TITLE
Recommendation to receive a report and confirm the proposed citywide Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
As part of the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY 19) Adopted Budget, the Long Beach City Council allocated $200,000 for the development of a Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults (YSP) - a five-year blueprint focused on the development of young people ages 10 to 24, residing in Long Beach. The YSP is housed within the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department and developed jointly with the Health and Human Services Department. Funds were used to contract services for community engagement, strategic plan
development and provide stipends to 18 Youth Ambassadors, representing all Council districts. The Youth Ambassadors developed all strategic plan data collection instruments alongside the strategic plan consultant, facilitated five community forums, and assisted with data analysis. The Youth Ambassadors also co-designed and participated in three My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) townhalls that explored the intersection of COVID-19 and the country’s social uprising and racial reckoning, given the YSP was developed during a critical moment in our nation’s history.
The data collection period for the YSP occurred from January through July 2020. During this time period, the Youth Ambassadors along with city staff facilitated five community forums engaging over 200 community residents, conducted key informant interviews with 35 youth-serving organizational leaders and with all councilmembers and/or their staff, and obtained survey responses from 757 Long Beach residents. Additionally, staff facilitated three MBK townhalls and two Youth Ambassador focus groups that explored the intersection of COVID-19, social uprising, and youth development in Long Beach. Project consultants and staff also reviewed secondary data and explored best practices for youth development frameworks leading to the selection of the Positive Youth Development framework for this plan.
The Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults identified five key goals:
GOAL 1: Youth and young adults have a robust, sustainable and coordinated response system within the city of Long Beach.
GOAL 2: Youth and young adults have mental health and wellness services.
GOAL 3: Youth and young adults have career pathways that ensure economic stability and mobility.
GOAL 4: Youth and young adults have inclusive spaces that foster a caring environment in which to grow and develop.
GOAL 5: Youth and young adults have safe, affordable and accessible housing options.
GOAL 6: Youth and young adults have safe, affordable and accessible transportation options.
The YSP provides a blueprint for the City’s collaborative efforts. It outlines key steps in the development of an Office of Youth Development, a key office that will be responsible for the implementation of the plan. The plan will be used to guide the collaborative work of City departments and other government and private sector partnerships. City Council allocated funding in FY 21 to launch the Office of Youth Development by providing funds to hire a full-time Project Manager and Project
Coordinator. Additional funding will need to be identified for the YSP to be fully implemented.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on December 21, 2020 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on December 29, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost to develop the YSP was funded with $200,000 in one-time resources allocated as part of the FY 19 Budget for this purpose. The YSP will serve as a blueprint for the City's collaborative efforts focused on the development of young people. As part of the FY 21 Budget, City Council allocated $1,500,000 in structural funding to support various efforts outlined in the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative. Of this amount, $332,044 will be used to establish the Office of Youth Development, which will be responsible for the implementation of the YSP. The funding will support two positions for the Office of Youth Development, including a Project Manager and Project Coordinator. Any additional funding required to fully implement the YSP has not yet been identified and further detailed estimates will be determined as resources are identified. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with the existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER