October 23rd, 2015

Youth Action Plan Reaching the Youth Today, For the Future of Tomorrow

“We as a community need to pay more attention to our youth and the issues and pressures they are dealing with day to day. Mental health, drug addiction, homelessness, bullying, identity struggles, lack of intergenerational connection, lack of familial income, and lack of resources are a small example of the issues many of our youth are dealing with. Dropout rates, gang involvement, property damage, violence, addictions and drug sales are just some of the societal effects we are experiencing as a result of not fully engaging our youth. My aim is to make sure this population is no longer overlooked in the short-term, leading to many long-term problems that may be avoided for our community” -Katrina Hobbs Everertt

“In the wake of the Haverhill mill fire which will cost millions and was allegedly set by juveniles, the small investment in the Haverhill youth should be a priority”

Kat’s Youth Action Plan: 1) Work with the Mayor to revive the Council on Youth Needs. (I have submitted an application for this council on September 3rd 2015 to this end). Duties of the Council on Youth Needs: “To address the total needs of the youth of the City of Haverhill, including, without hereby limiting, planning activities, providing direction for obtaining summer employment, scholarship information, counseling and any other avenues that would serve to provide for the needs of the youth in the City of Haverhill” 2) Recruit council members according to city ordinances: “Said Council shall consist of 10 members who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council, to serve without compensation. The membership shall include two students, one member of the clergy, one member of the City's Law Enforcement Department, one member of the City's Recreation Department, one member from the School Department and one member representing the City's Special Needs community. The remaining three members shall be appointed from the general public” 3) Form partnering collaborative relationships with local churches, schools, PTO groups, community servicing agencies, youth serving entities, residents, community television, Haverhill Police Department, Department of Children and Families, and the Juvenile Court. As well as federal and state agencies interested in the welfare and wellbeing of Haverhill city youth. 4) Actively and aggressively work towards addressing issues and needs that are impacting our city in regards to our youth population. Via a youth- led focus, engaging the youth as agents of change.

5) Report quarterly to the Mayor, City Council, and the community of Haverhill on the activities, initiatives, concerns, and current needs of Haverhill Youth.

“The Juvenile Court is committed to your effort”- Judge Newman

• (October 23, 2015): “A student at the John Greenleaf Whittier Middle School was observed with what was believed to be a handgun. The student was removed from the building and was placed under arrest. It appears the student had an air gun that had a similar appearance to a handgun and also had a folding knife in his backpack”. James F. Scully, Superintendent of Schools

• October 2015 (WHAV): 4 youth ages 14, 15 and 16 charged in the September 20th fire (after a failed first attempt back on Sept. 16th). This 7-alarm fire “required the efforts of 30 area fire departments over three days. During the course of the fire, a nearby residential building at 9 Granville Court, also sustained damage” WHAV

• August 24, 2015 (WHAV): Police Charge Juveniles with Bradford Vehicle Break-ins

• June 30, 2015 (WHAV): Haverhill Juvenile Faces Theft-Related, Resisting Arrest Charge

• Dec 2014 (WHAV): “Haverhill Police report a 13-year old male was taken into custody…” “He is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and resisting arrest”

• October 2014 (CNN): The police department in Keene, New Hampshire, wants to identify and prosecute the people who threw objects at police, overturned a car, set fires and engaged in other “riotous behavior” Saturday and Sunday at the city's annual Pumpkin Festival, the city government said Monday. The fire department treated 30 people for injuries. Full bottles and cans of alcohol and even billiard balls were hurled through the air, police said. People shouted expletives at officers, started fires in the road and flipped over a vehicle, Keene Police Chief Kenneth Meola said. Crowds were so hostile that firefighters had trouble reaching the injured, he said. Steven French, 18, who was visiting from Haverhill, Massachusetts, described the chaotic scene to the local paper, The Keene Sentinel, as "wicked." "It's just like a rush. You're revolting from the cops," he told the paper Saturday night. "It's a blast to do things that you're not supposed to do." By Ralph Ellis

School Stats: • Haverhill High is a level 3 school • 2013-2014 Massachusetts Department of Elementary &

Secondary Education HHS Report card shows: o 1,960 students enrolled in the 2013- 2014

1,277 students classified as White 553 students classified as Hispanic/Latino 79 students classified as African American/

Black 35 students classified as Asian 14 students classified as Muti-Race 2 students classified as American

Indian/Alaskan native o 1,184 students were classified as High Needs

(High-needs students: Students at risk of educational failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as students who are living in poverty, who attend high-minority schools (as defined in the Race to the Top application), who are far below grade level, who have left school before receiving a regular high school diploma, who are at risk of not graduating with a diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who have been incarcerated, who have disabilities, or who are English learners.)

o 1,089 students were classified as Male o 871 students were classified as Female o 1,055 students were classified as Low- Income o 403 students were classified as having disabilities o 112 students were classified as English Language

Learners • Last year Haverhill High had181 students disciplined

o 4.8% received in school suspension With the largest percent (21.6%) being

students with disabilities o 6.8% received out of school suspension

With the largest percent (16.4%) being students with disabilities

o 127 offences for “non-drug/ non-violent/ non-criminal offenses” (not otherwise defined)

o 28 offenses for Illegal substances o 22 offenses for physical fights

“The challenges that Haverhill children and its families face cannot be solved through police enforcement”

Youth in the News: