TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents to receive and expend grant funding from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), for the OJJDP FY 2015 Youth Violence Prevention Enhancement Project and the FY 2015 State and Community Development Award; and
Increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Development Services Department (DV) by $529,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In May 2014, City Council approved the adoption of the Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan (Safe Long Beach). At the direction of President Obama, the Departments of Justice and Education launched the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum) to begin a national conversation concerning youth and gang violence and prevention, raise awareness, and elevate the issue to national significance. In November 2014, the City Council formally accepted the Forum grant of $20,000 and its designation. To further existing Forum efforts, OJJDP is supporting localities presently implementing the Forum with funding to enhance efforts to adopt practices and implement models to achieve violence prevention objectives. To this end, OJJDP has awarded the City of Long Beach with two new grants: the FY 2015 Youth Violence Prevention Enhancement Project in the amount of $250,000 and the FY 2015 State and Community Development Award in the amount of $279,000.
The Youth Violence Prevention Enhancement Project encourages current initiatives to enhance, integrate, and align youth violence prevention strategies and engage key partners in collective action. Specifically, this funding will enhance the Safe Families strategy by providing technical assistance and evidence-based, trauma-informed training to professionals working with children and families exposed to violence, as well as providing outreach to community residents regarding the impacts of trauma exposure.
The State and Community Development Award allows the City to begin expanding and enhancing the Safe Schools strategy under Safe Long Beach. This proposed enhancement will engage the Long Beach Unified School District, City Prosecutor, residents, businesses, and the faith community in a strategic process to improve attendance and reduce truancy and subsequent delinquent behavior. As part of this partnership, Long Beach Unified School District will receive a portion of the State and Community Development grant funds in the amount of $100,000.
Recipients who implement the Youth Violence Prevention Enhancement Project help strengthen a national movement and learning community of cities working to stem youth violence and improve the wellbeing of children and youth. Similarly, the State and Community Development Award will create safer communities and schools through a strategic truancy prevention and intervention plan, and reduces truancy through organizational and systems improvements. These plans will be customized to high-truancy schools in Long Beach.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard Anthony on October 8, 2015, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on October 16, 2015.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on November 3, 2015, to allow timely implementation of the program activities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The two grant awards totaling $529,000 is not currently budgeted. Therefore, an appropriation increase in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Development Services Department (DV) is requested. The grant award for the Youth Violence Prevention Enhancement Project will cover the salary of one full-time employee for one year. This action will not impact local jobs.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER