WSA_Youth and Family Master Plan Phase I - September 2009

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service delivery difficult, as the community is often very cautious of engagement with City programs or staff for fear of having to reveal any information related to immigration status. Therefore, providing services to undocumented families in Santa Ana adds a layer of complexity, especially in the area of public safety and civic involvement in programming. Santa Ana is the 8t" most densely populated city in the United States; with a population of 333,236 it has 12,471 people per square mile.5 The average household size is 4.44. In terms of the environment in Santa Ana, there are approximately .9 acres of open space per every 1,000 residents, although the City of Santa Ana City ordinance sets the standard at 2 acres per 1,000 people.6 In California, the average is 3 acres per 1,000 residents and California cities average 7.9 acres per 1,000 residents. With a 34.8% childhood overweightlobese rate, Santa Ana ranks among the highest in the state. The City of Santa Ana is a young city, with a median age of 28.2 years old and 35% of the population under the age of 18 (and another 11 % between the ages of 18 and 24}.7 On average, 84% of elementary school and 72% of intermediate students in Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) schools participate in the free and reduced school lunch program. In terms of crime, the City of Santa Ana has 94 documented street gangs and over 5,000 documented gang members. Of these, approximately 10% are under the age of 18.$ It is our hope that as the City of Santa Ana continues to develop and evolve, the youth programming can meet the needs of the young population by empowering them through a combination of services, safe places and recreation leagues to support their development into healthy young adulthood. The assessment and subsequent recommendations are grounded in the literature on developmental assets, obesity prevention, crime and violence reduction and safe and open spaces. This theoretical framework provided a basis from which the data and information were systematically collected over the 12-month period. Theoretical rationale for Phase I Youth need supportive environments in which to develop and thrive. The developmental assets literature suggests that when children are offered recreation alternatives, such as physical activities, they are less likely to engage in negative behaviors. In reviewing the Search Institute's "40 Developmental Assets," it is clear that community resources are needed to support youth to grow into healthy and responsible adults, including support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, and constructive use of time (The Search Institute, 2009}. In particular, the Developmental Assets lists "#18. Youth Programs: Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in the community" as a key asset for healthy youth development. Developmental assets can be both ignited and fostered when youth are surrounded by communities that provide consistent access to healthy people, places, and programs. Having support from non-parent adults and adult role models can provide a child with a strong foundation for future development and growth. In addition to learning teamwork and responsibility, engaging in team or group-based physical activity and recreation provides youth with the opportunity to interact with positive adults as volunteers and coaches. A partnership between America's Promise, led by General Colin Powell, and the Search Institute, identified five fundamental community resources necessary to engage youth and help them develop into healthy and responsible adults. Among these key resources was the need to create and foster safe 5 US Census, 2005-2007 American Community Survey. 6 City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation & Community Services. US Census, 2005-2007 American Community Survey. s Personal email communication with Detective Sgt. Jon Centanni, May 25, 2009.