AnsoniaDelinquencyPreventionPlan

8/3/2019 AnsoniaDelinquencyPreventionPlan

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City of Ansonia

Local DelinquencyPreyention PIan

Ansonia Frevention Policy BoardAugust 2011



ANSONIA PREVENTION POLICY BOARD MEMBERS

os ofAugust 20LL

Name Title RepresentationOfficer Michael Bany School Resource Officer assigned

to Ansonia Hieh School

Alsonia Police Department

Officer Gerrv Tennev Youth Officer Alsonia Police DepartmentJames Della Volpe Mayor City of AnsoniaEileen Krusel Grant Writer City of AnsoniaJeff Coppola Recreation Director City of AnsoniaCarol Merione Superintendent of Schools Ansonia Public SchoolsEileen Ehman Grants Manager Ansonia Public SchoolsKathy Carey Parent

Involvement Coordinator Ansonia Public SchoolsParent of two youth aeed 10-17Nicholas Collicelli Advisor, Human Relations Club Ansonia High SchoolKarolyn Meineke President, Human Relations Club Youth under age 2I, Ansonia High

School studentMike Esposito Vice President, Human Relations

ClubYouth under age 2L, Ansonia HighSchool student

John Saccu Director Derby Youth Service BureauLorrie McFarland Prevention Coordinator Valley Substance Abuse Action

Council, AnsoniaJenn Drauss Member of North End Block

Watch

Resident of Ansonia

ParentKaren Hicks Ansonia Coordinator Discovery Project, GrausteinMemorial Fund

Diana Brancato Coordinator Ansonia School Readiness

ProgramJim Queen Unit Director Boys & Girls Club, AnsoniaSuzanne Reilly Executive Director Valley YMCA, AnsoniaRichard Knoll Executive Director TEAM Inc., DerbyMichael Wynne Chief Executive Officer Parent Chiid Resource CenterJohn Yeager Job Developer Birmingham Group Health Serv.



BACKGROUND

Ansonia's Local Delinquency Prevention Plan was created in AugustZ0ll by a group ofdedicated community, government, and education members and officials who have beeninvolved in a wide range of juvenile delinquency prevention activities and programs

involvingAnsonia youth. The Plan was developed as a result of the availability of Tiile i JuveniieDelinquency Prevention Grant funds through the State of Connecticut Office of policy &Management, Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.

The goal of the group is to coordinate existing programs that support Ansonia youth ages 10-17and build upon them in order to prevent juvenile delinquency and improve the quality of 11f" fo,these youth and their families. Data will be coilected and analyzed,in order to determinemeasurable results from the Plan. Ansonia's Local Prevention team wiil meet bi-annually toreview program components and data and make any necessary changes in approaches in order tobest address the community's juvenile delinquency issues.

COMMITMENT of KEY COMMUNITY LEADERS

The Local Prevention team is led by key community leaders, who appear on the first page of thisPlan. Two of these leaders - Mayor James Della Volpe and Superintendent of Schoois CarolMerlone - have been instrumental in bringing juvenile delinquency prevention awareness andprograms to Ansonia's community and schools. The city and its public school system have fuil-time grant writers, who will serve as project leaders for this comprehensive delinquencyprevention effort.

THE BOUNDARIES of the COMMUNITY

The boundaries of the community covered by the Local Delinquency prevention plan are the 6.2square miles of the city known as Ansonia, Connecticut. Accoidingio the Factfinder 2010 U.S.census and the connecticut Economic Resource center - CERC zolt,Ansonia has lg,24g year-round residents. There are 7,510 households with just over one-third (34Vo) with individualsunder 18 years of age. (NoTE: There are actuaily 8,148 housing units but O:S *. vacant).Ansonia has a poverty rule of 9.7vo, one percent higher than the state average. This poverty ratematches the unemployment rate of 9.7vo. This city is densely populated witi over 3,000 peopleper square mile compared to the state average of 700 per square mile.

Ansonia is categorized, by the Stateof Connecticut, as a distressed municipality. It was athriving industrial community over 50 years ago but has had a difficult transition to changes in

the economic climate. This, among other factors, has caused a shortfall for funding in mairy areasincluding youth opportunities. In 2009, while the State of Connecticut boasted 3,7g6 newbuilding permits, Ansonia had two (2).

Geographically, Ansonia, bisected by the Naugatuck River, is located in the lower NaugatuckValley, 1!"h comprises seven comrnunities including the cities of Derby and Shelton, theTowns of Beacon Falls, Oxford and Seymour, and the Borough of Naugatuck. Ansonia is in thecenter of a riangle formed by Bridgeport, waterbury and New Haven.



