Program Strategiesanz

The following is a summary of program strategies implemented by the PanZOu Project and the number of residents served for free. The numbers date from program inception through June of 2008.

Minimum number receiving direct services from PanZOu since inception through June 2008 (not including community events, and outreach activities, and residents visiting the new resource center): 4,027

PanZOu Project, Inc. - Program Summaries

PRIMARY PREVENTION

Goal: Implement primary prevention strategies in a high-risk neighborhood in North Miami Beach that effectively reduce community risk factors or provide protective factors for community members.

Strengthening Families Program (ENSEM)– The Strengthening Families Program is a best practice model implemented for the first time with Haitian families.  The program is a video-based intervention design to reduce adolescent substance use of other problematic behaviors in youth, both male and female, 10 to 14 years of age.  The long-range goal of the program is to reduce substance use and behavior problems during adolescence. The intermediate objectives include improved skills in nurturing and child management by parents, and improved interpersonal and personal competencies among youth.  
Number Served:  at least 278  (139 youth and 139 parents)

The Early Literacy Program targeted to serve high risk children in first grade through third grade in an after school program.  The best practice curriculum “America Reads” is used. The program provided homework assistance, individualized reading, tutoring and literacy projects.  In addition, we provide a literacy focused Summer Camp which served 20 youth ages 6 to 9 from the high risk neighborhoods of Victory Park and Uleta Park. Services ran out of the new Victory Park Neighborhood Resource Center.
Number  Served:  146 youth

Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)/Midnight Basketball  - PanZOu contributed funds to the The City of NMB Weed and Seed program, in partnership with Parks and Recreation, to implemented a 6 week Youth Empowerment Program (YEP)/Midnight Basketball program for youth ages 11-17. The YEP provides youth development workshops followed by a basketball program.  PanZOu Project staff conducted the life skills workshops using the ARISE curriculum.
Number Served:  74

Developing Intelligent Voices of America (DIVAs) –  Developing Intelligent Voices of America, (DIVA) Program is tailored to provide a safe and positive environment for young women to hang out and to challenge their social, emotional, and behavioral competence.  The DIVA Program’s target population is at risk young women ages 8 to 18. The goals of the DIVA program are to: Empower young women in North Miami Beach community in becoming influential leaders; Increase their self-esteem; Develop strong sense of character and personality.  These goals will be achieved by providing mentoring support and life skills training.  The program is currently utilizing Girls Circle, a best practice curriculum to help achieve their goals.  This program is a partnership between the PanZOu Project and Washington/Allen/Victory Park Weed and Seed Program.  The girls meet once a week.
Number Served:  98

Man Up - The Man Up group provides a safe and structured learning environment where young men can learn to achieve their true potential.  The mission of the program is to save our young adults by empowering them with the tools they need to become productive members of society. The program targets boys ages 8-18. The goals are to empower young men by increasing their self esteem, develop a strong sense of character and personality, and to become men of respect, honor and integrity. The facilitator is currently researching the Phoenix Program to utilize as a best practice curriculum to help the program achieve their objectives.  The group is facilitated by PanZOu Project’s male Outreach Worker.
Number Served:  74

Self-Sufficiency Program (Operation Get Money) – After finding an increasing number of 18-22 year olds referred to the program in need of self sufficiency guidance, PanZOu staff conducted a focus group with them to determine their needs. The following were identified: Housing, Credit, Jobs, Interview Skills, Appearance, Finances, and School/Vocation.  The group began meeting once a week but was temporarily suspended after all 8 participants successfully gained employment!
Number Served:  8

New Victory Park Neighborhood Resource Center – The Neighborhood Services Dept. manages three Resource Center throughout the city.  PanZOu Project funds allowed the city to open a new resource center in the under-served neighborhood of Victory Park.  The funding covered the cost of installing a triple wide trailer on the site.  PanZOu programs that targeted this neighborhood are currently being run out of the new center.  The trailer was installed in August 2006 and became available on November 11, 2006.  The programs being run out of the trailer includes: the Alternative to Suspension Program, the Strengthening Families Program, Early Literacy after school program, and the On the Job Training.
Number Served:  All community residents

Community Workshops on child welfare system, domestic violence, discipline, juvenile/criminal justice systems for Haitian parents in the targeted hot spot neighborhoods.
Number served:  287 community residents

Teen Hip-Hop Summit – One of PanZOu’s goals is to educate youths in the impacts of gangs through a medium they understand and enjoy by sponsoring the North Miami Beach annual Teen Hip-Hop Summit in 2005 and 2006. PanZOu conducted workshops on Gangster Rap that listened to youths’ perception of the music industry’s influence on them and discussed such topics as the impact of sexist lyrics on women and girls, what’s real and what marketing hype, rap artists as role models, etc.
Number served:  over 500 teenage community residents

 

SECONDARY PREVENTION

Goal:  Prevent youth at high-risk from becoming delinquent and gang involved.

