TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, and any necessary subsequent amendments, with the County of Los Angeles Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), permitting the Health and Human Services Department to communicate, collaborate and effectively support community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts with OVP through December 31, 2025. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Los Angeles County Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), housed within the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, works to strengthen coordination, capacity, and partnerships to address the root causes of violence, and to advance policies and practices that are grounded in race equity, to prevent all forms of violence and to promote healing across all communities in Los Angeles County (County). The OVP monitors the trends and circumstances of violent deaths affecting the County to inform decision makers and program planners about ways to prevent and intervene on violence in the community, at home and in the workplace.
The OVP’s Trauma Prevention Initiative (TPI), invests in community-driven public safety strategies in communities with the highest rates of violence (unincorporated communities and cities), including Street Outreach and Community Violence Intervention, Hospital Violence Intervention Programs, capacity building, and Community Action for Peace stakeholder networks, consisting of nine communities across the County. The TPI strives to promote the healing and well-being of communities impacted by violence and trauma, through meaningful community engagement to address the unique needs of communities and promote local leadership and positive community identity, investing in peer approaches and supporting self-care, healing, and career pathways and capacity building for community based organizations, and advancing systems change by aligning county services and initiatives and developing innovative practices.
The Health and Human Services Department’s (Health Department) Collective Impact Bureau leads a comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based strategy to reduce gun and gang-related crime/violence and advance peace initiative within communities that contain the highest concentrations of violence. These programs strive to improve the overall health and well-being of youth, young adults, families, and communities and provide positive alternatives to promote pro-social decisions and community social connectedness, while also investing in the overall health and well-being of staff and their capacity to deliver effective services. The Health Department works to improve the quality of life in high impacted neighborhoods by addressing gun violence, increasing access to services for promising youth, strengthening resident and organizational leadership and resiliency factors, and advancing peace.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will permit the Health Department and the OVP to communicate and collaborate on community violence and its causes. The root causes are complex and may include increased economic hardship, stress, anxiety, and disconnection attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused disproportionate impacts on historically marginalized communities. The MOU will give these entities the ability to develop a joint work plan for the coordination of regional efforts for violence prevention, intervention and healing; collaborate on the development of a protocol for joint response for incidents/community outreach that impact both Long Beach and County; share resources for regional training opportunities to strengthen and increase capacity for staff and agencies contracted to perform intervention services; and develop a plan for joint training and professional standards. Increased communication and collaboration between the two entities is essential to providing effective support of community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts.
City Council approval is requested for the Health Department to enter into a MOU with the OVP, permitting communication and collaboration in support of community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on February 1, 2023 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on February 22, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 14, 2023, to ensure the agreement is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Memorandum of Understanding will permit the Health Department and the OVP to communicate and collaborate on community-based violence prevention and intervention efforts. There is no fiscal impact associated with this MOU. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER