From the Desk of the Superintendent
Superindendent J. Brian Sarvis, Ed.D.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
City Meeting on Youth Violence
On January 31, the city convened a community stakeholders meeting to identify ways to improve communication, coordination, and collaboration on youth violence issues. Forty agencies and service providers were represented, including the Santa Barbara School Districts.
Like other agencies, our district was active in working on youth violence and gangs long before last year’s stabbing. We took steps immediately after the stabbing, took additional steps last spring and this fall.
The group will meet regularly to work on three outcomes identified at the meeting:
- The city will convene a group of community leaders to prepare a strategic plan to comprehensively address youth violence issues.
- A comprehensive directory of youth and family service providers would be made available to improve services.
- Service providers and government agencies would take steps to reduce bureaucracy when working together to assist at-risk youth.