TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a presentation regarding the City of Long Beach Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan two-year update. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In June 2018, the Invest in Youth Report was presented before the City Council by youth leaders, highlighting the challenges faced by youth and their vision for youth in Long Beach to live their best lives. As a result of this effort, in 2019 the City Council authorized $200,000 in one-time funding to develop a plan that would serve as the guiding vision and a framework for responding to the needs of the City of Long Beach’s (City) youth and their families over a three-to-five-year period.
A core team comprised of representatives from the Health and Human Services Department (Health Department), Parks, Recreation and Marine staff and consultants discussed the framing for this effort. This team recognized the importance of including the voices and leadership of youth at the forefront of this work; and hence, the Youth Ambassador role was created. Youth Ambassadors were a diverse group of youth representatives between the ages of 16-24 from throughout the City and were actively engaged in the development of a plan. The Youth Ambassadors participated in several strategic planning trainings, facilitated community forums, co-designed the online and key informant survey instruments, and outreached to and engaged the community to ensure survey data was collected from throughout Long Beach.
As a result of these efforts, the Long Beach Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan (YSP) was presented to the City Council on February 9, 2021. The vision of the YSP is that all youth and adults between the ages of 8 to 24 are healthy and empowered with the necessary resources to develop into their true and authentic selves. The Plan highlights six visionary goals designed to ensure that all Long Beach youth can live safe and healthy lives:
1. Youth Development
2. Physical Health, Mental Health, and Emotional Wellness
3. Planning for the Future
4. Community Care
5. Housing
6. Transportation
Within these broader themes, there are 19 objectives and 71 proposed activities to guide our focus and prioritize investments in youth that address inequities and support youth as they develop into adults.
As a first action of the YSP, the City directed structural funding in the Health Department to launch the Office of Youth Development (OYD) in 2021 to implement the YSP through public and private partnerships. The OYD serves as an organized hub for the implementation of the Plan and other youth-driven efforts and is key in coordinating funding and continuing to refresh action plans as youth needs evolve.
The OYD created a Youth Advisory Council that consists of 11 youth between the ages of 16 to 26 who help influence the implementation of the YSP and the Youth Fund, ensuring that youth voices are uplifted throughout Long Beach. The youth chosen in July 2022, consist of one youth representative from each Council District with two at large youth representing communities that have experienced disproportionate amounts of violence, poverty and COVID-19 impacts. The Youth Advisory Council members have been divided into three Action Teams, each focusing on two goals of the Plan.
The goals of the Action Teams are to report on the following:
• The progress that has been made towards accomplishing the goals of the Plan
• What still needs to be accomplished and any challenges
• Make recommendations to develop action plans towards the accomplishment of the remaining goals
These findings will serve as the two-year update to the Youth and Emerging Adult Strategic Plan and a guide towards successfully implementing the goals of the Plan.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on February 17, 2023 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on February 24, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 14, 2023, to continue to provide these services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT
Since Fiscal Year 2019, a total of $3.34 million in one-time and structural funding has been allocated through the annual budget process to the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan and related efforts. Of this amount, $200,000 in one-time funding to develop the plan and $958,910 in structural funding to establish and staff the Office of Youth Development (OYD) to implement the Plan and support other youth-driven efforts. Funding allocated to these efforts also include $1.56 million from Measure US and $624,428 in Violence Prevention and Safe Cities funding through the Long Beach Recovery Act. In addition, the City has secured a grant award in the amount of $1,500,000 from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Staff will continue to identify and pursue additional funding opportunities required to fully implement the YSP. Further detailed cost 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 existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER