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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01082002 - C.86 . Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE [SATE: JANUARY 8, 2002 �'�P��'.- County if SUBJECT: COUNTYWIDE YOUTH COMMISSION' SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RE OMMENDATI NS 1. REQUEST the Family and Human Services Committee to: a. meet with the Countywide Youth Commission (CYC) to discuss issues that might appropriately be referred to the Commission for review and comment. b. add the CYC to its agenda distribution and receive,comments from the CYC on any issues under review by the Committee that are appropriate for review by the CYC, including the need for additional after school activities. c. invite the CYC to report to the Committee at regular intervals findings and recommendations on issues referred to it by the Committee. 2. REQUEST the District Supervisors to meet regularly with their CYC appointees to receive input and provide guidance on relevant issues. BACKGROUND: On November 6, 2001, the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) received a report from the Countywide Youth Commission (CYC) on its activities for the year and discussed the establishment of a more structured process for soliciting and receiving advice and feedback from the CYC on issues affecting youths in the County. The CYC suggested and the IOC approved a'process utilizing the Family and Human'?Services Committee, which reviews many issues of interest to the CYC, as an appropriate method to communicate ideas between the Board and the CYC. The IOC also recommends that each District Supervisor communicate regularly with his or her CYC representatives. The staff coordinator for the CYC is Carole Brekke at UCCE (Cooperative Extension), 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2nd Floor, Pleasant Hill, 94523. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: - RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE. APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): JOHN CIQIA,CHAIR MARK DeSAULNIER ACTION OF BOARD:.Q 3anuar 8 2002 APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED XX OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN XUNANIMOUS(ASSENT done 1 AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: NOES: SHOWN, ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED January 8, 2002 CONTACT: JULIE ENEA(925)335-.1077 JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CC: COUNTYWIDE YOUTH COMMISSION'STAFF FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE STAFF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DISTRICT'OFFICES INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE STAFF ." UTY Z � y Web site:http://www.ccyouthvoice-org Email:ecyouthvoice@hotmail tom List of Documents presented to the Internal Operations Committee of the Board: of Supervisors November 5, 2001 1. Status of appointments to Countywide Youth Commission 2. Status on recommendations made by Supervisors at June 5, 2001 meeting 3. CYC goals and tasks for 2001-2002 4. June 5, 2001 Report to the Board of Supervisors: review of 2000.-2001 Coffm COSTA COUNTYWI% VO Ii COMMISSION cst+tt#ac� t Web site:http://www.ecyouthvoice.org Email:ccyouthvoice@hotmail.com 1. Status of appointments to Countywide Youth Commission We thank the 1/0 Committee of the Board of Supervisors(BQS)for recommending assistance with Adult Volunteer appointments.The result is that a new volunteer was appointed from District 3 and the existing District 2 adult volunteer was reappointed.The Commission would like an update on efforts to recruit adult volunteers in the three remaining districts;Districts 1,4,&S' The commissioner appointment process has not yet been completed. Although the four' at-lame and one at-large alternate recommended by CYC were appointed by the BOS in September to hill unexpired terms,there are still six vacant district seats and the Commission would like to know when they will be filled. The six vacant district seats include: District 1: 2 vacant seats District 2: 1 vacant seat District 5: 3 vacant seats (one vacancy is due to a 9127/01 resignation)' I/O_CommitteePr s:11/05/2001.doc 1 CYC 2: Status on recommendations made by the Supervisors at June 5,'2001 meeting At the June 5 2001 Board of Supervisors' Meeting,four representatives of the Countywide Youth Commission (CYC)presented a'report on the Commission's accomplishments for 2000-2001 (report attached). Comments from the Supervisors (see document following this page)following the CYC presentation included the following four suggestions: 1. 'schedule meeting with full CYC or a subcommittee and the Family and Human Services Committee at a time convenient to commissioners to discuss',issues'that would appropriately be referred to the;,Commission.The Board will ask Staff to set a meeting with the Family and Human Services committee and either the full Commission or a CYC subcommittee. (Supe. DeSaulnier) 2. 