NY Times Endorses SuperSecret Huberman Violence Plan

I agree with Alexander Russo’s introductory comment, at this time neither the public nor the media (including the New York Times) really has a grasp of what the CPS Safety and Security Strategy is in its totality. For example just the other day I found out a very highly respected Chicago psychologist will be implementing the Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program at Fenger and Harper High Schools. CBITS is a skills-based, child group intervention that is aimed at relieving symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and general anxiety among children exposed to multiple forms of trauma. The program is not designed to address the needs of students clinically identified with oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorders.

I am completely unclear how CBITS will mesh with the mentors being provided by Youth Advocacy Programs (YAP) Inc., a Pennsylvania-based group has been contracted to carry out the mentoring part of the initiative. I am unclear if CBITS will be used at other CPS high schools.

However, this much I do know, the initiative will offer intensive mentoring for approximately 250 students most at-risk of being victims. The mentors or “youth advocates” are on call 24/7 and will be required to spend sixteen or more hours a week with their assigned at-risk students. Each youth advocate will be assigned only 4 students. The advocates are to work “with the student’s family and links them to assistance and support services.” The advocates are to meet with these students’ principals and other “school officials” on a weekly basis. The advocates are also required to intervene on behalf of the students with social service agencies, law enforcement agencies, and the juvenile justice system when necessary.

The total budget for the YAP advocate program is $5 million for one year, including training of advocates, recruitment of advocates, and supervision of advocates. The CPS contract with YAP does not establish any minimal educational requirement for a youth advocate, nor does it require that these advocates be residents of Chicago. Given the advocate to student ratio established by CPS in its contract with YAP, the total cost for each advocate (including training and supervision) will be about $80,000 a year.

I also know that none of the cost for this ever evolving CPS Safety and Security Strategy were established in the CPS FY 2010 budget voted on by the CPS Board in August. Since Obama stimulus dollars (ARRA) are being used to fund this program, apparently the CPS Board thought it was not necessary to include it in the budget projections. But this means the initiative will have no clear funding source beyond 2011.

None of what I have just written means that the strategy will not do some good for some students. But without a plan no one, including the esteemed New York Times, can declare this fragmented strategy will have systemic impact and help to actually reduce violence among inner city students in Chicago.

Rod Estvan

http://www.blip.tv/file/2602116

Plan overview starting at around minute 36.

Play Nice Children

They got into a little fight Saturday last. He caught him on the second floor today.
teeth knocked out, a cheek gashed and puddles of blood all over the hallway. Oh
well just another day in the hood.

Random/fragmented programs aside - wouldn't it be nice if they'd be a bit more clear about exactly how they determined these 'at-risk students'? Oh I remember...their fancy statistical model. There are whispers that they forged ahead too fast with their promises - got too far to go back (too much national press) - then couldn't or wouldn't admit when their promises didn't match the reality. So now they don't want to share the details - because then their ignorance and the waste of millions of dollars would be exposed.

Seems that real beat cops in Chicago don't think much of Huberman's cred. Seems real cops think his massive implementation of crime-watching street cameras is crap - expensive paperweights hung from lampposts. With such skeletons in the closet, I can see why he's super-secret. Call him out.

This business of identifying the most likely candidates for being victims of violence is just plain silliness. They missed so many kids, revealing how limited their perspective from 125 S. Clark really is. They didn't ask for much school/principal imput at all. Many young men & women who have been gang banging & nearly dying were left off the list. Especially if they were upperclassmen. The list are full of this year's freshman, some of who have never even shown up for school yet. Ever since they rolled this idea out they have been telling the principals to basically keep their mouths shut. For all his devotion to his charts, speadsheets, and protocols, Huberman is really overmatched. The whole of the system that has run the schools is falling apart and fast. Good thing? Maybe, but what's coming next?

you're the first person who's seen the list, teacher teacher -- who showed them to you and how long were they for your school or schools? how were they coded and what were principals supposed to do?

spending 30 million on the kids that are in trouble or most likely to be is criminal in itself. the money should be spent the kids that want to learn and too keep them safe. this plan is and will back fire because it will create a system where the bad kids will get attention extra resources. so what do you think the kids that do not get these resources are going to do?

One guess!

That is why it is important to have trained experienced educators making these plans not hack clowns from offices that have meetings in hotels.

next time they need to put on the red noses and big shoes to make the show look good.

HiHo