THE READINESS of the COMMUNITY

There are several programs and committees in place that support the City of Ansonia's readinessto adopt a comprehensive delinquency prevention strategy. The Ansonia Public Schools has hada long, collaborative working relationship with the Ansonia Police Department on safety and

education programs for our youth. The Ansonia Police have been teaching the DARE program,geared toward fifth graders, for more than 15 years. Police officers visit the elementary and

middle schools in October to promote a pledge against gun violence. More than a decade ago, theschool district worked with the city and police department on a federal grant to start a SchoolResource Officer Program in the middle school and high school. That grant was approved, and

the Ansonia Police Department sustained the program at both schools for several years, and

continues to sustain it at the high school. In our community, the Police Department has helpedstart up two Block Watch programs during the past two years.

Ansonia Public Schools has also operated a Drop Out Drug Free Council that includes members

of the police department, the local substance abuse action council, members of the school

district, and community. This council administers a $3,300 drug prevention grant, provided byValley Substance Abuse Action Council (VSAAC), which funds drug-prevention programs inthe schools. These include supplies for the annual Red Ribbon Week in October; a motivationalshow centered around the theme of drug prevention or bullying for middle school aged students;a live mock crash for juniors and seniors prior to the Annual Prom at Ansonia High School; andfunds for the DARE program for fifth graders.

Finally, the readiness of the Ansonia community was evidenced by the response to an invitationto helping form this Prevention Policy Board. The invitation was issued in mid-summer, whenmany people are either away on vacation or involved in other activities. A total of 22 peoplewere invited to the first meeting, and 16 people attended. The second meeting drew 12 people,

who made contacts with other community agencies to help complete the creation of this p1an, ina one-month timeframe.

DELINQUENCY RISK and PROTECTIVE FACTORS in ANSONIA

The first meeting of the new Local Delinquency Prevention Plan on July 26,2011 in AnsoniaCity Hail drew 16 members of the PBB. It focused on a discussion of identified delinquencyrisks, as well as protective factors, in the community; a discussion about available resources andcurrent promising programs in the community, and how they address the risk and protectivefactors.

The delinquency risks in the Ansonia community highiighted by PBB members were in the areas

of:

r Truancy Preventiono Drug/AlcohoUsubstance abusePreventiono Juvenile Violence and property crime preventiono Bullyingo Parent Support



e Positive Role ModelsAvlentoringo Youth Job Training, Recreation, and Employmento TransportationBarriers

Data about Ansonia youth and their needs was shared by members of the PBB. The first set of

data was reviewed by Karen Hicks, the Ansonia Discovery coordinator, who links with the city'sSchool Readiness Program (for children and families ages 3-5). The Ansonia Discovery Project,which is funded by the Graustein Memorial Fund, focuses on children through age 8. However,the PBB is collaborating with the Discovery work because their goal is similar to that of thisPlan: To strengthenfamilies, educate parents, and give young children the best possible start sothat they continue their education and become productive and resourceful citizens. By teachingparents early, we hope that they will be responsible for their children, support them in positiveways, and continue to parent them through those critical preteen"/teen years.

During the 2010-11 fiscal year, Ansonia Discovery began a new project: to develop a

Community Early Chiidhood Plan for Ansonia by January 2012. Discovery staff interviewed 10

municipal, school and community leaders, as well as conducted more than 10 focus groups anddistributed a survey, to gauge opinions about positive programs and needs in Ansonia forfamilies with children ages 0-8. The community leaders interviewed included the city's mayor,superintendent, a state legislator, and the president of the Vailey United Way. A total of 129surveys were returned. Here is a synopsis of the most common responses to the four questions:

1. What are the advantages or assets of living in Ansonia for families with youngerchildren?Ansonia is a small and supportive community with good resources.

2. Wat is neededfor Ansonia to be a better place to live, work and play?

Ansonia's residents need employment opportunities, improved public transportation, andmore activities and events, including parent involvement.

Wat can Ansonia and its residents do to support young children? (Consider businesses,seniors, single peopLe, as well as schools andfamilies withyoung children.)There needs to be town-wide awareness of opportunities and issues, an increased effort towork in a partnership with the schools, and increased use of community centers for allevents, including school programs.

Do you have any suggestions to improve services for families with young children in oneof more of the following areas: Child care; health services; famly support; recreational;preparationfor

kindergarten; elementary grade years (K-3), or safety.The focus groups and surveys responded that parent classes, increased public awareness,and transportation barriers needed to be addressed.

The second set of data is from an October 2009 survey of 7e, 9e, and 1lff graders, the ValleySubstance Abuse Action Councii surveyed middle and high school students in Ansonia andseveral adjoining cities and towns in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. The published results of thesurvey represent the total LNV population and appear on VSAAC's website,www.b ghealth.orglvsaac/VSAAC.htm

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4.



