Community Input Summary Report 2015
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ADD COVER PAGE COMMUNITY INPUT SUMMARY REPORT 2015 Turning the Curve: Community Input Summary Report 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Methodology ................................................................................................................ 3 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Report Organization ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Community Perspective on Youth Violence ............................................................................................ 6 Opinion on Degree of Youth Violence .................................................................................................................. 6 Areas of Biggest Concern .................................................................................................................................... 7 Opportunities ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Challenges and Gaps ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Disparities .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 Promote Positive Child and Youth Development ...................................................................................12 Youth are life, college, and career ready. ........................................................................................................... 12 Youth are valued and have meaningful participation in their community. .......................................................... 14 Youth are supported by caring adults. ................................................................................................................ 14 Youth are safe and feel safe at school. .............................................................................................................. 15 Ensure Supported and Functioning Families .........................................................................................17 Families are connected, engaged and valued. ................................................................................................... 17 All families have social-emotional wellbeing. ..................................................................................................... 18 All families are equitably supported by the community....................................................................................... 19 Foster Safe and Vibrant Neighborhoods ................................................................................................20 The community is safe and thriving. ................................................................................................................... 20 The community is culturally and racially aware and responsive. ........................................................................ 22 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................24 Appendix I: Key Informant Survey Responses ......................................................................................25 Appendix II: Youth Focus Group Responses .........................................................................................93 Appendix III: Family Focus Group Responses .......................................................................................99 Endnotes .............................................................................................................................................105 Youth Violence Prevention Task Force 2 Turning the Curve: Community Input Summary Report 2015 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY Over the last three years, the Youth Violence Prevention Task Force (YVPT) has engaged over 200 community stakeholders including elected officials, law enforcement, schools, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, youth, formerly incarcerated individuals and concerned citizens in a countywide youth violence prevention strategic planning process. This inclusive multi-sector collaborative is committed to addressing youth violence through evidence-based, prevention-focused and asset-based solutions. DATA COLLECTION To ensure broad community input on issues of youth violence, YVPT members completed 63 Key informant interviews with stakeholders from September through November 2014. These stakeholders ranged from those in top leadership positions to direct service providers, representing the following sectors: justice, government, community-based organizations education, and business. Only one business stakeholder was interviewed and will not be presented in this report in order to keep their responses anonymous. These stakeholders were interviewed in person or by telephone for approximately one hour. Stakeholders were all asked the same set of eight questions in addition to one to two questions specific to their sector: Questions 1. In your opinion, to what degree is youth violence an issue in your community? 2. Where do you see the biggest issues regarding youth violence in Santa Cruz County? Locations? Ages of youth? Other? 3. What opportunities exist within our community to address youth violence? 4. What challenges or gaps do you see in our community regarding the reduction of youth violence? 5. Do you see any disparities among youth who are served by your organization/department? 6. Have you seen good examples/models in other places that address youth violence that you feel would work in Santa Cruz County? 7. How might you support the implementation of the plan? 8. Anything else you would like to add? Stakeholder Specific Questions 1. Justice Stakeholders: As a member of the justice system, what are the top reasons (types of crimes) that youth come in contact with your department? 2. Government Stakeholders: In regards to budgeting and setting of priorities, what are you currently doing to help reduce youth violence? Are you willing to do something different? 3. Community Based Organization and Business Stakeholders: What are barriers to youth accessing your services? What would it take to eliminate those barriers? 4. Education Stakeholders: How does youth violence affect your school? What could be done at your school to help resolve violence? Youth Violence Prevention Task Force 3 Turning the Curve: Community Input Summary Report 2015 Family and youth focus groups were also conducted throughout the county September through November 2014 in English and Spanish, including youth at the Santa Cruz County juvenile hall facility and families who have children involved in the juvenile justice system. A total of 37 youth and 9 family members participated in the focus groups. Youth were asked the following questions: 1. Does your school or neighborhood offer activities, such as sports, art programs, music, for people your age to do after school? Do you participate in these activities? 2. If your community was going to provide new activities for people your age, what would you want? 3. How much do you feel youth violence affects your community? 4. Where do you see the most youth violence in Santa Cruz County? Locations? Ages of youth? Other? 5. What opportunities are there in our community to address youth violence? 6. What challenges do you see in our community to reduce youth violence? 7. Why do you think youth participate in youth violence? 8. Do you see any discrimination in how youth are treated in our community? How are youth discriminated against? What reason are youth discriminated against? Have you ever felt discriminated against? 9. Who’s responsible for taking action? 10. Anything else you would like to add? Families were asked the following questions: 1. How much do you feel youth violence affects your community? 2. Where do you see the most youth violence in Santa Cruz County? Locations? Ages of youth? Other? 3. Why do you believe there is youth violence in your community? 4. What opportunities are there in our community to address youth violence? 5. Who is responsible for taking action in the reduction of youth violence? 6. What challenges do you see in our community to reduce youth violence? 7. Why do you think youth participate in youth violence? 8. Do you see any discrimination in how youth are treated in our community? How are youth discriminated against? What reasons are youth discriminated against? 9. Do you think your child(ren) are at risk of participating in youth violence? 10. What effect has youth violence had on your family? 11. Anything else you would like to add? REPORT ORGANIZATION This report is meant to serve as an addendum to the complete strategic plan report and customized data reports developed for the Watsonville and Santa Cruz/Live Oak implementation work. The goal of this report is to take a deeper look at the rich information gathered from the community stakeholders, youth, and families that gave of their time to provide information on youth violence in our community. The information in this report is meant to help all of Santa Cruz County, and specifically Watsonville and Santa Cruz/Live Oak, in their prioritization of strategies and development