SACRAMENTO—Assembly Member Anna Caballero today urged the newly-appointed state Director of Gang and Youth Violence Policy and state agencies to create a “one-stop-shop” to help local communities better access state resources available to prevent youth violence.

“We have limited resources at the state level to help communities who are under siege because of gang violence,” said Caballero, chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention.  “With various state agencies working on this issue, we owe it to the communities across the state to do a better job of coordinating our efforts.

“It’s very tough for blue collar communities to access a half dozen state agencies,” added Caballero.  “The agencies have unique roles, but the state must do a better job of creating a one-stop-shop to help our local communities.” 

Caballero’s comments came during the latest hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on Youth Violence Prevention, meeting today in the State Capitol in Sacramento.  The committee heard testimony from various state agencies that oversee public safety, education, public health, employment development and social services; about the programs and services they devote to prevent youth violence.  A primary goal of the hearing was to identify what the Legislature can do to help improve coordination among state agencies.

A key witness was Paul Seave, recently appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Director of the governor’s newly created Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy.   As set up by AB 1381 (Núñez)  - Seave said his first goal is to identify and evaluate state, local, and federal gang and youth violence suppression, intervention, and prevention programs and strategies, along with funding for those efforts.

The Sacramento hearing is the first time the Select Committee has focused its attention on the state resources available to help communities.  Prior hearings, held in Los Angeles, Salinas and Oakland, sought testimony from local officials and community-based organizations about local programs that were proving effective at reducing youth violence and restoring peace to the community. 

Caballero’s goal for the committee is to produce a “tool-kit” of proven practices that communities can chose from that work to divert youth into constructive activities, and to create opportunities for local communities to access information about state resources that can help reduce youth violence.

“I also want to work to align state resources with prevention strategies that really work to stop the violence,” added Caballero.  “We have to lock up the bad guys that commit crimes, but we also have to do a better job of getting to kids before they are drawn into criminal activity.  In the long run, it’s cheaper, and our communities will all be safer.”