'ask for input from Commission representatives, from their perspective,regarding the need for additional after school activities and what direction the Commission would want to see in after school activities. (Supv. Gioia) 3. have CYC develop'recommendations about youth concerns and the process on how issues should be provided to the Commission by the Board of Supervisors: The Commission(or representatives, thereof) should then have a joint committee :meeting with BOS or the Children and Family Policy Forum. (Supv. tlilkenaa) 4. .have recruitment of adult'volunteers to the Commission go to the Internal Operations committee. (Supv.Uilkema) However, with the exception of 1#4 above,these recommendations were not captured in an amended Board Order and thus no action has been taken. Thus, today, we are recommending that the Internal Operations committee approve and implement the following process'whereby the Countywide'Youth Commission can provide'ongoing communication with the Family and Human Services committee on issues that are of concern to the Commission and the larger youth population they represent in the county. This could be accomplished in the following ways: 1. CYC would ask that the Family and Human Services committee forward any issues presented to them that are appropriate to be reviewed by CYC on an ongoing basis. The documentation should be sent to the CYC Coordinator Carole Brekke,at UCCE, 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2'Floor, Pleasant Hill, 94523 2. CYC would develop issues brought to their attention by researching the issue, creating discussion and brainstorming around the issue,and agreeing on one or more ideas or recommendations to present to the Board of Supervisors. 3. CYC would request that a meeting be scheduled with the Family and Human' Services committee'at regular intervals (i.e., every two months)or whenever a pressing issue arises if sooner. 4. CYC would seek attention from the Family and Human Services committee to focus on the issue(s)and the recommendations and implement them as possible on a countywide level. UO Committee_10/0512001.doc 2 CYC : Comments,from Supervisors following CYC presentation on June 5, 2001 (from video of 615/2001 BOS meeting} Supervisor Glover: 'See future Board of Supervisors(BOS)in this group. ➢ Commend you for great work and look forward to meeting with you. Supervisor DeSautnier: Greatreport-articulate. ➢ Shocked that the"Canciamilla Coliseum"[Glover's conference room]was finally full[when the CYC met there in May[. ➢ :,Hear the request as to how to communicate better w/BOS. ➢ 'Suggestion:schedule meeting with full CYC or a subcommittee and the Family and Human Services Committee at a time convenient to commissioners(Supervisors Glover and "DeSaulnier are members)to discuss issues that would appropriately be referred to the Commission.The Board will ask Staff to set a meeting with the Family and Human Services committee and either the full Commission or a CYC Subcommittee. Supervisor Gerber: ➢ The CYC success is rubbing off on others in the community; i.e. newer city commission in South County. ➢ Very important topics and issues were addressed, Supervisor Gieta: Impressed with the range of activities. Supv. Gioia and Supv.DeSaulnier are on the Children and Family Policy Forum,which is charged with establishing greater after school programs.They are also looking at this issue the Internal Operations Committee. A Suggested that Commission representatives provide input,from their perspective, regarding the need for additional after school activities and what direction the Commission would want to see in after school activities. Supervisor Uilkema: ➢ Very impressed with the information and presentation of the report. ➢ Charged each Supervisor with appointing Commissioners to vacant positions in August. ➢ Concern about filling adult volunteer vacancies:suggested that the recruitment go to the Internal Operations Committee.Suggested that CYC develop recommendations about youth concerns and the process on how issues should be provided to the Commission by the Board of Supervisors.The Commission(or representatives,thereof)should then have a joint committee meeting with SOS or the Children and Family Policy Forum. 06/0512001 SOS_Fres_Notes,doc UQ Conunittee_10/05/2001.doc 3 CYC .Outline of CYC Goals for 2001-2002 The Countywide Youth Commission has identified and agreed upon the following goals for 2001-2002.The Commission chase these goals with the question in mind: "How do these goals and activities address the issues and concerns of youth in Contra Costa' County and how can the Commission and the Board of Supervisors work together to stay' informed of youth issues and concernsT' • Schedule regular meetings with the Board of Supervisors and/or their designated'officials. The purpose is to reestablish ongoing communication;between the Countywide. Youth Commission and the Board of Supervisors to develop a process by which youth related issues are shared both ways—from the Commission to the Board of Supervisors and vice versa. The Commission has already taken the initiative for Commissioners to begin meeting with the Supervisor or staff in the district the Commissioner resides. Develop networks and forums with other youth-related organizations in the County. This allows the Commission to broaden its scope and be aware of other youth organizations'in the County and their focus. It will allow the Commission to compare and contrast ideas and develop„a stronger countywide youth representation in youth-related issues. * Create a youth rights crook The youth'rights'book would be geared toward youth and its goal is to keep the youth of the County informed of their rights and aware of the laws that pertain to youth. The Commission felt this would be a valuable task'to accomplish because it,provides awareness of the laws that govern them and demonstrates an interest in being well informed of all aspects of the laws: • Continue to maintain the CYC website and reinstate publishing and distribution of the The Bridge newsletter. •;Create a document that identifies youth issues and links to helpful resources.' The objective would be to utilize the Children's Report Card and additional input generated from Other County citizens, especially youth, obtained through community forums and a youth survey,'as a basis to formulate a central document to be distributed throughout the County. This project would evaluate the data collected, enlist the appropriate County agencies to identify,programs and agencies that could address the needs,and provide this informational document to agencies and organizations`in need of resources to affect change.' 