HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY TEENS (2)City Manager Appr=
Item to be presented
Adele Macpherson
DATE: June 24, 1997
SUBJECT: NEEDS ASSESSMENT/STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY TEENS
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation and Community Services
At the September 3, 1996, City Council meeting, the City Council requested that staff research
a number of available programs for Homeless Youth. This research included eight local service
providers, the high school counselors, and an additional twelve private, not-for-profit, county
and federally funded programs. As a part of this research, staff became aware that Santa
Clarita does not have a large homeless runaway problem, as other areas experience. In order
to prevent escalation of this issue, our research has shown that we need to clearly identify what
portion of our youth population is at risk of becoming homeless or runaway. A needs assessment
to determine what services and resources are necessary to properly and adequately assist the
target population would provide us with the foundation needed. A pilot project resulting from
the initial study would attempt to fill in the gaps with additional private and public sources to
establish a network of service providers and youth advocates.
Staff identified My Friend's Place, a not-for-profit resource center which has been providing
services since 1988 serving the homeless and runaway youth in Hollywood. Under the
stewardship of Executive Director, Mr. Steve LePore, this organization is qualified and
knowledgeable to examine the prospects for developing a strategy to address the youth in our
community who are at risk of becoming homeless or runaways. With the current growth rate,
we have a vested interest in insuring the well-being of our adolescent population. Currently
15.5% of the total population is between the ages of 14 and 24 years of age. Because of our
proximity to Los Angeles, there is an increasing chance that the escalation rates in juvenile
crime, drug use and educational decline currently observed in Los Angeles will have an influence
on adolescents in Santa Clarita. This program proposal is aligned with the City's proactive,
preventive stance for our youth.
Staff proposes that the City contract with Mr. LePore to conduct a needs assessment/strategy
development for an At -risk Youth Program. This would consist of a six-month needs assessment
plan which would be Phase I of a three phase proposal to implement an At -risk Youth Program
in the Santa Clarita Valley. The project objective would be: _
APPjOOYED� Adenda ItAIR
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to identify the target population;
conduct a needs assessment of this population to evaluate existing resources and the
support network currently available to the target population;
to propose a detail strategy for serving the target population to design a pilot project to
implement this strategy over two years, and;
propose a potential fund raising(development strategy.
The total cost of the needs assessment would be $35,520.00 of which the City would pay
$25,000.00.
Item City of Santa Cla-r_ita
My Friend's Place
Evaluator Salary $25,000
MFP Executive Director
$7,020
Consulting Fee
Administrative
$1,000
Travel, Phone, Other
$2,500
Office Space and Supplies $0
$0
Total . $25,000
$10,520
Funds for this project are budget and available in account 7100-8001.
It is recommended that the City Council approve a contract with Mr. LePore at a cost not to
exceed $25,000, and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all necessary
documents.
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m=dAhomeless.697