1998-02-26February 26th Violence Prevention Minutes
Attendance: Timothy Flaherty, Christine Carson, Thomas Scully, Judy
Crater, Kristen Harrington, Jo-Anne Fortunato, Nancy Pia, Karen Wilk, Jack
Meany, Mark Ray, Helene Casella, Joan Fairbank, Rayanne Cummings
Agenda Discussed:
Why do we have violence in Beverly?
-upbringing?
-Crowds the youth hang around with?
-Any mentoring growing up?
-drugs or alcohol? / substance abuse related to violent crimes is a high %
What are we already doing?
-YMCA McPherson Youth Center & Balch St. Teen Center
-YMCA Cops 'n Kids Program
-DARE Program
-Zero Tolerance
-Domestic Violence Officer
-Juvenile Diversion Program: includes counseling & community service
-communication is better between schools, probation & police
-Collaboration: identifies youth and tracks them
What can we do?
-Night Light: officers would check on the kids at night
-stress management for kids
-self esteem needs to be increased across the board
-need to improve system of where kids go when there are problems
-more After-School Programs, need some substance abuse focus
-need to be more active when it comes to tmancy - get out on the street and
check on the youth
-involve the community more
-we need to educate parents, teachers, etc. about truancy
-officers need to be more aware
Outcome?
"A Youth Charter"
Next Meeting: March 19, 1998 4:00pm