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<br />THE VISION OF THE EARLY PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION COMMISSION <br />The Commission has developed a vision that will guide and focus its efforts on <br />systemic chance. That vision is: <br />"Santa Ana as a safe, healthy and connected community; empowering <br />its youth and families with trust and dignity to achieve success" <br />This vision represents a specific view of how a community becomes healthy and <br />effective by being empowered to help itself. This also represents a departure from the <br />belief that programs and services must be provided to needy neighborhoods without <br />building the capacity of a community to develop and manage resources in effective and <br />creative ways. The Commission believes that only by building community capacity will <br />early prevention and intervention strategies work. Thus, the Commission views <br />community building as a critical component of any effort aimed at improving <br />neighborhood conditions in a sustainable way. <br />As stated by the Community Building Exchange, "fundamentally, community <br />building involves strengthening the capacity of neighborhood residents, associations, <br />and organizations to identify priorities and opportunities for change and to work <br />individually and collectively to foster and sustain community improvements. Community <br />capacity building involves a number of components, including leadership development, <br />community organizing, organizational development, and fostering collaboration among <br />organizations." The City's Neighborhood Association network serves as an example of <br />capacity building, which could be tapped to help achieve future youth-related objectives. <br />The vision of the Commission succinctly embodies these principles. In addition, the <br />Commission believes that the gang problem must be viewed as a public health matter <br />and treated accordingly. <br />COMMISSION GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES <br />The mission, primary objectives and responsibilities of the Early Prevention and <br />Intervention Commission are outlined in City Ordinance NS-2732 and the Commission's <br />bylaws. In summary they are: <br />EPIC Progress Report to City Council - 2008 Page 12 <br />19D-13 <br />