The Ansonia community results, which have not been published, are being reported for thepurposes of this grant. The survey results, included in a 163-page report, are disaggregated by thethree grade levels of students surveyed. Issues such as drug, alcohol and tobacco usage; bullying;feelings of self-worth; relationships with parents and other adults in their lives; and involvementwith school sports, clubs, or job empioyment, were addressed in the survey. A total of 161

Ansonia Middle School students in Grades J, and 312 Ansonia High School studenrs in Gr. 9 and11 participated in the survey. The students' age range was primarily 12-18, withT%o ofrespondents under age 12 or over age 18.

Based on the issues raised by the new Ansonia Delinquency Prevention Council, the followsurvey results were examined as part of the Title V grant program development:

S tudent involvement/employment:

Sports Involvemenr: Nearly 6AVo of Ansonia Middle School students and SOVo of Ansonia HighSchool students do not participate in sports.

Clubs/Groups Involvemenl: Nearly 52Vo of AMS and 64Vo of AHS students do not participate in

clubs or groups.Employmenr: Nearly 737o of AMS and more than 70Vo of AHS students do not have a paid job.

Juvenile Delinquency Issues:

Skipped/cut school in the last four weeks: About 26Vo of AMS students and 347o of AHSstudents reported they had skipped at least one day.

Ever had alcoholic beverages to drink:29Vo of AMS students and 65Vo of AHS students reportedthey had.

Ever used marijuana or hashish: 57o of AMS and an average of 37Vo of AHS students respondedyes.

If ltou have ever used alcohol or any other mood-altering drugs, what were the reasons? Nearly297o responded that they

did it"to

experiment-to see what it was like" while I\Vo said,it wasbecause of problems at home.

Builving:When asked if helshe had ever been bullied, a staggering 57Vo AMS students said yes, whileabout 5OVo of AHS students said yes. Those who responded yes were asked if they had been avictim of verbal and/or physicai abuse. A total of 56Vo of AMS students and about 38Zo AHSsaid yes to verbal threats, while 69Vo of AMS and 68Vo of AHS students said yes to physicalthreats. Finally, this same group was asked about cyberbullying. A total of 35Vo of AMS studentsand 38Vo of AHS said they were a victim of cyberbullying.

Parent Influence:Allowed to drinkat home (by parents): More thanTVo of AMS students and more than20Vo ofAHS students responded affirmativeiy.Parent drinking caused problems for you? More than 26Vo of AMS students and about Z}Vo ofAHS students responded affirmatively.When asked if certain problems ever caused trouble for the student in school, the overwhelminganswer -by 33Vo of the middle and high school students - was family problems.When asked if the student would seek advice from a parent if he/she was experiencing a problemwith alcohol or other drugs, 28Vo responded, "very likely" while nearly 3OVo responded, "very



unlikeiy." Converseiy, more than 387o of the students reported they would "very likely" askadvice from a friend.

Self-Esteem/Self Worth:When asked if "sometimes I think that I am no good," 3LVo of AMS students said they agreed,

while 25Vo of. AHS agreed.When asked if "I feel I do not have much to be proud of ," 17Vo of AMS students agreed, while207o of AHS agreed.

When asked, "I usually feei good about myseif," 48Vo of AMS students agreed, while 367o ofAHS students agreed.

When asked if "at times I feel like smashing things or swearing ," 37Vo of AMS students agreed,.,vhile about 277o of AHS students agreed.

The protective factors that will mitigate the risks for Ansonia youth aged 10-17 range fromhealthy parent relationships and conflict resolution skills; resistance to negative peer pressureand bullying; and building positive peer relationships and courageous bystanders - to a

community that supports its youth by promoting a positive school environment, volunteers andleaders who serve as role models and mentors, and links its resources and services to form acohesive and strong partnership with a common vision.

PROMISING PROGMMS in the ANS0NIA COMMUNITY

These factors are the focal point of the promising programs in Ansonia's community. MayorDella Volpe and Superintendent Merlone have supported and urged the creation of theseprograms, which are now included with the work of the PPB. Representatives of these programsare PBB members:

*The Human Relations Club was formed in 2008 and is now a group of 110 AnsoniaMiddle School and Ansonia High School students who conduct anti-bullying educationclasses for hundreds of elementary and middle school students in Ansonia PublicSchools, host a Community Culture Fair in Ansonia Middle School; host a state-wideStudent Conference, which has been held at Quinnipiac University in Hamden for thepast three years; and have established an intergenerational program with members of theDoyie Senior Center in Ansonia, in which students and seniors hold twice yearlyconversational dinners, an ice cream social during the summer, and is presently involvedin a project that captures the stories of the senior citizenpopulation for sharing withschool-aged children. Two former presidents of this club have been chosen as the

Connecticut winner of the Princeton Prize for Race Relations: Ewa Januskiewi cz, theHRC's first president, in 2009: and Danielle Todd, past president, in 2}ll.Informationabout the HRC is available at www.ansonia.orgIHRC.htm.

