Agenda - 06-28-1994-X-A - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 3. At the County level, encourage the Board of Directors of the Department of Social Services to have its staff, particularly those wlto are involved as case workers or as investigators dealing with families and children, receive conflict resolution training. It is the opinion of the Committee that the emotionally charged issues surrounding taking custody of children do create conflict, panicularly between the children's parents and the Department, that could be addressediby such training. The Youth Committee recommends that the Board of Commissioners encourage staff and volunteers in the Guardian Ad Litem Program to receive such training, too. 4. At the County level, offer al.1 county employees, with a special emphasis on human services providers and the sheriffs department, conflict resolution training. The Committee believes that employees who are required to interact with members of the public who are upset, difficult or ill, would benefit from such training. 5. Provide new employees of the municipalities who will work with youth training in conflict resolution. Members of the police and recreation departments could speci5cally benefit from the training. 6. Ask the Distri,,-t Court Judges and Chief Superior Court Judge to request that the Administrative Office of the Courts establish mandatory mediation in all civil domestic case involving children before any action is filed. Such mandatory mediation is currently required in eleven counties in North Carolina. 7. Request the District Court Judges to require convicted juvenile offenders to go through peer mediation, and to obtain authority to require their parents to participate in conflict resolution training to help them learn how to deal with issues of anger involving themselves and their children. The Youth Committee believes strongly that these recommendations need to be enacted immediately and that there are ways to address effectively in whole or in pan the Violent Crime and Drug Abuse Program Task Force Recommendations Nos. 13, 16, 21, 24 and 27. C. After School/Out of School Programs We recommend supporting teen.gathering places outside of the schools, in particular, the orange county ice rink proposal. In addition, we support public transportation to and from those places. The Youth Committee investigated local community programs and gathering places for teens in Orance County that are not school-related. Although the schools fulfill the social and recreational needs of some students during the school day, many feel the need for social events outside of school hours. Most local facilities are primarily used by younger and middle teens while programs and centers based in public housing communities are used only by younger children (under age 11). V1'hile there is continuing need for programs for younger children as, for example, in the South Estes Drive complex, the committee is also concerned about activities for older children. The Youth Committee recommends that the Municipal Boards and County Commissioners support the most effective programs and the best gathering places-for teens, and specifically, the use of the proposed count, skating rink and other exisiing sites for teen activities. The 4