◆ SpookStack

meee ET eee re pe ae ee An Re rN AE RNR ae Ne ee RO Ne i le Ae RN EM Hem iP RM RE Eo aw 31014 . {ie splendid Big-Brother and Big Sister idea, which has accomplished euch wonderful results, and which the Police Department has fusterod for so many years, has headquarters in the Bireente . I, as District Attorney, anc other members of my staff, mect with nolico officore in small groups at the Police Academy. Various vhascs of juvenile crime are Ciscussed, We believe that the nolics department ia one of the key agencies in Giscovering and bringing to the attention of the proper authoritics the first outcroppings cf delinquconcy. The Police Department is constantly on the watch for places wnich aro hazardous to childron, Within the last two months sovoral indccont shows nave docn raidod, arrests made, convictions ~ obteincd. Adults handling pornographic pictures have boon. arrested, prosécuted and convicted. - : : : ‘ . . . . ate . . SAN FRASCTSCOG CGORTINATING COUNCIL: This Council was set up a few years aco for the purpose of ™ furthering tho coopsra- tion and coordination amons: the owblic cepartmonts and between the public dopartments ond social agencics ina more effective orogram for the youth of .fan Francisco’. D uring 1944, the Coordinating Council orGinance was amended and the structure of .the Council ° — . changec. ‘the District Attorney poceme a meibor of the Council, which now has a zcnbership of ten ana an executive secretary. Tho official members of the Council are the Chief of Polico, Chief of Juvenile Zrobatinn Officer, Superintendent of Schools, Suporintendent of Recreation, and the District Attorney. Fivé lay members of tho Council arc avoointed by yourself, as you know. . : The Board of E ducation conducts a parental school, suggestea by tho Coordinating Council. “Parents are onrolled in the . school and attend eight weekly lectures. This work is well carried on and the instruction is extremely valuable, The District : Attorney's office hendles ono of these locture pericds, instructs the group of the various phises of the "legal responsibility of parenthood", oo Under the San Francisco Coordinating Council thers are ning district Goordinating Councils situnted in tho nine districts of the city. Mest mectings of these District Coordinating Councils are attendcd by a representative of tho Mstrict Attorney's offices Thoy havo proved extrencly interssting. The enthusiasm and geal of the members of the District Comaittecs is inspiring. Moctings are well attended--tho :verage attendance being 16 poople, In addition to official members present, thero frequently saoned to be 2 number of "peonle in the ncighborhood" who were participating in the work of the Tistrict Council. These committoos are familiar with their Cistricts anf are intimately ccquainted with the proDlems and needs of the sreas. This type of work at the noighborhood lovel is of extensive valuo and should de encouraged and expanded. Mombers cf theso district councils are discouraged and frustrated, how.ver, over the failure of the Coordinating Council to cive assistance in executing the carefully developed plans’ for cistrict improvements which they have ropeatedly recommondcd, In a special repert by the 1044 Grand Jury, the ineffoctive= ness of the Coorcinating Council under tho lssal linitations .curr- ounding its orssent setuy is commented upon. The report approves this office's sucgzestion that 211 work anc activity of every kind relating to children and youth in eur’ eity should be under the super= vision of a Pirector of Chile Welfare, said director to have capaci ty and authority similar to the Director of Public Health. Now legislation is proaably not neccssary, pecauso the exceutive scce retary of the Council can av coubdt Go this work. <A new socretary has doen employed, and time should demonstrate the validity of this suctgestion. ‘Ye sre convincec that the Council is coing a nece essary work and aiding the city-wide child welfcre program, 7. Ga-1