+The new Diversion Program at Ansonia High School (AHS), established by SchoolResource Officer Michael Barry. Now called the 5:30 A.M Warriors, this fitness-basedprogram was piloted during the 2010-2011 school year. About 100 classes were heldbetween Dec.20, 1011-June 17,2011. A total of 45 AHS students participated, including18 Diversion students. Fourteen Diversion students completed their program, while threedid not and one took the option of a two-day Out of School Suspension. The program



also has an after school education component, which is led by John Saccu, director of theDerby Youth Service Bureau. Classes in anger management, conflict resolution, bullyingand alcohoUsteroid dangers were held in the winter and spring of 2011 with an average offive students attending - although one class (alcohoVsteroid dangers) drew 60 students.This Diversion Program will continue in 201L-2A12, bolstered by a School/Police

lust.Start Program Grant from the Office of Policy and Management.

*Ansonia has two active Block Watch groups, which were formed as a result ofconcerns about juvenile and drug-reiated activities in the neighborhoods. The first groupformed in the surlmer of 2OO9 in the neighborhood surrounding Ansonia Middle Schoolon Ansonia's west side of town. Known as the Westside Blockwatch, the group formedas a result of incidents of drug traffic and bullying activities by a youth gang called the"Roc Boys." Two city officials - a member of the Board of Aldermen and a member ofthe Board of Apportionment and Taxation - reside near Ansonia Middle School andinitiated the group, in collaboration with the Ansonia Police Department. The youth gang

was breaking into abandoned houses, making use of them as ciubhouse meeting rooms.

The gangs harassed residents and committed acts of vandalism in the early evening hours.They are suspected of hoiding up aprzza deliveryman in one incident. The other concemis drug trafficking, with some of the apartments in these high-density, multi-familyneighborhoods used as drug traffic drugstores. The Blockwatch group has had up to 40neighbors at meetings. Their goal is to enhance the quality of life in their neighborhoods.The group has opened the iines of communication between neighbors, as weli as with thepolice department. For more information, go to www.ansoniablockwatch.com.

The second Blockwatch group formed in the spring of 2011 in the north end of the city as

a result of the success of the Westside Blockwatch. with a focus on makingneighborhoods safer, reducing drug dealing activities, and enhancing the quality of iife

for area residents, this group aligned with the Westside watch for information anddirection. As this group was preparing for its first meeting in June 2oll, two major actsof vandalism were committed to area residents: more than two dozen vehicles weredamaged either by smashed windshields and/or slashed tires and a pool was stabbed.Residents' frustrations were escalated with the rcahzation that baseball bats and kniveswere used in these incidents. The Ansonia Police Department, which was stil1investigating this spate of crimes during the preparation of this Plan, has a strongindication that the vandals are juveniles. One founding blockwatch resident, who is theparent of a 9-year-old, is an active member of the PBB. The Northend Blockwatch sharesthe website with the westside group at: www.ansoniablockwatch.com.

*AnsoniaPublic Schools has been a member of the Connecticut Consortium for SchoolAttendance since its inceptiontn2002 (or 2001) and has sponsored severai programs,

funded by the Office of Policy and Management, which have positively impacted theattendance rate of Ansonia students, primarily at the middle school level. (List theattendance rates here.)

For the past four years, the focus has moved to the high school where an average of 33freshmen at Ansonia High Schooi (out of an average class size of 180) has had to repeattheir freshmen year due to poor attendance and./or academics. Our current project, calledFreshmen Seminar, is supported by an Office of Policy & Management Attendance Grant



for a haif-year course and peer mentoring program for up to 25 at-risk freshmen. Duringthe 2010-11 year, eight of the 15 Freshmen seminar students successfuliy completedtheir freshmen year by earning enough course credits to move on to sophomore year. Theschool will be registering 25 at-risk freshmen in rhis pro$am for the ziltt-tzschooiyear.

