MCNI Update

The MCNI is actively recruiting an ad hoc committee to help shape the YouthMapping effort for the Mid County area. We will work with Raul Ratcliffe, Program Officer at the Center for Youth Development and Policy Research in March and early April to define the scope of the work; recruit and train mappers and field supervisors in April; commence canvassing work in May; data analysis and community celebration and reporting in June.

If you are interested in helping, please contact:
Stephanie Jennings at 240-777-8114
Stephanie.Jennings At co.mo.md.us

Venga A Conocer A Sus Vecinos -- A BIG Success

The Community Mobilization and Community Policing Subcommittees, along with the Boards at Fairways, Grand Bel Manor and Grand Bel II, sponsored a community outreach event for Hispanic/Latino Families on Saturday, March 15 at the Fairways community room. 28 adults and young people gathered for informal dialogue on community safety and community needs in the area. Blanca Kling, Victim Services Coordinator for the Montgomery County Police Department, facilitated the discussion in Spanish. Families got an opportunity to meet others in the community, build relationships, and learn about the work of the MCNI.

Preparations are underway for a Community-Wide Fair at these same three communities on April 5, from 12-2. Topics will include policing, fire safety, domestic violence awareness, and park and recreation opportunities for youth, as well as fun activities for people of all ages. Please contact Stephanie Jennings if you would like to assist us with this event.

Funding Updates- Urgent Help Needed

Hot Spot funding has been included in the Governor's budget, as well as the proposed budgets of the House and Senate. Many thanks for your advocacy and support letters on behalf of the Hotspots programs in Wheaton and Hewitt Ave/Bel Pre. It is our hope that the passed state budget will include HotSpot funding.

Unfortunately, the federal money that provided more than 50% of the funding for Hotspots is no longer available. Therefore, only 40% of last year's funding will be available through a competitive grant process if Hotspots remains in the state budget.

The Collaboration Council and it's many partners are hard at work looking for ways to continue developing and furthering the Mid-County infrastructure that supports public safety and crime prevention along with child and family well-being. Part of this effort includes a grant request to the Governor's Office for Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) for Year II of the Youth Strategies Consolidated Grant Proposal (YSCG).

YSCG funding would be used to address the needs of children and youth who are at-risk or who are already involved with substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and/or dropping out of school. This funding would be targeted to communities in the Mid-County Neighborhood Initiative region as well as the Quebec Terrace/Carroll Ave area in Takoma Park./P>

Please take a minute to write a short letter of support for this important, critical funding opportunity. Information on the YSCG and the support letter request follow on the next two pages.

Contact Denise Ridgely, Collaboration Council staff at 240-777-4398 with any questions about the support letters. Timing is short -- letters are needed by MARCH 26th.

Thank you for your continued support of the children, youth and families in the Mid-County region!

MCNI Calendar

Come Alive

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

--Howard Thurman

MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S YOUTH STRATEGIES
FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED GRANT PROPOSAL

Year Two

The Collaboration Council has an opportunity to continue to receive funding from the Governor's Office for Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) to address the needs of children and youth who are at-risk or who are already involved with substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and/or dropping out of school. GOCCP has issued a Request for Proposals for Year II of the Youth Strategies Consolidated Grant (YSCG). YSCG brings together several Federal and State grant programs and asks that each LMB create a five-year plan with services that are integrated and effective. Special attention is to be given to the issue of overrepresentation of minority youth in juvenile justice, law enforcement, child welfare and education.

In the first cycle that began January 1, 2002, the Collaboration Council was successful in securing $1.375 million for Montgomery County which was used to fund a variety of services as seen in the attachment. Year II will begin on July 1, 2003, with our proposal for at least $1,057,000 due April 1, 2003.

The Collaboration Council convened a committee of GOCCP mandated partners to develop the Strategic Plan and Year Two proposal. The Committee has collected data regarding juvenile offenses, substance abuse and school drop-outs; reviewed many key reports at the local, state and national level; and received input from parents and service providers. As a result the Montgomery County YSCG Strategic Plan has two key components. First is the continuation of the Committee as the overseer and implementer of the Strategic Plan with the county-wide system work organized according to the following goals:

• Develop and implement research-based early intervention strategies that result in long-term reductions in out-of-home placements in the child welfare, juvenile justice, and special education systems;

• Analyze the continuum of services across public and private systems to identify gaps in service or policy barriers in order to provide the right level of service at the right time to every child and family;

• Promote effective information exchange and analysis for data-driven decision-making;

• Establish learning models that foster cultural competency among our youth and adults and child-serving systems;

• Promote the retention of a quality-culturally diverse workforce; and,

• Develop community-based collaborative projects that utilize effective practices and test new strategies.

