidebayarea.com
Sometimes, Alameda County takes years to research, hold public reviews and adopt statutes governing unincorporated areas.
On Tuesday, county supervisors may have broken the land speed record in adopting an ordinance to fine people responsible for unruly parties where underage youths are drinking.
Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker initiated the legislation just four months ago, prompted by three shootings — two of them fatal — that occurred during a Jan. 19 party in San Lorenzo attended by more than 100 young people.
The new law, which actually isn't effective for another month, prohibits loud gatherings on private properties where alcohol is served to, consumed by, or possessed by people younger than 21.
It applies to gatherings in communities such as Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview and San Lorenzo.
Penalties will range from $750 for first-time offenders to $2,500 for third and subsequent violations. Community service also is an option for people who can't pay the fines.
Fines will help cover the costs of law enforcement, fire and other emergency responders.
Lai-Bitker said this "social host" ordinance holds individuals responsible for underage drinking on property they own, lease or otherwise control.
The purchase, possession and consumption of alcohol by minors in public or commercial areas already are banned by state law. State statutes, however, don't prohibit youth consumption of alcohol on private properties.
This ordinance "can fill the gap in the law by providing law enforcement a tool to help address the problem of underage drinking at parties," Lai-Bitker explained.
Representatives of the Sheriff's Department and the Castro Valley and San Lorenzo school districts jumped at the idea of a "social host" ordinance, citing the need to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors.
On Tuesday, supervisors also authorized funding for a sheriff's sergeant and deputy to attend a Florida seminar on alcohol- and drug-impaired driving enforcement.
ILLINOIS
Teens largely absent from state politics
Group has little say, input in legislation that affects them
May 17, 2007
By Jeremy Pelzer, pjstar.com
The state Legislature is considering a list of bills that would put new rules and regulations on teens - from increasing a nighttime driving curfew to allowing teachers to search students' lockers without consent.
But as these bills go through the legislative process, there's often one group that isn't participating - teens themselves.
Young people traditionally aren't involved in shaping state legislation that affects them, said Charlie Wheeler, a longtime Statehouse reporter who now directs the Public Affairs
Reporting program at the University of Illinois-Springfield.
"Historically they haven't been a very strong presence at all - certainly not in an organized group," Wheeler said.
That's typically been true during this year's legislative session as well.
Take House Bill 3131, under which anyone younger than 21 who is given court supervision for consuming alcoholic beverages would automatically have his or her license suspended for three months - even if the person was not in or near a vehicle when caught drinking.
No teens testified at committee hearings about the proposal, and House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, the bill's sponsor, said he talked to teens in his district about the legislation only after he introduced it.
However, Cross added, "Whenever I was in a situation to be able to talk to students, I asked them about it."
Cross said youth he has talked to have been "generally supportive" of HB3131, as the proposal came in response to a Feb. 11 crash in Oswego that killed five teens.
Perhaps the most prominent teen-related state legislation this year is a package of teen driving reforms that would impose new rules and restrictions on teen drivers and make it harder for them to get a driver's license.
The reforms were drawn up by the Teen Driver Safety Task Force, created by Secretary of State Jesse White last August after 15 youths in Tazewell County died in highway-related incidents over a 15-month period.
But although the 28-member task force included legislators, law enforcement officials, educators and victims' rights advocates, no teens were on the panel.
And of the 37 members of the public who testified before the panel during public hearings in Chicago, Springfield and Carterville, only one was a teenager, according to the task force's final report.
Asked if teenagers have had an adequate say in the formation of SB172 and other teen-related bills, Cross said, "my guess is probably not."
But Rep. John D'Amico, a Chicago Democrat and a member of the task force, said he thought teens had an adequate say in the process.
"The whole purpose of this task force was to help them," D'Amico said. "It's not like we're trying to do something that'd hurt them. This is not like trying to be heavy-handed at all."
D'Amico said when he went to several schools to gauge teens' opinion on the legislation, he found many students were skeptical simply because they didn't have enough information about the proposals. "Until it gets explained to them, they're a little hesitant to say if they like it or not."