Summer Youth Employment Program - The City of North Miami Beach acknowledges that one of the most important times of the year for students is during the summer vacation. Students typically seek summer jobs as a summer camp counselor, at a fast food restaurant or at a local shopping mall.  Not too often does local government participate in the hiring of students during summer recess, but PanZOu partnered with the City of North Miami Beach to implement the Professional Summer Youth Employment Program.  The Professional Summer Youth Employment Program is a 7-week summer youth job enhancement initiative that provides summer employment for at-risk youth residing within the City North Miami Beach. The City hired and placed 20 part-time individuals in various city positions within various departments throughout the city, such as Administrative Services, Office of the Mayor and Council, Public Works, Sanitation, etc.
Number Served: 20

Alternative to Suspension (ASP) placed suspended students from JFK Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Junior High and North Miami Beach High School into a structured environment during their suspension.  We acquired missed schoolwork for the children to complete during their enrollment in the program, provided tutoring and assistance with student class assignments, and had Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) preparation workbooks for the 8th and 10th grade FCAT for students to complete. A certified Life Excelerator Assessment of Personal Skills (LEAPS) instructor conducted lessons utilizing this curriculum.  LEAPS is a research-based character education curriculum that identified 106 needed skills in ten life-skills domains. The program was implemented in August 2005 and ran through June, 2007.  The majority of these youth were suspended for fighting, misbehavior/disruptive acts, and truancy.  The average length of time in the program was 2 days.  Number served: 256 students

Police Eliminating Truancy (PET) - The North Miami Beach Police Department has assigned two officers to act as Truancy Officers for the purpose of locating students truant from school.  These officers work three days a week for seven hours during the school day. Special emphasis is placed in areas crime analysis indicates are “hot spots” for crimes often committed by juveniles.  If a PET officer locates a truant youth that attends a local school the truant shall be transported back to the school.  The officer shall make contact with a school administrator and advise them of the truant youth.  If a PET officer locates a truant that does not attend a local school the officer shall transport the youth to the closest school. If a PET officer locates a truant youth that is placed on an “in-home suspension” that youth shall be transported to the Alternative to Suspension Program for additional assessment.

Outputs are reflected by the following
·         Total number of juveniles stopped  -904
·         Number of those that were truant   - 463 (51%)

Number served: 904

INTERVENTION & RE-ENTRY

Goal: Reduce the number of youths involved in gangs by providing a continuum of services for families and youths involved in gangs.

The Multidisciplinary Intervention Team (MIT) has been operational since July, 2005.  It is comprised of representatives from the following agencies:  Department of Children and Families, the NMBPD Gang Unit detectives, a Case Managers from the GUESS program, 2 Juvenile Probation officers, the Trust Counselor from NMB Senior High, the Assistant Principal from JFK Middle School, and our Outreach Worker and Intervention Specialist.  We meet every other week at the PanZOu Office to discuss new referrals and case management of clients.  The following are the numbers:
Number served: 397

On the Job Training program - The services provide vocational opportunities to gang involved youths and young adults between the ages of 16-24. Participants are given a comprehensive Work Readiness assessment, which will identify education level, work experience, aptitudes and interests, attitude and comportment, criminal history, family and community relationships, life skills proficiency, and other factors which may pertain to capacity to participate in and benefit from an On The Job Training experience. Based on the Work Readiness assessment, participants receive, as required, specialized training.  Such training includes the Vital Issues Project (VIP), cognitive/behavioral training, pre-employment skills training, adult basic education and academic remediation, and/or life skills training.  Transition, Inc. develops vocational opportunities and sends participants to interviews with local area public and/or private sector employers.  Participants who meet Workforce Investment Act eligibility requirements are vouchered under Individual Training Accounts to receive academic and vocational training leading to a career goal stipulated in the individual’s Career Plan.
Number served:  110

The South Florida Boxing Gym implemented the “6 Rounds to Success” Boxing program. The program ran 2 days a week for 6 months. Youth are referred through the PanZOu Project. The program continues to grow in popularity and had an active roster of 25 youths.  Youth who excelled in the program have been asked to return as peer mentors for the next session.
Number served:  75

ENFORCEMENT

Goal: To reduce gang-related crime in North Miami Beach.

The NMBPD Police Department has selected two officers from each shift, some from Community Patrol, Detective Bureau, (or other units), for a total of 10-12 officers to become a specially trained gang officers/gang unit.  The officers selected for this unit have received special trainings with outside gang experts and attended gang investigator school(s).  Trainings include but are not limited to gathering gang intelligence, gang investigative techniques, tracking and documenting gangs and gang related crime, identifying gang members according to the Florida State Statute, and enhanced prosecution strategies.  The gang officers also received cultural diversity training with specific focus on the Haitian culture.  The Gang Unit funding was awarded July 18, 2005.  The Gang Unit continues to aggressively gathering gang intelligence.  Gang Unit shares all photo’s and field interrogation reports with PanZOu Project.  Since the beginning of July 2006 the mini gang unit was used to staff foot patrol.  The foot patrol detail has two (2) officers on foot working four (4) days a week since August 2005.  The hours of the foot patrol details are 5pm to 9pm but may be flexible to address any changes in gang related activity.  The detail is deployed four (4) days a week in a random pattern for 43 weeks. They are also be deployed as a group when pre-scheduled operations occur as well as in an emergency response to specific gang activity.  Foot patrol officers develop intelligence by identifying gang members and associates with photos and field interview reports which are given to the PanZOu Project.  Foot patrol is having less contact with gang members in these areas and more contact with citizens, receiving excellent feedback from the community thanking them for the effort they are making to improve the safety of their neighborhood.  Gang activity has continued to decrease in these areas. To address the activity from specific apartments, they are working with the NMB Narcotics Unit.

Number served:
·         Over 951 field interrogation cards,
·         Affected 244 arrests, and
·         Issued 119 traffic citations.

The gang unit has been able to identify 13 new gangs operating or influencing the City of North Miami Beach thus bringing the total number of gangs that are influencing the city to 28.

Minimum number receiving direct services from PanZOu since inception (not including community events, and outreach activities, and residents visiting the new resource center): 4,027