Contents
·
Ideas
to mobilize the community
·
JJC
Councils and Boards take the lead
·
Develop a state-wide work group
The following are ideas that could be used to mobilizing the
community and heightening awareness about the Juvenile Justice Boards and
Councils:
- Advertise in free
publications (I assume that most newspapers offer this service). Also, I've noticed that when prominent
figures come to a meeting, attendance goes up. (City Managers, state
legislators, DJJ executives).
- Use the Board's Faith and Community Committee, Faith Based and
Community Based Organizations, local media and public awareness through
community schools and activities. The strongest way to create
community mobilization is through education of the issues
- Perhaps we can put together a series of community meetings in the
known zip code areas highlighting the work of the board and getting input
from those communities as to what they feel they need. This could be done
at the churches and other community organizations
- We could do a cable tap TV show, sponsored by the JJB to
highlight our efforts
- Perhaps we could put together a monthly newsletter that would
be distributed to the partners
and the community highlighting what we do, etc.
- Outreach by the Prevention Policy Committee to the housing
authority (one of our partners) to recommend staff and/or residents
interested in JJ issues
- We also have televised board meetings; this provides information
about what we are doing, recruits interested members and reaches a larger
segment of the community
- A recommendation
would be to initiate a statewide community awareness campaign that would
highlight a “best practice” from one circuit board/county council to be
submitted to local newspapers each month. Each JJCRISP provider (in
cooperation with the Prevention Specialist) would submit information to
the Dept. regarding newsworthy board/council activities. (Examples could
include workshops, county /circuit planning sessions, faith network
partnerships, site visits by Secretary Schembri that make mention of the
local county council or circuit board chair, etc). Each news release would provide an
opportunity to mention the local council meetings-time, date, &
location and purpose for county council.
- A human-interest approach
would be the main goal for all information pertaining to board/council
activities. Perhaps highlighting a particular board/council member whose
involvement on the local board/council has been noteworthy. Profiles would
be specifically presented in a venue that would address community
diversity, etc. The council/board could make recommendations of whom/what
it would like to spotlight.
- Another
recommendation within the scope of developing a community awareness
campaign would be to incorporate Public Service Announcements that would
be available to broadcast and television media and promote the concept of
“stop juvenile crime in your community-contact your local JJ council to
find out how you can be part of the solution.” (this is just a thought—am
sure we could come up with a much better slogan!) Each county council/circuit board could
become involved in developing an outreach message that would increase
community awareness and stimulate involvement. It is possible that the
state or a local chapter of Florida Public Relations, the Ad Federation,
or PRSA might assist the department in developing a public service
campaign.
- The point here is
that community awareness stems from creating opportunities to
highlight and promote activities; people and stories that compel others to
want to be more involved with or informed about the entity that is being
highlighted—in this case the Juvenile Justice Boards and County Councils-
Partners in Preventing Juvenile Crime.
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JJ Councils/Boards
Taking the Lead in Facilitating the Dept. Efforts to Convey the Latest
Information on “What Works.” or Comparable Data & Research:
A few years ago,
when the department was first looking at mapping its high-risk zip code areas,
Data & Research provided (upon request and their ability to be available) a
wonderful PowerPoint presentation to circuits that outlined the high-risk zip
codes, as well as up-to-date information on data and research that pertained to
juvenile crime statewide as well as to the respective circuit hosting the
presentation.
- Our Circuit hosted
one of these workshops, actively promoted it, and experienced an excellent
turnout because the information provided was cutting edge and pertinent to
providers, community & faith partners, and the general public
alike. The key, from my
perspective, was that the Dept. via the Circuit Board was providing
information to the community that was not easily (at that time not
at all) available from other sources.
- Although I realize that
the statewide “What Works” committee is still working on establishing a
final product, I would recommend that at the time when the information (or
something of comparable measure where the information is cutting edge and
DJJ is a primary source for its development) becomes available that the
dept. actively engage the local county councils and boards in providing
the instrument to assist the department in communicating the message
locally. Recognizing that travel
budgets are limited, hopefully technology could be incorporated to its
full advantage in making these presentations available with oversight
provided by Data & Research/Circuit Managers/JPO Chief Officers as
applicable.
Again, the key
is that the Councils/Boards assist the Dept. as conveyors of information that
is of value to the community as a whole.
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Develop a Statewide
Work Group of Board/Council Members-Getting the Message Out to the Public:
OK, so let’s
think about opportunities to actively engage board/council members in
developing an outreach message/ action plan! A suggestion might be to select
the top two or three ideas submitted by the JJCRISP staff and ask for
volunteers from the circuit boards/councils to be on a statewide work committee
and put a plan together.
I really believe
that there is an increased energy and commitment that I perceive locally (ok,
not all the councils!). Many board and council members want to be
asked for their input and suggestions (above and beyond the planning and annual
report requirements)—and want to be part of putting something together that
will stimulate interest and community action. Realizing that staff is truly
“maxxed out” these days, why not develop more opportunities for the “best &
brightest” of our councils/boards to inter-act and share their ideas. (and yes,
I am recommending that there be specific guidelines for this group and
oversight from the dept!)
- The suggestions I
have for increasing awareness of the Boards/Councils is first to attend
other community meetings (youth oriented such as substance abuse
prevention or teen pregnancy prevention or mental health) on behalf of
Juvenile Justice. As I have done this, folks are sooo appreciative that
DJJ is showing interest in other areas. And realistically if the
Boards/Councils are about promoting prevention, practically any community
meeting one might attend will have some element of prevention effort. At
these meetings information, advice and suggestions can be given and then
people are more inclined to participate in the JJ Board/Councils.
Secondly, to increase minority representation I think we should go into
the communities where there is substantial effort on behalf of minorities
and ask the leaders in those efforts to participate on the JJ Board/Council.
- I believe attendance
can be boosted in the minority community, by JJCRISP attending minority
community functions.
- Find out where the
"gatekeepers" are and that will open many doors.
- Do research on
minority businesses that are affected by juvenile crime and invite them to
the meeting.
- Compile a list of at
least 5 minority run organizations/businesses, meet with the
Directors, inform them on the role of the Board and Councils and how their
voices can be heard in Tallahassee by attending.
- Inquire about doing a
brief presentation on the roles and functions of the JJ Boards and
Councils.
- Call the Radio
Stations/ News Papers that have talk or community segments and have
the meetings announced. Some radio stations will allow you to speak and
share information with the listeners yourself.
- Ensure the notices
are posted in community centers or like places.
- In addition to the
idea that I provided on the conference call (conduct
community
outreach forums), I offer the following ideas to mobilize the
community &
heighten awareness of Boards & Councils:
- Schools - request that
the school administrators assist the Boards/Councils with distributing
informational brochures to parents, youth and teachers. School newsletters could include a brief
narrative about the Boards/Councils, including meeting
dates/times/locations.
- Courthouse -
distribute informational brochures to parents/guardians and youth who
appear in court.
- JPO's - request that
JPO's distribute informational brochures to all of their contacts.
In addition to
tapping into those persons already impacted by the system. These
parents/guardians/youth exposed to the juvenile justice system will often have
valuable input regarding local community needs and potential changes to best
address those needs. An extra idea for Councils/Boards with a reasonably active
membership:
- Utilize current
membership to 'spread the word' to their community (colleagues,
neighborhood, church, family, friends) and request that each current Council/Board member
find one person who would like to become an active member.
- Distribute agency/organization brochures or
posters or other appropriate messages.
Target your distribution to the types of groups you are hoping to
recruit. Consider:
- Church bulletin
boards
- Inserts in church bulletins
- Inserts with employee
paychecks
- Public library
bulletin boards
- Youth centers,
schools
- College campuses
- Business employee
lounges
- Assessment centers –
get parents of delinquent youth involved
- Offer to write an article for a newsletter. Many organizations are looking for
ideas. Include information about
how people can become involved in your board/councils. Possible groups might include:
- Chamber of Commerce
- League of Women
Voters
- Building Industry
Association
- Ministerial Alliance
- Use public service announcements on television or
radio, or newspaper advertisements (usually there is a place for a listing
of community meetings and events in newspapers that does not include a
cost).
§
Our County Council Chair writes a short column
for the local newspaper prior to each
council meeting.
§
Write a letter to the editor of the local paper.
§
Speak to community groups – many organizations
are looking for speakers. Ask to be a
speaker on a juvenile justice topic and at the same time as the presentation ask
for board/council participants. Or
attend meetings and informally network to make contacts.
- Watch for national news attention on related
issues and piggyback on that. For
example, if your area is focusing on a certain issue and there is national
attention on that issue, send information to local news outlets on the
local incidence, what the board/council is doing about it, and what people
can do to get involved.
- Besides Juvenile Justice Week, there are a lot of
other annual designated weeks/months.
Piggyback on events related to juvenile justice – Victims’ Rights
Awareness Week, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Alcohol Awareness Month,
Mental Health Awareness Month, etc.
(There are a few health awareness related events listed at http://www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/nho.asp#m1
that might be considered.) Tie juvenile justice into the issue. Partner
with other groups focusing on the issue.
- Hold events and
publicize.
- Write proclamations
and ask local municipalities or counties to sign the proclamation about
the event.
- Make personal phone calls to invite targeted
people. If possible, have someone
who knows the person you want to recruit to make the call.
