County's anti-gang programs will share grant funds

YAKIMA -- The Southeast Yakima Community Center is one of six recipients that will receive federal funds to fight gang problems in the Yakima Valley.

The center will receive the largest amount among the six, $152,314. Under the countywide initiative, nearly $500,000 in grants will help fight the Valley's gang problem.

County commissioners approved contracts Tuesday with those groups, providing a range of prevention and intervention programs.

There are an estimated 2,000 known gang members countywide.

Commissioner Kevin Bouchey, who made attacking the gang problem a plank of his campaign two years ago, called the initiative a comprehensive approach to dealing with gangs.

"We can't convict our way out of this," Bouchey said. "We don't have the resources to lock everyone up."

Commissioner Mike Leita called the initiative an effort to break what he called "the cycle of community complacency" over the gang issue.

He said the community needs to become involved in fighting gangs and gang violence, implicated in more than half the 19 homicides in Yakima County this year.

In addition to the programs, the funding will be used to employ Randy Town of Educational Service District 105 as coordinator for the county gang commission, an organization that includes the county, the 14 cities, and the Yakama Nation. Town's job will be to provide technical assistance to communities throughout the Valley on gang issues.

Harold Delia, administrative consultant for county courts, told commissioners at their weekly meeting the county will be seeking even more money next year, $750,000.

"This is a national model. We are the only ones doing this," Delia said of the countywide nature of the gang initiative and the gang commission concept. "The feds will be looking at us to see if we do well. If we do, they will replicate it."

Private grants from foundations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also are being sought.

Bouchey said he, Delia, Sheriff Ken Irwin and Prosecutor Jim Hagarty put together the list of grant recipients.

The Southeast Yakima Community Center will use its grant to administer outreach, case management and after-school program services.

The other recipients are:

* Educational Service District 105, separate grants of $67,856 and $61,404 -- to provide educational opportunities for gang-involved youth; staffing for the gang commission to implement its mission and goals.

* Yakima County Probation Services, $50,000 -- intensive supervision of high-risk youth gang members and up-to-the-minute information on probation status to law enforcement.

* Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, $54,080 -- mental health, drug and alcohol treatment to gang youth and their families.

* Lower Valley police chiefs, $37,750 -- develop leisure and recreational opportunities in six communities.

* The Victory Outreach Center, $9,163 -- provide intervention and mentoring of youth.

Another $43,400 is being spent on evaluation and data assessment.

* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.