Re:  Presentation on Montgomery County Gang Prevention Initiatives
       Guest:  Luis Cardona, Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator

Luis Cardona began his presentation by explaining to Commission members that he is new in the position of Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator.  He started working for the County in 1997 at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School and then Einstein, working with youth involved in the criminal justice system.  For the past twelve years he has worked in prevention and intervention.  He is also an adjunct professor at George Washington University.

Several years ago, he explained, the county executives of Prince Georges and Montgomery County recognized that they needed a regional approach to gang prevention.  Gang activity was not anchored in just one part of the community.  Even today, individuals involved in this type of criminal activity are very nomadic.  They may come into a community simply because a friend or relative is living there.

The Gang Task Force grew out of the collaboration between county executives.  It met for two years, breaking into subgroups.  Luis’ primary duty throughout the process has been to support the Steering Committee, which is made up of almost every county department and includes community representation as well.  His job now is to make certain that the recommendations from the Gang Task Force Report are implemented.  Recently, as a result of a Task Force recommendation, the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center was opened at 7676 New Hampshire Avenue, Suite 411.  Luis explained that the location of the Center reflects the fact that most gang activity is down county in the Takoma Park, Silver Spring area.  Many service providers are located at the Center including those who work with gang-involved youth as well as those working with youth at risk of joining gangs.  The programs involved are truly a partnership.  For example, one of the service providers, Identity, Inc., is primarily a Latino organization.  Another, Pride, Inc., is mostly African American.

Luis believes that most of what communities know about gangs has been learned from law enforcement.  Montgomery County has done a good job with its suppression efforts.  When they started, there were approximately 30 gang members in the county correctional facility.  There are now over 100 gang members.  Luis thinks that prevention for younger children is becoming an important issue.  Something also needs to be done about those individuals who recruit gang members.

Luis himself is a former gang member. In his opinion people are motivated to join gangs by the same things found in family life, e.g., acceptance, caring, love, respect, shelter, etc.  There has been a perception that gangs are a Latino-only issue.  They are not.  He has seen affluent white youth and many others from different communities in gangs.  When the community does not create a positive support system for youth, these issues can result.  Luis describes any gang as a random pool of ten individuals involved in criminal activity.  Within that group there is usually one person who needs to be locked up.  There is no magic wand to make the problem disappear.  It takes creating parallel support systems.

Other issues the Gang Task Force is addressing include:

• A health/wellness center in one of the county schools.   There is a model at Northwestern High School in Prince Georges County.  Services include health care, mental health care, and case management.
• A gang unit which will be funded through the Maryland Delegation; and
• A street outreach network consisting of three individuals who would provide outreach to high-risk areas.  Their focus would be mid and up county because the Youth Opportunity Center is located down county.
• There is also a move to get $2 million for after school programming in Montgomery County.  This initiative already has $200,000 for this year and next.  The Collaboration Council is pushing the County Council to allot additional funds.
• A Youth Leadership Council has been established for current or former gang members to teach them how to use resources within the community.

Ann Reiss asked if Prince George’s County also has a coordinator.  Luis responded that there is a coordinator whose name is Mike Butler.  They are working on the Youth Opportunity Center together.  He is working alone on the other initiatives mentioned above.  Michelle Beadle asked about recidivism.  Luis responded that the fact that youth come to the Center or get involved with the Youth Leadership Council is usually an indication that they want out.  He recently did a workshop using gang members who discussed how they became involved in the Center.  They talked about the sense of worth that results from doing something positive.  Always before they have received attention for doing something negative.  Agnes Saenz asked Luis if it was his impression that more people are joining gangs.  Luis responded that it seems to him that the number of older people who want to get out has increased; also, that younger and younger children are being recruited.  Ann asked if it is possible to get out of a gang once you are a member.  Luis said that his nephew was in MS-13 and is now out.  Luis thinks it depends on the level of involvement.  Currently, the County is working on a process where individuals can be safely relocated.

Re:  Update/Feedback to Senior Services Task Force
       Guest, Jim Coyle, Task Force Chair

Jim explained that the Senior Services Task Force, comprised of nineteen members, has been meeting since January looking at what is being done today in senior services and what will be needed in the future.  Demographics show an increased demand for services based on the “Baby Boomers” impending retirement and an “in migration” of seniors coming to Rockville to be near family.

Currently, the Senior Center provides general information, emergency assistance, health screenings, outreach, medical and legal information to all seniors.  Additional fee-based services include transportation, socialization, lifetime learning and wellness classes.  The Task Force projects that Rockville will have a 100% increase in the number of senior residents by 2020.  There is an obvious concern as to the increased cost of providing services to twice as many seniors.