1/0 Cornmittee_10/05/2001.doc 4 CYC x ra M N O 1& $tit f�kCt 1d t"S Web site: http://www.ceyoutbveice.org Email:ccyautbvoice@a hotmail.com Report to the Board of Supervisors June 5, 2001 The Countywide Youth Commission (CYC) is an advisory group to the Board of Supervisors on youth-related issues. Established in 1994-1995 through the leadership of Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, the CYC is comprised of 25 young people between the ages of 12 and 18 who reside or attend school in Contra Costa County. Terre of office is two years. Supervisor DeSaulnier has continued to provide a high level of support for the CYC. Each Board member appointsthree Commissioners from his or her District and the " remaining 10 Commissioners are appointed to At-large seats with an additional At large Alternate position.Term of appointment is two years, with the District and At- Large ttarge seats coming up for reappointment in alternating years. Adult 1 Parent Volunteers (one from each District) also help support the CYC. Each Commissioner is expected to attend the monthly CYC meeting, which is held on the 0 Wednesday of each month from 6:30pm — 8:30pm. Meeting locations rotate among West, East, Central, and South County. in addition, each Commissioner must serve on at least two Subcommittees during his or her term and all Commissioners are required to serve on the Youth VO'T'E Subcommittee. Current 'Subcommittees include;' ➢ Policy and Bylaws ➢ Communications: CYC web page and The Bridge newsletter ➢ Outreach ➢ Events: including, but not limited to, Youth Hall of Farre and Youth VOTE During the 2000-2001 term, the Commissioners worked to educate themselves on policy and local government issues, such as the Children's Report Card, participated in the Youth Job Fair, and conducted Youth VOTE in October 2000. Commissioners also served as liaisons to the Library Commission, Children and Family Policy Forum' and the Workforce Investment'Board. The CYC, in partnership with the Board of Supervisors, sponsored the fourth annual Youth Hall of Fame awards in April 2001. In addition, the Commissioners' worked to prepare;and implement Youth VOTE 2000 across the county. Summary of malar activities of the CYC in 2000-2001 Youth VOTE The Youth VOTE project's purpose is to educate young people on the purpose of voting and to engage them in the civic process, helping them to become informed and responsible voters as adults. Youth VOTE coincided Inst October with the Presidential election and, for the first time, was conducted in Contra Costa County by just the Countywide Youth Commission. In the past, Youth VOTE was a regional project including youth commissions from four other Bay Area counties. Government and Leadership teachers and their students from seven high schools and one Saturday program volunteered to coordinate the event at their individual sites. The students discussed candidates and issues included in the Student Ballot Handbook. They set up voting sites and created a process for students to register and vote in the voting booths. Over 1,800 young people cast their ballots for the local, statewide, and national races'along with the state propositions and the issues chosen by youth. Results of the Youth VOTE election were provided to the participating schools, Board of Supervisors, and the media for publication in local newspapers. Commissioner' tasks in Youth VOTE included, student voter handbook, ballot, and teacher's guide design and production; writing arguments to issues and propositions; and requests for candidate statements and city proclamations to support Youth VOTE.... Also, Commissioners and staff'recruited schools to hold Youth VOTE, train the teachers and student liaisons at the schools, work with the county election board and the League'of Women Voters, oversee the vote tallying, and write and distribute the press releases of voting results. summit on Children's Report Card The Youth summit on the Children's Report Card gave Commissioners and other young people an opportunity to use the County Children's Report Card as a catalyst to think about, discuss and recommend ways to improve life for all youth in Contra Costa County. Attendees chose four of the five Report Card outcomes to analyze at the Summit. Possible solutions were discussed and recommendations presented to the entire summit body. recommendations will be summarized and provided to the Board of Education and the Board of Supervisors. Communications Awareness of the CYC, its purpose, current issues, and current activities is ;important to keeping Commissioners and other youth in all parts of the county informed. The Communications Subcommittee has updated the CYC website, www.ccyouthvoloo.org, and developed a plan to reinstate The Bridge newsletter. The Bridge includes articles written by Commissioners and students at various county schools that reflect the opinion of the students. Youth