Gang Reduction Contracts for Programs Targeting At-Risk Youth
New, innovative and transparent review process recommends merit-based contracts
to prevention efforts in areas of the City that need them most

July 28, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Building on a new approach and an innovative strategy to reduce gang violence across the City, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made recommendations to the City Council today for new gang prevention contracts in six areas facing the highest levels of gang crime in Los Angeles.

The Mayors recommendations were issued following a rigorous application and review process developed by the Mayors Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) and emphasizing the need for greater transparency, accountability and oversight. Each of the organizations was evaluated based on the merit of their applications, history of success, proposals for new programs, and record in the community.

The City of Los Angeles is changing the way we do business when it comes to combating gang violence and investing in our youth, said the Reverend Jeff Carr, Director of the Mayors GRYD Office. For the first time in LA history, gang prevention funds will be allocated to communities that need them most and through a process that is open, transparent, data-driven and merit-based.

The safety of our neighborhoods is at stake, and our children and families deserve nothing less than our best efforts to reduce gang involvement and violence throughout the City.

The deliberative, meticulous and thorough review process represents a new direction for awarding contracts in the City of Los Angeles. Rather than splitting limited anti-gang funding across 15 Council Districts - as was the practice under LA Bridges I and II - the Mayor required all applicants to submit a data- and evidence-based proposal to demonstrate how they would best meet the specific needs of the targeted community.

Gang prevention services will commence in the six GRYD zones pending review and appeal by the City Council.

The application process, community needs assessments and gang prevention program elements are detailed below.

The Mayors GRYD Service Recommendations to the City Council are available at http://mayor.lacity.org under the featured items section.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

On April 15, 2008, Mayor Villaraigosa's office issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the implementation of gang prevention services in six designated GRYD zones. Organizations submitted applications to a panel of researchers, gang experts, law enforcement personnel, social service providers and community leaders in each area as part of their effort to receive $500,000 in funding from federal grants and the City's general fund. The targeted GRYD zones include:

A total of 44 applications were received by the designated deadline of May 15, 2008. In order to ensure a fair and open review process, the Mayors GRYD office evaluated each organization for minimum eligibility requirements and the review panels scored and ranked the written portions of the proposals. A GRYD Oversight Committee worked with all parties to ensure consistency of proposed services across each zone and reinforce the focus on merit, data and the groups records of achievement throughout the process.

The top two scoring applicants in each GRYD zone were invited to interview with one representative of the Oversight Committee and two members of the local community panel. Through this portion of the process, the organizations had the opportunity to provide supplemental information on their programs and highlight the unique and innovative elements of their proposals.

The Mayors office sent letters to all 12 agencies informing them of their final scores and preliminary funding recommendations. At that stage, all organizations - including those that did not make it to the interview process - were given the chance to submit an appeal and request an additional review of their application. Though some groups ratings rose as a result of the appeals, the Mayors original recommendations remained intact. The six prevention service providers chosen through these deliberations are:

The names and details of each organization will go to the City Council for its final review and approval. The Councils action is subject to the Mayors signature or veto.

This fall, the Mayors office will issue RFPs for prevention programs in the remaining six GRYD zones, intervention initiatives in all 12 areas and gang reduction efforts in areas outside the targeted regions.

GANG PREVENTION PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Gang prevention programs target youth between the ages of 10 and 15 residing in the GRYD zones. The focus of the services will be targeted street gang prevention - programs that discourage neighborhood youth from initial involvement in street gangs. Organizations will gear their services to young people who exhibit clear risk factors for gang membership and who are most vulnerable to joining gangs.

The primary goal of each program will be to:

In addition, these organizations will work to decrease gang-related victimization and criminal and violent behavior.

Service providers will work to reduce the prevalence of risk factors associated with gang involvement (see table below) and increase factors to ensure the youth do not resort to a life of gang violence. They will also discourage association, involvement and identification with street gangs and encourage participation in constructive activities.

A table in the attached release outlines the risk factors associated with gang involvement and violent behavior, as well as the program elements designed to address them.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS

Prior to the release of the RFP, independent contractors - including the Advancement Project, California State University-Los Angeles and Harder + Company - conducted needs assessments and resource mapping in the six designated GRYD zones to help identify the specific components of the gang problem, analyze their causes, and identify resources currently available. After reviewing relevant data and background information, and working with youth, parents, community leaders and school officials to gain their views on what works and what is necessary in their neighborhoods, these assessments concluded that:

The total combined population of these six GRYD zones is approximately 285,000 residents. Almost 40 percent of the total population in the GRYD Zones are youth under the age of 18. While 19 percent of LAs families live in poverty, nearly 30 percent of families in GRYD Zones live below the federal poverty line, with a median household income of approximately $30,000.

Roughly 31 percent of youth on probation in Los Angeles attend schools within the Citys GRYD Zones. 55 percent of LAUSD foster children attend elementary and middle schools within the GRYD Zones.

Funding for the needs assessments came through grants, private donations and a special fund from the Office of Councilmember Jose Huizar. The findings of these needs assessments were essential in identifying the gaps in services that would be reflected in a competitive application process to solicit gang prevention services.

# # #

CONTACT: Matt Szabo
(213) 978-0741

Jonathan Powell, Press Aide
jonathan.powell@ lacity.org

Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 N. Spring St., Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012

ph: (213)-978-0741