The Senior Services Task Force is considering the following issues affecting seniors in Rockville:

• Reducing the eligibility age at the Senior Center from 60 to 55 years;
• Convincing the Mayor and Council to adopt a “senior-friendly” approach to services.  Currently the Senior Center spends $100 per senior per year.  The Task Force wants to ask the Mayor and Council to keep the amount at that level and increase it to reflect the number of seniors in the community.  Jim added that only 20% of seniors living in Rockville are receiving services from the Senior Center.
• Another important issue for seniors is transportation.  The City now provides door-to-door transportation to the Senior Center.  The Task Force will recommend that this be increased.
• 75% of the Senior Center budget comes from taxpayer dollars.  The Task Force will ask for more staff to pursue grants and other funds.  One idea is to find ways to benefit from the increased corporate interest in seniors, which exists today.
• Better marketing of the Senior Center:  there are still many people in Rockville who have never heard of the Senior Center.
• Taking programs for seniors out into the community, e.g., neighborhood-based assistance with things as small as changing light bulbs.  The City must find ways to help seniors stay in place.

To assist the task force in considering needs, members have developed and distributed a survey.  Their goal is to have this process wrapped up within the next two weeks so Jim asked Commission members to return the survey as soon as possible.

Re: Approve April 11, 2006 Meeting Minutes

David L'Heureux moved that the minutes be approved as recorded. Ann Reiss seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Re: Report on Mayor/Council Budget Hearing

Tim said he did testify as planned.  A copy of his testimony was mailed to members.  He has heard that the City Manager is exploring ways to give some relief to employees being laid off.  A meeting is planned for later this week.  He has not heard regarding other suggestions made by the Human Services Advisory Commission.

Tim said that he and Deborah Hopson met first with the City Manager.  He is concerned that the City doesn’t already have plans in place for expanding programs.  This seems to be put on hold until the needs assessment is completed.

Deborah said that she was disappointed in the meeting with the City Manager.  While he and the Assistant City Manager were open to meeting and discussing the issues, Deborah doesn’t understand how services will be expanded.  Deborah thinks the “proof will be in the pudding.”

Agnes Saenz said she was disappointed with the third point in Tim’s testimony.  She thought that saying the Commission “supports” the reorganization was too positive a statement.  Tim responded by saying that the reorganization at this point seemed to be a “done deal”.  Furthermore, in her testimony, Agnes had made it clear that she and Community Ministries of Rockville do not support the reorganization.

Mary Lou Jacobs said that, speaking as the new Program Manager, while the reorganization is difficult for all the staff, she hoped that Commission members would adopt a wait and see attitude about the increase in services.  Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks, is very committed to waiting until staff is on board.  She does not want the Commission to feel discouraged.  Members will have an active role to play in future planning.  Tim responded that, as a Commission, they would be examining new programs and the numbers being served.

Re: Update on Community Services Reorganization

Mary Lou reported that the deadline for applications for the new positions is this Friday, May 12th.  Agnes has been asked to serve on one of the interview panels.  The City hopes to complete the interview process by June 1st.   All of the positions have been advertised internally.  The positions are for Program Analyst, Referral Coordinator and Program Coordinator.

Re:  Plan Agenda for June 13 Meeting

It was agreed that, in the interest of time, reports from the three subcommittees (Affordable Housing, Gang Prevention, and Residents with Disabilities) should be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

Re:  Updates from Chair

• Tim recognized the two Rockville residents, Sarah Duffy and Karen Lechter, who were present at the meeting.  
• Regarding the Caregiver vacancy on the Commission, Agnes reported that a poll had been taken of the Caregiver representatives.  The 20 responses received were all in favor of reappointing Michelle Beadle to represent them.  She had also spoken with Paul Mutyambizi who said he would not be able to continue as a member of the Commission.  He is involved with too many projects.  Thus, there is now an additional Commission vacancy for a consumer representative.  Mary Lou suggested that the Caregivers see if there is anyone with whom they are working who might be interested.

Re:  Plan Agenda for June 13 Meeting

• Continue the conversation concerning gang prevention with members of the Gang Prevention Subcommittee 
• The Housing Subcommittee will provide an update on their progress
• Update on the reorganization of community services
• Mary Lou offered to follow up with Luis Cardona to see where outreach workers would be assigned with the idea of advocating for Rockville

Re: Adjourn

Ann moved that the meeting be adjourned.  David seconded the motion.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. to Executive Session pursuant to Section 10-508 (a) (1) (ii) of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss a personnel matter that affects one or more individuals. The next meeting of the Human Services Advisory Commission will held Tuesday, June 13, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. in the Glenview Mansion Dining Room.