Stanislaus County to focus attention on causes of social ills
Stanislaus County officials want to focus more attention on the causes for homelessness, crime and other social ills that degrade quality of life.
On Tuesday morning, the Board of Supervisors could approve $110,000 for “Focus on Prevention 2015” to start work on four critical issues: homelessness, strengthening the family, early interventions for youth and reducing the number of repeat criminal offenders.
County leaders are taking a harder look at prevention in response to deteriorating social conditions across their jurisdiction. A staff report says that county departments have operated prevention programs for years without the desired results. With Focus on Prevention 2015, officials hope to get all sectors of the community involved in working on solutions.
Supervisor Terry Withrow said every year hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on law enforcement and social programs in Stanislaus County, but “we are spending money to treat the symptoms and it does not get at the cause of the problem.” The county budgeted $1 million for prevention activities for the fiscal year that began July 1.
In late September, Withrow asked staff for an update on the plan for prevention activities.
The county would hold community meetings, next year and in 2016, devoted to homelessness, families, youth and crime. Representatives from different sectors of the community will be encouraged to attend, including education, nonprofit groups, churches, business, the arts, sports, neighborhood groups and the cities.
The half-day events will feature guest speakers and group interaction to identify root causes and consider new strategies for prevention. Lunch will be provided.
Officials hope a game plan will emerge for addressing the critical issues. Withrow said he believes many social problems have resulted from the breakdown of the family and solutions should be directed at interventions for children.
In the four to six months after each gathering, the county will consider awarding mini-grants to groups that develop prevention efforts. To be eligible for support, the “stakeholder groups” will need to have involvement from the different sectors of the community. Groups that receive grant funding will be expected to report their results.
Homero Mejia, director of Congregations Building Community, said these efforts are more effective when more people are engaged. “Whenever our group does something, we try to get people from the neighborhood to be part of it,” Mejia said. “It’s good to get the stakeholders in the room and include a wide range of people at the table.”
If the board gives approval Tuesday, the county will spend $60,000 of the $110,000 on a community liaison, operating support and a Prevention 2015 website. About $50,000 would pay for a meeting next spring on the homeless catering to more than 300 participants.
The board would need to authorize funding for additional meetings and prevention grants in the 2015-16 budget year.
Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or (209) 578-2321.
On the agenda
The Board of Supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 Tenth St. in Modesto. Other items on the agenda include:
▪ Report from the Children and Families Commission on activities in the past year.
▪ Presentation on the Transportation Development Act and unmet transit needs.
▪ Consider employee health insurance rates for 2015 and recommendations related to the Affordable Care Act.
This story was originally published October 27, 2014 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County to focus attention on causes of social ills."