Mali of Fame Each year, the CYC recognizes the sometime aver-looked commitment and service of local youth to their peers, their schools and their communities. The honorees for the 2 2001 Youth- Hall of Fame represented the valuablecontributions made by young people as well as the adults who work with youth in Contra Costa County. A total of 56 nominations were received and five youth and one adult were honored in the categories of Adult Advocate, Artiste, Good Samaritan, School Leadership, Sports Leadership, and Valiant Volunteer. The Commissioners selected the honorees and the awards were presented as part, of the annual Cesar` Chavez Commemorative Celebration. The honorees' names are recorded on a perpetual'plaque at the Board of Supervisors' Chambers. Policy and Bylaws This term, the Commissioners expressed their concerns about statewide issues by reviewing and writing arguments for and against three propositions that were on the November 2000 General Election ballot and ' in the Youth VOTE student ballot handbook. Commissioners also held focus groups in their schools and chose the three most prevalent youth-related topics to debate and include in the Youth VOTE student ballot handbook. in addition, the Policy Subcommittee is working to strengthen the focus on youth issues by inviting speakers to speak on emerging issues at regularly scheduled CYC meetings' and by becoming involved in discussions such as the Summit on the Children's Report Card. The CYC bylaws were also reviewed and revised. Outreach Making connections With other youth organizations in Contra Costa County is essential to increasing understanding and awareness of issues affecting youth across the county. The CYC Outreach Subcommittee is developing a database of these organizations with the purpose of making contact, informing them of the CYC, and inviting thein to discuss ways to solve youth issues and participate in countywide programs focusing on youth issues and leadership. Outreach'also recognizes the need to better inform the Supervisors' of the CYC's activities. The Subcommittee is creating a packet that will be delivered to each Supervisor by a Youth Commissioner from that District and will include CYC meeting and issues information. It will also give the Commissioners a 'chance to 'create a connection with the Board of Supervisors and to invite their Supervisor to attend a CYC meeting. Liaisons Commissioners serge as liaisons to various groups and organizations to form partnerships with schools, community-based organizations, government, and business, which address the concerns of youth countywide. Commissioners are delegates to the Children and Families Policy Forum,' Library Commission, and the Workforce Investment Board. These liaison opportunities give the youth of Contra Costa County a voice and the power to change their communities for the better;as contributing citizens and representatives of County government. This past year, some of these boards have been working to'redevelop their goals and review their focus on youth; thus, youth participation was limited. Childrenand Families Policy Forum: Two Commissioners are members of the County's Children and Families;,Policy Forum. Library Commission: One Commissioner represents the CYC on the Library Commission. Workforce Investment Burd (MB): The 'Workforce Investment Board has been in transition the 'pas year and is developing a plan to make the Board more accommodating to youth. Two Commissioners were appointed lest fall to represent the CYC on this Board. Planning for 2001-2002 This year, the CYC has a large number of new Commissioners and, along with many returning Commissioners, will continue to gain strength and momentum for next year. A core committee is already working on the process for Youth MOTE 2002. The Events Subcommittee is leaking at revisiting;the Summit of the Children's Report Card and implementing Youth Hall of Farre for the fifth year. Text year, the C'YC's goal is to identify critical youth-related issues and create awareness and policy to support and resolve these issues. With many returning Commissioners in place to plan and execute events and to keep the commission's news current, the CYC will focus in-depth on youth issues and strategies to address these issues, Policy Subcommittee members: are developing plans to identify speakers ' and forums for youth-related issues as well as scheduling policy and leadership training. The CYC' respectfully requests that Board members fill upcoming vacancies by August 2001 so the CYC can begin the program year at fall strength. The expectation is that there will be nine or 10 Commissioners who are seeking reappointment, leaving possibly six open district seats. Eight of the 1€I At-Large seats will likely remain filled. Additionally, the CYC requests` the Board's assistance with the recruitment and appointment of Adult Volunteers. Only one Adult Volunteer position:is currently filled for next year. The CYC asks that the Board actively address this concern so that additional adults can be appointed to help mentor Commissioners and assist with CYC meetings and activities. Without Adult Volunteers, it can be more difficult for Commissioners, especially younger Commissioners, from all areas of the County to participate. One last, and equally important, request is that the Board continues to provide information of youth-related concerns to the CYC and assist the CYC in developing resolutions and public awareness to create a better community and county for youth, 4