- Set up a personal meeting to do the
recruitment. Take someone else with
you that knows the person and/or someone of influence. Tell the person specifically why you
need them for your group.
- Ask someone you want to recruit to be a speaker
at one of your meetings. When they
come to speak, discuss your mutual missions and request that they continue
to participate.
- Hold meetings before or after and in the same
place as a group whose participants have a similar mission. For example, the Workforce Development
Board’s First Jobs/First Wages Council has many of the same types of
participants as juvenile justice councils/boards.
- Develop documents that are helpful resources –
that people will hang on to and use – youth/family resource guides,
calendars, planners, what to do to address various youth problem issues –
include information about your boards/councils and how to get involved.
- Make sure that your boards/councils are included in community
listings of organizations such as those found through United Way, county
human resources, or the county library.
o
Ask each board/council member to bring someone
new to the meeting.
- Do you have a speaker's bureau willing to contact the various
service organizations and present information?
- When the state senate and house are not in session, invite these people
to some meetings. Have the current reps call others personally; for ex. if
we have a faith-based rep, that person would call others.
- Continue to alternate meetings at other locations, learn more about
those agencies and vice-versa.
- Add the circuit and county council information and Chair contact
info. to the DJJ website
- Put a messages in the community bulletin board
- Hold the meetings at different locations to make it more open for
the community. Have a meeting at one of the High Schools, or a public library
branch in the outer towns in the county.
- Place ads in local papers and local high school magazines
- Continue to hold the regular meetings of the board chairs and
listen to them (positive word travels)
- Empower the councils with more
- Identify people in the community and make them aware of the council
and its mission
§
Send letters
§
Involve students
§
Make presentations to local civic groups
o
Seriously look
at planned activities that are sponsored and supported by our membership that
would have an impact (positive) on the issues that we have identified in our
prevention plan. Demonstration of
success might help to mobilize a community
o
I think
the answer to both is one and the same. It is unlikely that
"mobilization" will occur without information, buy-in and a
focus.
In my opinion there is little local
ownership to juvenile crime after arrest. For example, 30 years ago civic clubs
were involved in various ways to deal with juvenile crime. Today most view
juvenile crime as totally a state responsibility. This can be changed over time
with sound strategies.
o
Circuit
Managers should have county-by-county data on juvenile crime and report this
information to county and certain city commissions and school boards. The chair
of the circuit board or county chair should accompany and present suggestions
as to how the county or city could help deal with 'their" youth in
"their" community. Town hall or community meetings are another way to
get this information out. In essence the approach is to say we believe in
prevention services for most youth, take the action to increase up front
funding, provide the local impact of juvenile crime and suggest ways for
involvement and buy in. This is not a one-time approach. It must be
repeated frequently throughout the year.
We can do better and I strongly
believe the answer is to have more local buy in and involvement. I am very
encouraged by the fact that you are asking the question on behalf of the DJJ
management.
o
There must be a
clear purpose established for boards, councils, coalition, etc. The
participants must have a vested interest in the organization and be able to see
how that organization can help them accomplish their agency goals. Participants receive good information at
meetings, but there is no clear purpose or role for all participants.
o
Work with
councils to sponsor projects and activities with the community to bring
awareness
o
DJJ host one
positive motivational event: A family day event, a youth event, or a
motivational speaker could help give councils even more presence in the
communities
o
I believe
your biggest partner in spreading the word will be law enforcement as we
are the most visible in the community and our contacts. Another source is
parent faculty associations at schools. They meet on a regular bases and are
very active.
o
With special
events, such as the meeting on the 21st, and well planned Circuit Board
meetings, which are hosted by each county with a special speaker, I have given
the councils' members a forum and the ability to invite the community leaders
to witness what the councils are doing within each respective community. I have
tried to establish community awareness in having certain functions to draw
those who don't unusually attend on a regular basis, especially the statutory
members.
o
Ask
each council member to bring at least one person to the next meeting that LIVES
in the county. Many agencies send a
coordinator that covers more that one county, we would like for that agency
designee to continue to attend but to also bring one new participant that lives
in the county. We hope this will help
build the local focus on the council activities and will also give the council
a better perspective of the local needs.
o
I have
submitted membership letters to the Florida Department of Children and Families,
Boy Scouts of America; Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiatives; and
Department of Corrections. In addition Chairs are taking active role and
naming and inviting members of their community to take interest and involvement
in Boards and Council Meetings.
o
Identification of community partners (any
organization that is offering ANY service to the community), figure out which
ones are in line with the councils strategic plan. Invite all community
organizations but focus on those that can have an impact on the mission of the
council
o
Train
council members on the goals and their responsibilities to the council. Members
of any organization need to see the fruits of their labor. They need to see the
impact their participation will have in the community. This invites a stronger
commitment.
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