MCYSN
What is the Mayor’s Community Youth Support Network (MCYSN)?
The MCYSN effort is an innovative, proactive strategy to address youth issue in a holistic way (Prevention, Intervention & Suppression) and from a multi-disciplinary approach (City, PD, DA, Schools, Community Non-profits, Faith-based organizations, etc.);
The foundation of the MCYSN strategic plan is to reconnect youth and families to not only services in Tracy but also to alternative activities that promote pro-social and positive behaviors.
Program Background Information:
During the fall of 2006, some community members voiced concerns regarding increased school fights, graffiti, vandalism in city parks, and growing gang activity in the city. As a result, the Mayor, Chief of Police, Tracy Unified School District (TUSD) Superintendent, and District Supervisor Ornellas, mailed out a “call to action” letter inviting youth-serving agencies and community stakeholders to meet and discuss a gang prevention strategy. Meetings were held on January 17, 2007, March 21, 2007, and between 70-100 City, County, community based organizations, businesses, school faith-based organizations, Commissioners and residents attended to address services for youth and teens and to discuss a coordinated effort that could comprehensively address the various factors affecting Tracy youth. Of these attendees, a strategic plan work team was developed to further define the service gap and to develop a comprehensive strategy. The Strategic Plan Work Team was made up of service providers, businesses, TUSD and City representatives, among other stakeholders. The Strategic Plan Work Team collected existing service information, identified service gaps and needs, held youth focus groups and, subsequently, developed a gang prevention strategy that focused on a continuum of care which includes prevention, intervention and suppression. The Mayor’s Community Youth Support Network (MCYSN) Strategic Plan is a comprehensive strategy that focuses on reconnecting youth to their parents, families, schools and neighborhoods.
The Mayor’s Community Youth Support Network (MCYSN) 2007-2009 Strategic Plan Summary:
In developing the two year strategic plan, the Strategic Plan Work team recognized that in conjunction with establishing a service delivery system, it is necessary to begin with a well defined collaborative structure that includes City, Schools, and community partners, as well as a funding mechanism to sustain the service delivery over time. Additionally, a well coordinated referral system and a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, intervention and suppression services was also necessary. Consequently, the MCYSN Strategic Plan outlines four strategic priority areas. These include:
- Assess Current Services & Service Gaps: Take inventory of existing services and assess prevention, intervention, and suppression service gaps;
- Funding Strategy: Develop a funding strategy that focuses on resource development to support the service delivery system;
- Crisis Response Protocol: Establish a Crisis and Support Resource Protocol between City, school and Community Partners to effectively and promptly respond to community issues
- Service Delivery System: Develop a coordinated service delivery strategy to focus on the Youth Continuum of Care (Prevention, Intervention and Suppression)
The goal of Strategic Priority 1 is to create a resource tool for community referrals and to understand which services community partners currently offer to youth and their families, as well as which areas are lacking services. Completion of the goal requires data collection and analysis of community needs, identification of community stakeholders, development of a rapport with stakeholders, service providers and community members and a system of distributing information from our service providers to the community at large.
Strategic Priority Area 2, Funding Strategy
The goal of Strategic Priority 2 is to create a well funded, effective and sustainable network. This goal is accomplished through allocating the $1 million dollars approved by Council, determining collaborative agencies ability to redirect resources, identifying in-kind services, developing a matching funding opportunity for providers and seeking alternative funding through grants and sponsorships.
Strategic Priority Area 3, Crisis Response Protocol
The goal of Strategic Priority 3 is to create safe schools and safe neighborhoods. This goal can best be met through utilization of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach. An MDT relies on the partnership of school personnel, prevention services, PD and community stakeholders who can initialize safe campus initiatives aimed at preventing and managing issues of school violence such as threats, fights, harassment, hostage situations and bomb threats.
Strategic Priority Area 4, Service Delivery System
The goal of Strategic Priority 4 is to create a seamless service delivery system that follows the youth continuum of care, prevention, intervention and suppression. Strategic Priority 4 highlights the activities that the community has identified as crucial for successful prevention, intervention and suppression services. Execution of this goal relies on the partnership between the collaborative service providers and community stakeholders.
• MCYSN Strategic Plan
MCYSN organizational structure:
In order to ensure the implementation of the 2007-2009 MCYSN Strategic Plan, two teams were developed: a Policy team and a Service Provider team.
The MCYSN Policy team’s purpose is to oversee the implementation of the MCYSN Strategic Plan and monitor the collaborative progress and facilitate any systemic barriers that may prevent the collaborative from providing direct services. The Policy Team meets on a quarterly basis to (1) review youth crime, gang, and other statistics and trends, (2) review school climate reports, (3) obtain updates on MCYSN Strategic Plan implementation, particularly relative to the service delivery strategy, and (4) address any current trends or community issues affecting disconnected youth in Tracy.
The MCYSN Service Provider team’s purpose is to execute the implementation of the Strategic Plan, specifically the service delivery system. The team meets monthly to (1) share information relative to crime trends and school climate, (2) monitor and share in case management, (3) obtain service referrals for youth and families, (4) develop, implement and monitor service delivery strategies, (5) ensure service gaps are filled and a coordinated service delivery is implemented, and (6) participate in government/ community crisis response protocols.
COORDINATION OF MCYSN AND THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Oversight of the collaborative effort is a partnership between three city departments, City Manager’s Office, Police Department and Parks and Community Services who also partner with community agencies.
Description of the MCYSN Budget:
The FY 07-08 adopted budget (Resolution 2007-118), approved a $1 million annual budget for the MCYSN effort.
The following is a summary of proposed budget allocations of currently approved funds:
Percentage of Budget Actual Amount
Prevention 38% $381,055
Intervention 37% $371,955
Suppression 20% $201,662
Indirect Costs 5% $ 44,335
Total estimated proposed allocation $1,000,000
Summary of Allocation
The strategy used to allocate MCYSN funding is the youth continuum of care; prevention and intervention and suppression. The strategy is a sustainable approach to engaging youth and reconnecting them to their families whether they are socially connected, disconnected or extreme anti-social. Utilizing this strategy will give the network an opportunity to engage youth at all levels depending upon where they are in their lives.
Prevention
Service Focus
Prevention services which keep youth engaged and provide them with educational and alternate recreational ideas are the focus of the prevention strategy. Providing preventative services will allow the network to fulfill identified community needs through the re-engagement of youth, development of alternative recreational activities, education and facilitation of parent involvement and the reinforcement of mentoring opportunities.
Funding Focus
Funds for prevention have been allocated towards a matching grant opportunity for prevention providers who can serve the following needs: parent advocacy, diversity, youth job training, mentoring and alternative activities. Funding has also been allocated to implement new alternative activities such as neighborhood based mobile recreation; 3-on-3 basketball tournaments; expansion of the current after-school program at Williams Middle School from 2 days to 5; and prevention education and awareness workshops on the topics of substance abuse, gangs, and child abuse. Allocated funds will also include costs associated with advertising new programs and marketing information to residents about preventative community resources such as parenting classes and health assistance.
Intervention
Service Focus
Developing intervention strategies and utilizing evidence based tools to create safe schools and neighborhoods is integral to the success of MCYSN. A significant portion of the intervention funding is geared towards the implementation of strategic priority three, “Establish a crisis and support response protocol between City, School and Community Partners to effectively and promptly respond to school issues of violence”. Complementary to the strategic goal are alternative intervention methods such as gang intervention, late night recreation, youth job fairs, coordination of student and parent involvement in regards to truancy and disciplinary matters, education campaigns and one-on-one intervention.
Funding Focus
Funds for intervention have been allocated towards a matching grant opportunity for intervention providers who can serve the following needs: parenting classes, workshops on dealing with difficult teens and substance abuse, and intervention outreach workers, peer-to-peer support groups and diversity awareness. Funding has also been allocated to implement new alternative evening recreational activities like midnight basketball at Tracy High and alternative educational opportunities like an intentional mentoring leadership program. A portion of intervention funding has also been allocated for officers to implement intervention services like the establishment of a crisis and support response protocol between City, School and Community Partners to effectively and promptly respond to school issues of violence. Officers will also conduct group parent intervention workshops with local probation staff to deal with gangs and provide community referrals.
Suppression
Service Focus
Suppression activities primary goal is to enhance coordination and service delivery between probation, parole, Tracy PD, the Sheriff and the District Attorney’s Office. Suppression’s priority as identified in the council priorities and MCYSN Strategic Plan is to create a youth services division and practice proven community policing strategies. This will not only allow greater coordination among suppression agencies, but will also enhance community police relationships.
Funding Focus
The proposed budget allocations for suppression lay the foundation for the youth services division by adding two officers to the police department’s proposed Youth Services Division. The police officers’ duties will include not only activities in suppression but primarily in prevention and intervention services. They will increase gang awareness presentations, liaison with parents and school personnel; mentor identified at-risk youth and present information on matters related to youth and the law. Additionally, the officers will take the lead on developing a Safe School Protocol and Crisis Intervention Strategy aimed to prevent and manage incidents and threats of school violence.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are expenses related to internal service charges, office supplies, trainings, marketing of network and contracted services to create an interactive database of referrals and service providers. Funding has also been allocated for a collaborative grant writing contract. The grant writing agency will work with the collaborative and will not only research funding opportunities, but will also write grants on behalf of the youth support network. Indirect also includes a collaborative resource guide detailing services available to youth and families in Tracy.
Community Support
The community has positively responded to the Mayor’s Community Youth Support Network. Within this past year of planning, the MCYSN Service Providers have committed their agencies to this collaborative network and have proven their dedication to the youth and families of Tracy. Collectively, service providers have contributed over 400 hours of in-kind services.
MCYSN Reconnecting Our Youth Grant Program
In developing the two year strategic plan, the Strategic Plan Work team recognized that in conjunction with establishing a coordinated service delivery system, it is necessary to begin with a well defined collaborative structure that includes City, Schools, and community partners, as well as a funding mechanism to sustain the service delivery over time.
The MCYSN, Reconnecting Our Youth Grant Program is the collaborative funding mechanism aimed at sustaining the service delivery as well as filling identified gaps in service.
On February 19, 2008 Tracy City Council approved, per resolution 2008-030, the 2007-2008 MCYSN Strategic Plan and annualized budget allocations which earmarked $200,000 towards a matching grant program available to local service providers who can fill identified service gaps while enhance youth asset development and reducing risk factors to anti-social behaviors.
The first funding cycle will begin in fiscal year 2008-2009 with the release of a Request for Qualifications seeking services in 6 Target Areas. This 12-month funding cycle will begin in August 2008 and end June 2009. During the funding cycle, an evaluation of programs will be completed by an outside agency chosen by the CITY.
The six target areas, as identified in the 2007-2009 Strategic Plan are:
- Job Readiness Training and Job Placement for Disconnected Youth
- Parent/Family Support
- Alternative youth activities/recreation and youth support groups
- Mentoring
- Gang Mediation/Intervention Services
- Alternative education for youth and families
The RFQ release for Cycle 1 funding is Wednesday, April 23, 2008