The PBB members also identified other successful programs and organizations that are in placeto help curb juvenile delinquency:

o the Boys & Girls Club in Ansonia, which opened in2009, serving youth aged 6-1g. TheClub serves an average of 170 children daily and is open Monday-Saturday during theschool year. A TGIF program runs on Friday nights from November through March; in2010-11, the program had more than 220 middl; school students (aged 11-13) registeredand averaged l7o students. The Club also started up a Teen Nighi f6r high schoolstudents (aged 14-18) last year. More than 100 teens attended the p.ogr*.r, which waspiloted from January-March. The Club plans to complete renovatitn irork in the lowerlevel of the three-story building this fall and open a ieen Center by Octob er ZOLL.

o The Valley YI\4CA has operated programs in Ansonia for youth unO fu-iii.s for morethan 145 years' The YMCA, which recently became a branch of the Central ConnecticutCoast YMCA,tras the city's only pool that is available to the community (for a fee) andhas a wealth of aquatic programs for youth. Its main mission is to suppoi youthdevelopment, healthy living and social responsibility. The pBB will coliaborate with theYI\4CA to promote aquatic programs for youth ug"r tO-tZ, with scholarships offered forthose who need financial assistance.

o fti 20a4' the city took ownership of the former State Armory. Currently, the gymnasiumis operational almost daily by various groups for recreational and community-basedactivities. It is used by a number of youth-based organizations that include the ValleyYMCA; Boys and Girls CIub; Ansonia Recreationbepartment: basketball, basebail,

sofiball, soccer, football, cheerleading; Department of Environmental protection youthfishing ciasses; Assumption [Catholic] Scliool d,aily gym class and basketbail teams;Boys and Girls Club events and basketball use; anso]ria Boy Scouts; Ansonia HighSchool footbali, cheerleaders, basketball, softball, baseball, p.o- committee; and theNorth Star Foundation (non-profit organization that deais with children whose challengesrange from autism to serious medical conditions to grief over the loss of a parent). TheCity is committed to continue these programs with hop"s of expanding in the near futurewith a potential State of Connecticut Bond Commission approval for upgrade funding.This would allow the city to bring the remainder of the bullding up to co?e for use ofnearly 20 additional rooms for community and youth-based activiiies.

GAPS IN NEEDED RESOURCES

The second meeting of the PBB was held on August 3, 20L1 in the Ansonia public Schools,centrai office' The PBB discussed gaps in needed resources, and proposed ways to address themwith the assistance of Title V Delinquency Prevention Grant funds. Here is an overview of thegaps and the programs that wili address the needs of our youth:



1. Employment/Mentoring/Recreational Opportunities for Youth: The City of Ansonia haslimited ernpioyment opportunities for youth. In addition to the 9.77o Dtempioyment rate foradults, actual jobs within Ansonia have declined -2.2Vo over the past 10 years. For several years,the city sponsored a summer empioyment program that provided jobs for about 100 Ansoniayouth in city agencies. In addition, the Workplace in Bridgeport received federal funds that

provided jobs for 200 youth in Ansonia and surrounding communities in the Lower NaugatuckValley. However, three years ago, due to the recession, the city reluctantly eliminated thesummer employment program from its budget, and the federal money for the Workplaceprogram ceased. In20l1, the Workplace provided jobs for just 20 youth in Ansonia and theLower Naugatuck Valley.

A coordinated mentoring program for Ansonia youth in middle and high schooi currently doesnot exist in Ansonia. The public schools have a smali mentoring program in the elementarygrades that has been in existence for many years. In 2010, a peer mentoring program for 15 at-risk freshmen began and wiil expand to 25 freshmen in Z0ll.

There are numerous recreational programs available through the City of Ansonia's RecreationDepartment, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Valley YMCA, although fees are charged for allactivities. Financial assistance is available through the Boys & Girls Club and the ValleyYMCA; the YMCA has a Membership for A11 Program, which is an income-based membership(i.e., you pay what you can afford). The City provides a limited number of scholarships *approximately $2,000 worth - for the city's most needy youth wanting to participate in sportsleagues. More than half of Ansonia youth are eiigible for free or reduced priced meals, reflectingtheir famiiy's low income status. The only free recreational programs are presently offered byAnsonia Public Schools. There are limited recreational programming for middle school studentsand an average amount of sports at the high school level.

Collaboration with existing programs and expansion or creation of new programs will addressthe gaps. In the area of job training, Ansonia is collaborating with the WorkPlace Inc., whichoperates a CTWorks Career Center in Derby, serving the LNV communities. The Workplacewill be piloting a Valley Career Exploration Project at Ansonia High School starting in rhe fall of2011. The project targets 10 to 15 seniors who are geared toward the work force upongraduation, providing assistance to students wishing to explore the job market andfocusing onmath and literacy training. The program utilizes the WorkKeys Program and KeyTrainCurricuium, which will help youth master the workplace skills needed for a specific job.Students will be working toward a Nationai Career Readiness Credential, which is accepted bymany large empioyers throughout the country. The Workplace will market the students who earnthis credential by placing them on a preferred hiring iist. In addition, Ansonia will collaboratewith the

Birmingham Group Heaith Services, Inc., a state licensed, non-profit behavioral healthcare provider located in Ansonia and serving the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Birmingham Grouphas programs for its clients that provide job shadowing/internships or jobs. Title V funds will beutilized to expand this project to include more at-risk students who need job training, internships,and/or employment.

In addition, we will appoint a mentoring coordinator to work with the public schools andcommunity agencies that may be interested in supporting a mentoring program by supplyingmeeting space, mentors, or links to established programs in other communities



Finaily, Title V grant funds will be used to provide scholarships to youth aged 10-17 who cannotafford to participate in established recreational programs, as well as adding programs - such as a

basketball program at the Boys & Girls Club, aquatics programs at the Vatley YMCA, or iceskating on an outdoor rink in a neighborhood with a high yourh population.

2. Family support and mental health issues facine youth and/or families is the second major gapin services in the community. These two issues are two of the four major risk factors related tojuvenile delinquency, according to Legaiinfo-online fJuly 3i, 2010]. The City of Ansonia has

extensive family support services for families with young children. The Ansonia SchoolReadiness program, the Discovery Project, and the Family Resource Center that serves Ansonia,operate several successful events and severai programs each month for families, including the

Annual Family Resource Fair in January, which features more than 25 area organizations; an

annual Literacy Fair in November, which features children's book authors; and the Play & LearnFair in April, which features numerous hands-on activities for children and their famiiies. Anaverage of 200 people attends each of these free events every year.

In the area of mental health, Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc., located in

Ansonia, is a state licensed, non-profit behavioral health care provider serving Ansonia and theLower Naugatuck Valley (LNV) communities. The Ansonia Public Schools and the AnsoniaPoiice Department collaborate closely with one of Birmingham's program, Valley Substance

Abuse Action Council. The schooi district also partners with Parent Child Resource Center(PCRC), located in Derby, on several behavioral and mental health service programs forstudents. The City of Ansonia, through the Title V Grant, will now form a close collaborationwith PCRC.

PCRC recently undertook a five-year project to combat juvenile delinquency issues whileaddressing mental health needs in the community. Two years ago, PCRC began a preventionprogram at Irving Elementary School in Derby called Valley Kids Belong (VKB), an initiativefunded by the Connecticut Health Foundation with the goal of achieving systems change for

children and adolescents ages 6-14 who are at risk for utilizing higher ievels of mental healthcare and/or becoming involved in the juveniie justice system.

Two highly regarded, evidenced-based programs have been offered at Irving School forthe at risk population identified through a screening process: Families and Schools Together(FAST), an OJJDP evidence-based program, and Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), whichhas been studied extensively and been shown to be effective in reducing rates of childmaltreatment and in improving child rearing practices (identified risk and protective factors forboth mental health and juvenile justice involvement) and building other protective factors suchas parental competence and confidence as well as satisfaction with parenting.

Although PCRC had originally planned to expand VKB into Ansonia during the2OI2-I3school year, it is now planning to begin work in Ansonia during the upcoming year, thanks to the

opportunities presented to Ansonia through the Title V grant funds. During the 20ll-12 year,VKB will screen and make referrals for all children involved in the Ansonia Charger Club, a

State Department of Education funded 21" Century Grant for more than 90 Ansonia students inGrades 6-8. Based upon the screenings, VKB will be offering Triple P group sessions gearedtoward adolescents to families of a1l at risk children and adolescents identified. Children whoidentified as Level 3 - those who are most at risk - will be offered a full assessment by a master'slevel social worker with experience in children's mental health, in order to determine whatreferrals should be made.

During the 2A12-13 year, VKB will begin a FAST program connected to the Ansoniaefforts. VKB will fully fund the training of facilitators for Teen Group Triple P (a cost of



approximately $8,000) and the cost of the FAST impiementation (minimally cost of $12,000).The Title V grant will cover the cost of the new prevention initiative, estimated at $2,500 foreach eight-week cycle. In addition, several members of the PBB will join the VKB Team, whichmeets quarteriy to review program status, discuss issues related to data and to system change.

One representative of Ansonia Public Schools, the Ansonia Police Department, and one parent

will be asked to serve on the VKB Team, while one representative from PCRC will join thePBB. We hope that a mutual exchange of information wiil benefit both of our programs.

3. Diversion/Community Service programs are the third eap identified by the PBB. As described

in the previous section about promising programs, a new Diversion program was initiated by the

School Resource Officer at Ansonia High Schooi in January 2011, and it will continue for the

2O|I-I2 school year. However, diversion and community service programs for criminal acts

committed outside of schooi hours currently do not exist. Ansonia does not have an involved

Youth Service Bureau staff member in the schools, and a Juvenile Review Board is not in place.

