COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

DATE:

May 13, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 21, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson
Sheriff Don Horsley, CARON Coalition

SUBJECT:

North Fair Oaks Youth Master Plan

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution endorsing and supporting the CARON Youth Master Plan, which addresses the need to eradicate gangs and violence, and to provide a safe, healthy, and prosperous environment for youth in North Fair Oaks.

Background

In 1999 the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office received a grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation to launch the CARON Initiative to address the reduction and prevention of youth gang involvement and violence, as well as the abuse of alcohol and other drugs in North Fair Oaks. A CARON Steering Committee was formed made up of representatives of youth-serving institutions, law enforcement agencies, faith-based organizations, young persons and parents to take advantage of opportunities and to address the highest priority needs of youth living in North Fair Oaks.

As the project progressed, a gap in youth services was identified specifically for the age group of 11-18 years old teens. The CARON Steering Committee, Sheriff Don Horsley and Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson decided that in order to help close that service gap, a North Fair Oaks Youth Master Plan needed to be developed, in order to provide the direction of the Coalition for the next five years. In March of 2001, interested members of the community and organizations were invited to participate in the development of this new Youth Master Plan. At this time, CARON changed its name to become the CARON Coalition.

Discussion

A key finding of the CARON project was a pressing need for services for youth ages 11 - 18. Area middle schools and high schools are located outside of the North Fair Oaks neighborhood, and serve a much broader community base. Therefore, North Fair Oaks youth do not have a place in their own neighborhood where they can have a sense of belonging. Additionally, the majority of these youth come from Latino homes, providing a culturally rich neighborhood, but also creating cultural and, in some cases, language barriers which inhibit these young people from becoming involved in activities outside their neighborhood. The North Fair Oaks Youth Master Plan addresses these concerns and needs.

On February 6, 2002, the Coalition hosted a North Fair Oaks Youth Master Plan Initiative retreat, inviting key community members and organizations to review the draft and join the Coalition. Since the retreat, six sub-committees have been formed from neighborhood and community volunteers, including a Youth and Parent Involvement Subcommittee; Family Services and Activities Subcommittee; Information and Communications Subcommittee; Transportation Subcommittee; New and Existing Facilities Subcommittee; and the Resources and Funding Subcommittee. The subcommittees have been meeting regularly to review issues and to prepare proposals and solutions to County and City policymakers. The Coalition Steering Committee approved the Youth Master Plan on April 10, 2002, and it will provide the direction of the Coalition for the next five years.

Key Findings and Concepts of the Youth Master Plan

1. Continue to develop the CARON Coalition into a coordinating body in the North Fair Oaks Neighborhood to plan and advocate for continued growth of youth services to meet the immediate, as well as long-term, needs of youth.

2. Promote Collaboration among youth service providers and other interested institutions, organizations, and individuals.

3. Identify and connect with youth and family program services offered in the neighborhood, especially for age groups and genders where there are service gaps.

4. Address indirect program issues that affect the quality and quantity of service delivery.

5. Develop innovative methods for increasing resources that will benefit youth services.

6. Develop youth and parent commissions that will allow both groups to have a "voice" in revitalizing their North Fair Oaks neighborhood.

7. Provide adequate levels of transportation to meet the needs of youth.

8. Continue to work closely with RC2020 to implement and continuously update a comprehensive and inclusive master plan for youth living in the larger community of Redwood City and North Fair Oak

9. Based on proven need, plan for the development of a youth facility located in North Fair Oaks that will allow youth of all ages to participate in a variety of activities, including culturally specific activities.

Vision Alignment

The North Fair Oaks Youth Master Plan aligns with many of the Shared Vision 2010 goals and commitments, including Commitment nos. 1, 2, 6, 8, 20, 23 and 24.

Fiscal Impact

There is no direct fiscal impact from the Board's endorsement of the Youth Master Plan. By endorsing the Plan, the County would be agreeing to consider future recommendations made by the CARON Coalition regarding youth programs and services in North Fair Oaks. Those future recommendations which may involve a either a funding commitment from the County, or a re-allocation of existing resources, would need to be separately analyzed and considered in light of the County's financial situation, and the need to balance community services throughout all County unincorporated neighborhoods.