Getting teens involved
Some legislators actively try to engage teens in state politics and seek their opinion on Statehouse issues.
Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, writes elementary, middle and high school teachers in his district asking if he can speak to their classes about state government.
Schock tells students about the importance of knowing who their legislators are, how bills become law, and how to effectively lobby a lawmaker. He tries to drive home the importance of state government by giving them examples of current legislation that would affect them.
"The reaction from the kids is, gee, despite the fact that the federal government is where most of the media puts its attention . . . the reality is many of the laws that affect their day-to-day life are in fact state laws, not federal laws," Schock said. "Many people throw up their hands and say, 'Well , how come young people don't vote? How come young people aren't involved in the process?' And I believe the reason is they don't see the value in it."
TEXAS
Texas poised to adopt school steroid testing
Governor has yet to sign the bill
April 29, 2007
By Miguel Bustillo, boston.com
Texas is poised to become the first state to test high school athletes randomly for steroids, the most dramatic step yet in a nationwide backlash against the dangerous muscle-building drugs that have infested locker rooms across America.
The Texas Senate earlier this month approved a measure to test 3 percent of the state's 740,000 high school athletes, or about 22,000 boys and girls, for steroids every year. The Texas House of Representatives approved a similar measure, which would have an athletic association pay for the testing .
Governor Rick Perry of Texas has not taken an official position on the legislation. But lawmakers expect him to sign the final bill, which would make Texas the first state in the country to make all of its high school athletes eligible for random steroid testing. New Jersey passed a steroid testing law last year, but it applies only to high school athletes who reach playoff competitions.
California, Illinois, Florida, and New Mexico also have been debating steroid testing for student athletes, as health officials and parents' groups increasingly voice fears that boys and girls are sacrificing their health for glories on the playing field.
Anti steroid activists, who have been clamoring for testing for years, believe momentum is building nationally. But there are lingering concerns about costs, and about violating the privacy of thousands of boys and girls to catch a relative few. A California lawmaker's proposal to test about 20,000 high school athletes a year randomly was rejected last week in a state Assembly committee amid opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Teachers Association.
In Texas, Don Hooton of Plano described the legislative action as a giant step forward. "Our hope is that this Texas legislation will be the first of a wave that will cross the other 49 states," said Hooton, who began campaigning for tougher steroid laws after the death of his 17-year-old son, Taylor.
The teenager hanged himself in 2003 after using steroids and sinking into a depression.
Taylor Hooton 's baseball coaches had told him he needed to bulk up if he wanted to pitch for the varsity team; he confessed to taking steroids after he suddenly gained 30 pounds of muscle, but said he had stopped -- although the drugs were found in his system after his death. The Hootons later found Mexican steroids in their son's bedroom .
"As we learned with Rafael Palmeiro, just asking people whether they're using steroids simply isn't going to cut it," Don Hooton said, referring to the professional baseball player who told a congressional panel, "I have never used steroids," only to fail a test for them fewer than five months later.
Specialists say it is difficult to estimate how many student athletes are taking steroids because users often conceal their habit even from their closest friends.
But some specialists believe that 750,000 or more youngsters nationwide will use the drugs before graduating from high school.
Monitoring the Future, a University of Michigan survey that has been tracking drug use among seniors since 1975, found last year that 2.7 percent had used steroids.
NEW YORK
New Legislation Targets Gangs
May 17, 2007
By Stephen Baron, Chronicle Correspondent
Holding up photos of victims of gang violence, Assemblyman Jose Peralta (D-Corona) and victims’ family members pleaded last Thursday for the state Legislature to pass anti-gang legislation.
Speaking outside Corona’s High School for Arts and Business, where several incidents of gang violence have been reported recently, Peralta announced that he has introduced four bills to tackle the rising problem of gangs. The legislation would bolster existing laws by specifically punishing membership in gangs.
“We want to make a better and easier fight against gangs,” Peralta said. “Either we end up with our children dead or close to it.”
Joining Peralta at the announcement were seven members of the Guardian Angels; a representative from the family of Genesis Regalado, 11, who was gunned down outside her home; and James Vasquez, the high school representative of the teachers union.
Beatrice Vargas — whose 16-year-old grandson was stabbed four times outside the High School for Arts and Business on March 26 as he ran away from gang members — also spoke. “We want justice and better security in schools so teachers can help children,” she said through a translator.
The first of the anti-gang bills calls for 75 percent of proceeds seized in gang raids to be redirected to the local school district to fund after-school programs. Those funds are currently added to Police Department coffers.
The second bill would allow school districts to prohibit students from wearing gang colors and wearing gang-related apparel, markings or symbols. Many gang members have moved to wearing beads and subtle gang colors, making them harder to detect.
The third bill would provide law enforcement with new tools to fight gangs and require locations used by gangs to be closed down. The final bill would require parents to attend support programs for their child to advance to the seventh grade.
“We need anti-gang programs, and after-school programs so these kids can do something positive,” said Yoneil Letellier, Peralta’s chief of staff. “Most gang members are wannabes, they’re innocent youth with no criminal record, and just join for protection.”
It remains to be seen if the legislation can be passed, or whether it would have the intended effect. One teacher at Arts and Business, who wished to remain anonymous, said gangs are a minor problem compared to Newtown High School, where Peralta brought in the Guardian Angels three years ago.
Still, the teacher added, gang prevention programs may have limited potential. “We need a lot in the community, and education can’t solve it alone,” the teacher said.
CALIFORNIA
State Senate Passes Student Civil Rights Act, Protecting All California Students
Kuehl's SB 777, Sponsored by EQCA, Strengthens State Education Policies to Prevent Bias and Discrimination
May 25, 2007
By Equality California
The California Senate on Monday passed legislation that would protect all California students from harassment and bias in public schools based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Legislators approved SB 777, authored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, and sponsored by Equality California, by a 23-13 vote.
The Student Civil Rights Act ensures that all students in publicly-funded schools, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), clearly understand the protections they are provided under state law. SB 777 creates uniform nondiscrimination standards within the state's education code and clarifies the responsibility of school officials to ensure a safe learning environment.
"Schools need clear direction - not mixed messages -from the state to adopt adequate policies to protect all youth," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "Inconsistencies in state law create significant gaps that leave students vulnerable to harassment and bias and unaware of their rights. SB 777 helps fill those gaps so that all youth are protected."
Nearly 30 percent of youth in grades seven to 11 in California have experienced harassment or bullying based on their actual or perceived race or ethnicity, religion, disability, gender and sexual orientation, according to the California Healthy Kids Survey released in 2006. Kuehl's measure strengthens existing nondiscrimination laws to protect students based on these characteristics. SB 777 covers publicly-funded schools and activities, including alternative and charter schools, postsecondary institutions, instructional materials and financial aid programs.
"Seven years after legislation protecting students from discrimination and harassment in all public school settings took effect, our young people are still being subjected to violence and ridicule on a daily basis in the classroom and in the school yard," said Sen. Kuehl. "We simply have to do better in protecting our students, and SB 777 is an important part of the solution."
"Right wing extremists have recently attacked this bill, grossly distorting the facts about what the legislation does," said Kors. "The Student Civil Rights Act protects all youth, not only those who identify as LGBT, from discrimination so they all have the opportunity to succeed in school and thrive in life."
NEW YORK
Video Game Violence Targeted By Senate
May 22, 2007
North Country Gazette
Legislation that would take steps to crack down on video game violence and combat and reduce children’s exposure to violent and inappropriate materials within these games has been passed by the Senate and sent to the Assembly.
The bill would establish the Advisory Council on Interactive Media and Youth Violence to review the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) rating system and its effectiveness, and recommend additional steps that can be taken to curb children’s access and exposure to such “adult-only” material. The advisory council would consist of nine members and six ex-officio members.
The bill would also require New York State’s retailers to place ratings labels on all video games, and establish a Parent-Teacher Anti-Violence Awareness Program to work with students and children on issues related to violence in video games and seek to increase awareness of the ratings system on games.