The Local Interagency Service Team (LIST) report for the Lower Naugatuck Valley examined

several indicators and found supporting data for the following:o School Attendance: At risk youth in middle and high school show the range ofabsenteeism to be between 24-86 days.

o School Suspension Rate: At risk youth make up a great majority of suspensions.. Grades: Poor grades and retention rates are a major result of absences and

truancy. More than 90Vo of the at risk students are failing two to five classes.

o Mental Health Services: Youth in need of mental health services are increasingiynot being identified nor do not have the home support required to follow through

with lower level interventions.

The Derby Youth Service Bureau director, John Saccu, has been collaborating with the Ansonia

High SRO on his new diversion program. Mr. Saccu has been leading the education componentof the fitness-based diversion program at AHS; he is a member of the Lower Naugatuck ValleyLIST, and Ansonia's new PBB. He is also invoived as a panel member for a five-year preventionprogram based at Irving (Elementary) School in Derby and conducts Positive YouthDevelopment Programs in Derby Middle School. These include the "Play By The Rules"curriculum, which is provided free of charge through the State of Connecticut Office of Policy &Management.

The PBB Plan is to expand the Positive Youth Development Program offerings for the upcomingthree years for middle and high school youth, utilizing programming taught by Mr. Saccu and bythe Ansonia High School Human Relations Club. The HRC has relied on grant funding to cover

the cost of training, supplies and buses, and nearly ali of that grant money will be exhausted byOctober 2011. Title V funding will be set aside to support the bullying prevention and multi-cultural programming for youth ages 10-17. In addition, Mr. Saccu will work closely with the

high school SRO and the Ansonia Police Department Youth Officer, Gerry Tenney, on divertingyouth into community service programs or Officer Barry's 5:30 A.M. Warriors program, in order

to decrease the number of youths referred to the Juvenile Justice System.

4. Transportation is the fourth major gap in services in the community. Connecticut Transitoffers limited bus transportation for Ansonia residents, with stops in the downtown area of the

city for the West Chapel Street route from New Haven, through Seymour, Ansonia, Derby,



Shelton, Orange and West Haven. Ansonia residents needing to go to Bridgeport or a community

on that route would need to change buses in Shelton. Buses run every day, Monday-Sunday.

Valley Transit District (www.valleyransit.org) is a public agency that operates a fleet of 14

mini-buses on a reseryed ride basis out of Derby, an adjoining community. Rides must be

scheduled 24 hours in advance. Because of limited funding, Valley Transit operates a shared ridesystem, during which there may be one or more stops. Valley Transit operates from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

There are also several organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club and the Ansonia Housing

Authority, that operate 15-passenger vans for residents, including youth, needing transportation

to their programs.

The PBB recommended that tokens or tickets be purchased from the existing transportation

providers for at-risk sfudents needing transportation to employment or recreational activities in

the community. The panel will also pursue alternate sources, such as the non-profit organizations

that operate vans.

5. Improved communication about existing programs for youth. as well as the need to heighten

awareness about the issue of juveniie delinquency. is the fifth and final gap in services in the

community. There are various communication methods in existence in our community: websites

by most government, school, and non-profit agency; an online daily newspaper and print media

that has been decreasing its coverage and staffing due to the downturn in the economy;

announcements made and flyers distributed in schools, churches, and other organizations and

businesses; and biliboards, posters and other notices. Nearly all publications are in English,

although Ansonia's Spanish-speaking community has increased significantly over the last

decade.

The PBB panel recofilmends several approaches to increasing cornmunication: posting

information on sites that are more popular with youths ages 10-17 and their famiiies; publishing

in Engiish and Spanish a guide that lists recreational, educational, employment and other

programming of interest to youth in this age group; and increasing public awareness of juvenile

delinquency issues and the existing and new programs for youth and their famrlies through the

use of biliboards, information on existing websites and social media; and the development of a

culture of collaboration among governmental and non-profit agencies, schools, community

members and youth.

STATEGIES IGOALS, OBJECTIVES and TIMETABLE) TO MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY

Goal: To increase knowledge and awareness of juvenile delinquency issues and prevention

efforts in the Ansonia community.

Objective: Assign PBB members to speak about juvenile delinquency issues and prevention at allavailable and appropriate public assemblies.

Timetable: Begin in Fal1 of 2011 by consulting or meeting with the Connecticut Juvenile Justice

Alliance in order to obtain expert advice on Ansonia's Plan; PBB members address the issues in



at least six public meetings scheduled before Jane 2012. Expand to 12 presentations for the2012-2013 year. Expand to 15 presentations for the 20i3-14 year.

Obiective: Develop a print and Internet-based media campaign tied to juvenile preventionawareness effofis.

Timetable: Begin in Fall of 201i with Internet-based work utilizing existing websites. By Winterof 2012, establish Facebook and other social media pages for Ansonia youth and famiiies. Begincollecting information for youth activities and opportunities publication and publish in Englishand Spanish by Summer of 20l2.For 20L2-13 year, expand campaign by conducting surveys and

using biilboards to promote awareness. For 2013- L4 year, re-evaluate past efforts and re-focustoward current or new approaches.

