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SANTA ANA EARLY PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION <br />COMMISSION <br />ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />In response to local and national trends in the youth gang problem, in February <br />of 2007 the Santa Ana City Council created the Early Prevention and Intervention <br />Commission (EPIC)'. Santa Ana is demographically one of the youngest cities in the <br />United States, and a number of its youth are involved in gangs. The devastating effect <br />of violent gang crime in our community, as in others throughout the nation, prompted <br />the City Council to create the Early Prevention and Intervention Commission to help <br />deal with the problem in a systematic and strategic manner. The Commission's primary <br />objective is to provide recommendations to the City Council for early gang prevention <br />and intervention services and programs based on a coordinated approach, with a focus <br />on developing a continuum of services based upon sound public policy. The purpose of <br />this report is to comply with the EPIC city ordinance requirement that the Commission <br />provide the City Council with an annual report on its progress and status. <br />During the last year, the Commission held nine monthly public community <br />meetings four of which were held in neighborhood venues, participated in <br />neighborhood walking tours, reviewed existing youth programs and services and <br />brought in experts to conduct presentations to the Commission to expand their <br />knowledge about the scope and nature of the youth gang problem. In consultation with <br />staff and the community, the Commission adopted the following vision to guide it in its <br />long-term view of the community: <br />Santa Ana as a safe, healthy and connected community, empowering <br />its youth and families with trust and dignity to achieve success. <br />In addition, the Commission held a number of strategic planning meetings and an <br />all day working retreat to develop a strategic agenda and map the way forward. The five <br />commission working groups met at feast monthly in addition to the full commission <br />meetings in order to work on specific youth issues. Throughout its work and <br />deliberations, the Commission sought out community input and heard from <br />The Commission held its first official meeting on April 25, 2007 <br />EPIC Progress Report to City Council - 2008 Page 5 <br />19D-6 <br />