Memphis Debriefa Presentation to the Mayor’s Children’s Commission – April 2012

Memphis Shelby Country Crime Commission visit

Memphis is one of 6 cities that are part of the National Forum on Youth Violence

A team from St. Louis went to Memphis in March Robbyn Wahby, Mike Fitzgerald, Lindsay

Matushe, Mary McMurtrey, Heidi Veron, Bridget Flood

Met with Michelle Fowlkes and numerous others involved in implementing the initiative that is under the oversight of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

Background

Memphis Youth Violence Prevention

Plan

Operation: Safe Communities (OSC)

Memphis Fast Forward

• The Organization

• An Initiative of the Organization

• A strategy within the original OSC initiative • Foundational to the development of OSC- Phase 2

History of Memphis Fast Forward

Memphis Tomorrow(Memphis

CEOs)

Mayors from Shelby County and

City of Memphis

Memphis Fast

Forward

Memphis Fast Forward

Developed strategic agenda focused on creating jobs making the community safer producing a better-educated workforce creating more efficient local government 

Each area handled independent of one another and worked incrementally

Memphis Fast Forward

Each initiative includes: • Program chair• Leadership team (board of directors)• Lead organization (often set up as a NFP) to manage effort and drive results• Detailed plan – goals, strategies and action items• Scorecard to measure progress• Diverse team of people and organizations to implement the plans of action

Operation: Safe Community Phase 2

Operation Safe Community – 2Youth Violence Prevention Planning

Used CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey Created comprehensive view of Memphis

youth and risk for violence Solicited input:

351 people participated in initial learning sessions 394 people responded to a community visioning

survey 28 providers responded to on-line survey Brainstorming sessions with Ministers Listening sessions with Youth leaders and former

gang members

Youth Violence Prevention Plan Focus Areas

Prevention Intervention Enforcement Re-entry

Prevention Strategies

More at-risk families participate in prenatal/early childhood with focus on improved parenting

Build on neighborhood networks, churches, communities, to deliver high-quality youth programs (after-school, mentoring, tutoring, etc.)

Work with neighborhood to improve local environments for youth (safe places and passages, problem properties, etc.)

Intervention Strategies

Expand case management and multi-agency intervention teams to support youth at highest risk for committing violence

Improve coordination among agencies through shared electronic CRM; provide incentives for agencies to participate

Expand graduated sanctions for youth (combined with rehab)

Enforcement Strategies

Data Driven policing Equip law enforcement to make referrals to prevention/

intervention programs Nuisance statute - allow seizure of property affected by

gang activity Reestablish local residential rehab for chronic juvenile

offenders State law change allowing juvenile offenders to serve

sentences in rehab-focused facilities after 19 without transferring to adult system

Enhance rehab programs in correctional facilities for youth under 24

Reentry Strategies

Increase education, employment, career development opportunities for reentering youth

Enhance capacity and services at schools serving reentering youth

Intensive case management for reentering youth Expand neighborhood networks and services for

reentering youth

Memphis YVP Plan Summary

Created comprehensive view of Memphis youth and risk for violence

Using multidisciplinary teams, communicating and coordinating efforts

Using multifaceted approach to address systemic issues

Created and working goals, strategies, and action items

Have clearly defined roles and responsibilities Using data to validate strategies and action

items

Memphis Take Aways Use organizations and programs that exist

– align for better results Employ strong leadership to drive results,

communication and collaboration Ensure transparency of efforts and results Utilize cross-sector data for better results Develop strong plan with clear

measurements and outcomes Accountability, accountability,

accountability