Second is the focus of the grant's direct service dollars in two areas that are related to existing HotSpots where data indicate need and where the current collaborative HotSpots activity forms the infrastructure for the blending of public safety and crime prevention with child and family well-being efforts. Thus, the focus will be on the those areas of the International Corridor HotSpot, operated out of the City of Takoma Park and including the Quebec Terrace/Carroll Avenue area and the Wheaton Mid-County Neighborhood Initiative which includes the Central Business District and the Hewitt Avenue Bel Pre Corridor areas. While some planning continues, the service focus will be on:

• Home Visiting for Child Welfare Families with Children;

• After School Programs;

• Gang and Violence Prevention, Intervention and Prosecution;

• Case Management and Wraparound;

• Intensive In-Home Supervision;

• Family Information and Support; and,

• Evaluation of Programs and Capacity-building Regarding Cultural Competence.

Youth Strategies Consolidated Grant Committee Members:

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Includes:

• Maryland International Corridor Hotspot Initiative

• City of Takoma Park

• DHHS Child Welfare Services

• States Attorney Office

• DHHS Community Partnership

• Department of Juvenile Justice

• African American Liaison to Police Chief

• Commission on Children and Youth

• Montgomery County Public Schools

• County Council

• DHHS Juvenile Justice Services

• DHHS Substance Abuse Prevention

• MCPS Safe and Drug Free Schools

• Sixth Circuit Court

• Commission on Juvenile Justice

The mission of the YSCG Committee is to serve as an inclusive collaborative network to identify, recommend, support and monitor community and county-wide strategies and policies to lessen adolescent substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and disproportionate representation of minority youth in our child welfare, juvenile justice and special education system.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COLLABORATION COUNCIL FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

URGENT===IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

As you may know, the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families is developing its Year Two of the Youth Strategies Five Year Consolidated Grant (YSCG) proposal for submission to the Governor's Office for Crime Control and Prevention. The YSCG combined eight separate federal and state funding sources, making $15 million available for local, system-wide coordinated services along the continuum of need to address prevention and reduction of juvenile offenses and substance abuse. Strong emphasis is also being placed on the elimination of the overrepresentation of youth of color in juvenile justice, child welfare and special/alternative education systems. Attached is a summary of our proposal.

This Year II YSCG is part of a five-year initiative. Thereafter, continuation applications will be funded based upon the outcomes and performance demonstrated by the jurisdiction, and upon funding availability. Montgomery County is eligible to receive at least $1,057,000 for a 12-month period beginning in July 2003. The proposal is due April 1, 2003. Grantees will be notified in June 2003.

The Collaboration Council is seeking letters of support from individuals, business, civic and faith organizations, providers, and government and non-profit agencies. After reviewing the enclosed summary, we ask that you write a letter in support of the Collaboration Council's proposal, following the guidelines below:

• Please write the letter on your agency's letterhead, with the most senior manager possible signing. Personal letters from residents and youth are very welcome.

• Address the letter to Kathy Lally, Executive Director, Collaboration Council at the address below.

• Suggested letter contents:

	- Brief description of your agency or organization and 
	  your interest in the provision of prevention, 
	  early intervention and treatment services to
	  prevent and decrease juvenile offenses and/or substance abuse.

	- Your support of this plan and proposal in fulfilling local needs

The letter can be brief. Given our mutual concern about cuts in public resources both locally and at the state level, your support is important to our efforts to secure this funding.

We must have the letters of support no later than Wednesday, March 26th. Please fax or deliver your letter to the Collaboration Council at 240/777-4341. If you have any questions, please contact Denise Ridgely at 240-777-4398 or denise.ridgely@co.mo.md.us.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of our request, given this short notice.

Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families
620 E. Diamond Avenue, Suite H
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877
Fax: 240-777-4341