“The recent release of ‘V-Tech Massacre,’ a sick game which exploits the Virginia Tech University tragedy, is a painful reminder of the culture of violence which has severe consequences on our youth and society,” said Sen. Andrew Lanza, (R-I, Staten Island) chairman of the Senate Task Force on Youth Violence and the Entertainment Industry. “The emotions and behaviors of our children are far too often shaped by the virtual reality of violent movies and video games. It is imperative that we find a way to prevent these virtual realities from continuing to fuel and teach the violent behavior which is corrupting our youth. My bill will provide parents with important information about violent video games so they are better able to make informed decisions.”
Currently, video games are rated “E” for everyone, “T” for teens, “M” for mature, and “AO” for adults only. A study by a group of Harvard University researchers published in 2004 reviewed a random sample of 81 “T” rated video games and found that 48 percent contained violence, sexual themes, substance use, gambling, or profanity that was not noted on the game box as it should have been. In addition, a recent study published in Applied Developmental Psychology found that only twenty-five percent of parents surveyed said that they “always” check the industry rating of computer and/or video games before renting or buying them.
This legislation would establish the following:
- A new Advisory Council on Media, Entertainment Software and Youth Violence which will review and make recommendations on the effectiveness of the current Entertainment Software Ratings Boards (ESRB) ratings system in keeping violent video games out of the hands of youth. The panel, which will include parents, educators, experts in child psychology, child welfare advocates, concerned citizens and industry representatives, will also develop policies relating to public education and advocacy against youth violence, examine efforts being undertaken in other states, and develop recommendations for additional ways of regulating the exposure of youth to these games.
- Rating System Labeling Requirement–Under current State law, there is no requirement that retailers place labels on video games sold in New York. To address this shortcoming, would establish a new requirement that every video game sold in New York by a retailer or over the Internet, whether new or for resale, must have a clearly displayed rating indication on the game cover or elsewhere (such as on a website). Individuals who violate these provisions will face fines and penalties.
- Establish a Parent-Teacher Anti-Violence Awareness Program which will empower parents and teachers to work with students and children on issues related to violence in video games. The program will also seek to increase awareness of the ratings system on games, and the importance of appropriate parental supervision. The Anti-Violence Program would be funded through fines on retailers who violate the new labeling law.
CALIFORNIA
Governor Wants to Terminate Gang Violence
Combating Gang Violence Statewide
By Nannette Miranda, abc7.com
Arnold Schwarzenegger was best known as "The Terminator" during his acting career. And now the governor is looking to eliminate gang activity with a $48-million anti-crime initiative.
A successful anti-gang program in Oakland called "Youth UpRising" provided the backdrop for the Governor's unveiling of his new 48-million dollar initiative to combat gang violence statewide.
Schwarzenegger said, "Local officials have always done a great job with trying to get rid of gangs. The problem now is really a statewide issue now."
The Governor wants to put GPS tracking systems on nuisance members and make them register with law enforcement & essentially treating them like high-risk sex offenders. He'll also place an anti-gang unit in prisons, offer tax credits to companies that hire former members and double the budget of the witness protection program.
A former Norteno gang member who helps kids turn their lives around says the initiative might work because money has always been an issue.
Trino Savala said, "If you want to get away from gangs, there's no excuse. You want to get a job or you want to better your life, there's no excuse anymore. The Governor's giving us the resources and the money."
The Department of Justice says despite an overall drop in crime in most California cities since the 90's, gang-related violent crime remains steady. Of the homicides in 2005, 60 to 75-percent in Compton and Pico Rivera were gang related.
In San Francisco and Oakand, it was nearly half.
Jasmine Montgomery says 'Youth UpRising' saved her from a life on the streets.
Jasmine and at-risk youth said, "Yeah, you could say that. It gave me something concrete, something to do the rest of my life. I know now what I want to do."
"Although $12.5-million dollars is now available, the rest of the money needed to implement the Governor's initiative still requires legislative approval. Budget talks kick into high gear after the Memorial Day weekend.
NORTH CAROLINA
Lawmakers look into raising age of adult court
May 22, 2007
By Barry Smith, thetimesnews.com
Supporters of a bill that would increase the age at which a teenager enters adult court to 18 will hire an outside company to study the proposal’s cost before continuing with their push.
“Everything here is at a glacial pace,” said Rep. Alice Bordsen, D-Alamance, who is pushing to increase the age limit. “It will make for a more careful and sounder process.”
Currently, most children under the age of 16 who get in trouble with the law are handled in the juvenile court system. Those 16 and older are handled in the adult court system.
Bordsen said she decided to seek further study on the proposal and defer a decision until next year after hearing a lot of questions raised about the proposal earlier this year.
“To see the kind of immediate opposition that developed so quickly without good data worried me,” Bordsen said.
Bordsen said the study will include a review of the costs of all the services that would be needed to make the transition. The study would also develop a plan for such a transition, she said.
Bordsen and other supporters had said that the proposal would come with a hefty price tag. But they said they did not know what that price tag would be.
The House Juvenile Justice Committee voted without prejudice to send the issue to the House Rules Committee, which would set up the study.
The vote came after juvenile advocates expressed support for raising the adult court age to 18. They argued that juvenile courts would offer better opportunities to rehabilitate 16- and 17-year-olds than adult court.
Mike Rieder, chairman of the Covenant with North Carolina’s Children, said that in adult court, parents are often “left out of the formula.”
Rieder said that in contrast, juvenile courts require a parent to be present during court hearings and involve them in rehabilitating their children.
“Treating 16- and 17-year-olds as adults is harmful,” said Frank Crawford, executive director of Youth Homes Inc. of Charlotte. Crawford said that juvenile court is a more appropriate place for such teenagers to go because of its focus on rehabilitation and treatment.
North Carolina is one of three states that routinely deal with 16- and 17-year-olds in adult court. The other two are New York and Connecticut.
A 2004 undercover drug operation in the Alamance-Burlington schools helped trigger the proposal to increase the juvenile court age, Bordsen has said. That operation netted charges against about four dozen teenagers.
Those who were younger than 16 had their cases in juvenile court, where their records are sealed Those who were 16 or older went to adult court and have criminal records.
VERMONT
New Vt. law seen improving chances for foster children
May 29, 2007
By Susan Allen, Times Argus
In a move cheered by advocates, Gov. Jim Douglas is scheduled next week to sign into law a bill extending the age limit of Vermonters in foster care from 18 to 21, a change designed to improve the lives and futures of the roughly 1,200 young people under the state's supervision.
"I'm clicking my heels," said Mark Redmond, executive director of Spectrum Youth and Family Services in Burlington, who had lobbied for the change.
Redmond said Vermont is the only New England state to bump young people out of foster care at 18, off the support systems of the program and out into the world to make it on their own. He said these kids aren't prepared for that independence and need a few more years of support to successfully move forward with their lives.
"Here we take kids who don't have families, or have highly dysfunctional families, no job skills, no independent living skills, and say, 'You have to make it at 18,'" Redmond said Monday. "It shouldn't surprise us how many end up homeless or in Corrections when they show you the door at 18."
He said Connecticut's foster care system is among the most supportive, providing supervised housing options that become progressively more independent, easing foster care kids into adulthood. Maine, he added, provides free college tuition to the first 30 foster care youth accepted to a variety of state schools.
"Not many make it to college," he said of the foster care population. "The few who do, we should support them."
He said he was aware of at least one young person who left foster care at 18 and attended college, but was forced to live in her car on holidays because she had no home. This new law would enable such a young person to remain with her foster care provider through age 21.
Redmond said his great disappointment is Rhode Island, where the governor recently announced cutting the foster care age limit back to 18 from 22 as part of a budget-saving move.
Vermont officials and advocates have been focusing on the challenges facing Vermonters in foster care in recent years, joining a national effort that includes the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Casey Family Programs
According to the foundation, there are 513,000 children across the U.S. in the foster care system, most removed from their homes because of parental abuse or neglect. Under state care, these young people often experience inconsistent supervision and educational opportunities (they are often moved from home to home, school to school); face social problems that stem from a nomadic youth; suffer a lack of basic skills, such as balancing a checkbook, obtaining a driver's license, or the ability to do laundry or cook; and other problems.