STATEGIES (GOALS,0B}ECTIVES and TIMETABLE) TO 0BTAIN and COORDINATE

IDENTIFIED RESOURCES

Goal: To support promising progrdms and increase opportunities for youth ages 10-17 thatlead to the prevention of juvenile delinquency incidents in the Ansonia Community.

Obiective: Promote and increase job training, establish job shadowing, and create jobs forAnsonia youth.

Timetable: Agreements with existing programs will be drawn up and a coordinator will be hiredin the Fail of 2011. Job training will begin at Ansonia High School in September 2011 and willincrease in the spring of 2012. Job shadowing opportunities will begin in the Spring of 2011 forthe first group of job training graduates. Paid jobs will begin by the surlmer of ZOLZ latest.Transportation issues will be addressed. The program will continue for the next two years, withthe goal of increasing participants and employers by I00Vo by the end of the 2Al3-14 year.

Obiective: Coordinate existing mentoring programs and expand for Ansonia youth ages 10-17.Timetable: Mentoring coordinator will be hired in the Fall of 2011. New mentors and menteeswill be sought and identified by the Winter of 2012. New youth mentoring wili commence bylate Winter 2012. Program wili continue for the next two years, with the goal of increasingparticipantsby I0O7o by the end of the 2013-T4 yeN.

Obiective: Promote and increase recreational opportunities for Ansonia youth.Timetable: By the Fall of 20LL, organize a subcommittee comprised of the city's RecreationDirector, the Boys & Girls Ciub, and the Valley YMCA to determine how to promote existingprograms and offer scholarships for youth who cannot afford the associated fees, as weli as

provide transportation for those who need it. By the Winter of 2012, begin offering newprograms identified by youth. Conduct a survey by the Winter of 2OI2 to gauge interest in newprograms. lntroduce one new program tn2}Ll-12 and expand to a second new programby 2012-i3. Evaluate progress and expand, as necessary, tn20l3-L4.

Obiective: Provide family education and support, whiie addressing mental health needs of youthages 10-17, utilizing model programs.

Timetable: Begin in Fall 2011 with VKB Program for the 90 students enrolled in the AnsoniaCharger Club after school program; screen all students and start up Triple P group sessions by



Winter 2012, with referrals for fuli assessments for the most at risk children. In Septe mber Z0lZ,begin a FAST program for teens ages 14-18 and continue work with middle schooi youth ages10-13, expanding beyond the Charger Club after school program. For rhe ZOI3-14 year, VKBwill complete its five-year project and evaluate all data with assistance of PBB representatives.

Obiective: Collaborate with the new Diversion program at AHS, establish a community serviceprogram, and expand positive youth development programming for youth ages 10-17.Timetable: By the Fall of 2011, organize a subcommittee comprised of Ansonia police, theDerby Youth Service Bureau, and the Ansonia High School Human Relations Club to planpositive youth development programming for the 201 I-12 year. By Spring of Z1LZ, the DerbyYouth Service Bureau director begins a community service program. nrnOiog to continue theDiversion program at AHS is sought before the summer of.2012. Programs eipand for the ZAn-13 year and continue for the 20L3-14 year, if funding is in place. Subcommittee evaluates needfor a Juvenile Review Board and either establishes one in Ansonia or collaborates with DerbyYouth Service Bureau for JRB services.

PLAN FOR THE COLLECTION OF DATA FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE ANDOUTCOME OF PLAN ACTIVITIES

The foliowing data elements will be collected by coordinators of each component of this plan:

Outputs:o An unduplicated count of the number of youth served by the programo Number and percent of program staff trainedo Number of planning activities conducted

Outcomes:o Number and percent of program youth exhibiting an improvement in one area (such as

substance use, school attendance, antisocial behavior, oi famity relationships) that is thefocus of the program component.

o Number and percent of program youth completing program requirementso Number and percent of program youth satisfied with program (based on a survey)

The T 'ocal Delinquency Prevention Plan wiil be managed by the City of Ansonia in collaborationwith Ansonia Public Schools. The Grants staff for theie agencies wiil be responsible forgathering the data, completing the mandatory quarterly reporting to the State of ConnecticutOffice of Policy and Management, Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and

for organizing andleading bi-annual meetings of the full PBB. Reports from the Title V program coordinators andassociated data will be shared at these meetings to ensure that the Locat delinquency preventionPlan is being followed. We will publicize these meetings to encourage interest and participation.

ResultsfromtheTit1eVactivitieswii1bepostedonthecity,swebsite@)and shared with key stakeholders in the community.

Documents

AnsoniaDelinquencyPreventionPlan