Although there are success stories of young people who have built strong lives after leaving the foster care system, the statistics illustrate the potential problems facing this group.
Nationally, about 20,000 foster care youth age out of the system annually. Only 54 percent of foster care "graduates" earn their high school diploma, and 2 percent obtain a bachelor's degree or higher. More than half are unemployed; about one-third lack health insurance; and a quarter have been or are homeless. The foundation study found that 30 percent are on public assistance.
Advocates for change have pointed out that not only is reform a moral imperative, it is an economic imperative, as well. Taxpayers pick up the cost when young people end up in jail or on public assistance.
The Casey Foundation held a national working group on May 22 to look at ways to improve the lives and outcomes of those who are foster children.
The Vermont Agency of Human Services has also been focusing on this population. The agency held an unusual day-long forum on the problems facing foster care youth at the Statehouse in December 2005 that included young people under state supervision from throughout Vermont. It was clear at that meeting that many of those teens had no idea what they would do when they turned 18 and were on their own.
At the Statehouse forum, the issue of raising the foster care age limit from 18 to 21 was presented, and several other initiatives were launched to help foster care youth attend college and obtain job skills. In addition, the courts convened a study group to find ways to improve the legal process for these young Vermonters.
Redmond said the new Vermont legislation will provide about $675,000 to extend services to those over age 18. In addition, he said teens who drop out of foster care at 18 will be allowed to re-enter the program up until their 20th birthday.
"A lot of kids will say I'm ready at 18, I can be on my own," only to find later that they need help making the transition, he said.
Douglas is expected to sign the bill at Spectrum's headquarters in Burlington on June 6.
"The bill is great," Redmond said. "But there is still work to be done."
NEW JERSEY
Education Committee Approves Turner Measure to Create School Crisis Response Action Plans
May 21, 2007
By Jason Butkowski, politicsnj.com
The Senate Education Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner which would instruct local school districts and municipalities to work together to develop action plans in case of a school crisis.
"The tragedy at Virginia Tech serves as a somber reminder that we must be ever-vigilant in keeping our schools safe so that our children may learn in a secure environment," said Senator Turner, D-Mercer and Chair of the Committee. "Preparation is the key to safety, and it is critical that we have a clear, well-developed crisis plan for every school in New Jersey."
The bill, S-2405, would require local emergency management councils to establish a school crisis subcommittee to develop a school crisis response action plan in consultation with the County Office of Emergency Management for each school in the municipality.
The action plan developed by the subcommittee would have to address procedures for the evacuation of school buildings in the event of an emergency or disaster, where students and personnel would go upon evacuation, where facilities for treatment of the injured would be located and procedures for notifying the families of students and school personnel concerning the emergency, including their location and the extent of any injuries suffered.
"We must do everything possible to minimize the chaos that comes in the wake of a crisis. The first few minutes after a crisis are the most important in reducing the harm caused by an emergency," explained Senator Turner.
The subcommittee would then submit the proposed plan to the local emergency management council for approval. Upon approval, the council would submit the plan to the Office of Emergency Management in the Department of Law and Public Safety.
Under the bill, the school crisis response subcommittee would be comprised of five members appointed by the superintendent of schools, and five members appointed by the mayor or chief executive officer of the municipality.
"School violence is a problem that must be addressed from multiple angles," added Senator Turner. "While we must be prepared to act quickly in case a crisis occurs, we'd be far better off preventing violent outbreaks in the first place. We must give schools the tools needed to develop comprehensive violence prevention programs."
Also within the Office of Emergency Management, a "Youth Violence in New Jersey Schools Grant Program" would be established. The grant funds would be distributed to school districts to develop violence prevention programs, fund workshops and speakers on youth violence prevention, and examine security requirements. The grant may also be used for the development of the school crisis response action plan if the State Director of Emergency Management finds that sufficient cause for such use is demonstrated. The grant amount would range from $2,500 to $5,000
The bill passed the Committee by a vote of 3-0. It now goes to the full Senate for their approval.
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