Santa Monica’s Youth to Get a 10-Year Boost : Education: Jolted by a study that shows more than half its young people feel hopeless about the future, Santa Monica plans to spend $11 million to address their problems.

An 18-month study of youth in Santa Monica found that nearly half of high school students lack self-esteem and feel hopeless about the future.

To combat that, the City Council agreed this week to embark on a 10-year, $11-million program to evaluate the needs of youth during “each phase of their life from birth to age 18 in order to develop . . . by the year 2000 a city which has invested heavily, and wisely, in its youth and their families.”

A citizen task force compiled a comprehensive report on the needs of youth and came up with 109 recommendations for a “preventive services and action agenda” involving youth as the “key architects and engineers” of their future.

In simple terms, the task force said in its report, “the plan is designed to make Santa Monica a good place to grow up.”

The council agreed to immediately allocate $84,179 to fund the program for the remaining six months of the fiscal year. The money will be used to hire a coordinator for youth and child-care activities, create a youth commission to help formulate strategies and hold a Kids City Project weekend in May during which youth will be allowed to speak out on issues. Funding decisions for the program will be made year to year.

The task force interviewed more than 1,200 youths and more than 400 parents, educators, staff members of social service organizations and other residents through questionnaires, forums and focus groups.

The critical problems of youth that the study identified are family violence, substance abuse, gang activity, lack of employment and recreational opportunities, dropping out of school and depression.

Among the findings:

* 55% of high school students surveyed noted family violence as a significant problem.

* Middle and high school students identified substance abuse and gang violence as the top two problems for young people. Half of the students surveyed in Santa Monica’s public high schools said they use alcohol on a regular basis.

* Both parents and youth in separate interviews identified the lack of jobs as one of the top three problems for youth.

* When asked how they spend their free time, middle and high school students most frequently mentioned watching television, going to the movies and hanging out at shopping malls.

* More than half of the students in middle and high schools said depression is a problem for themselves or their friends. About 35% of girls and 21% of boys reported suicidal thoughts, and 18% of girls and 6% of boys reported attempting suicide.

The findings “challenge the notion that Santa Monica youth are impervious to the pressures felt elsewhere,” the study said.

“The single most important thing that can be said is that we have a void that has to be filled,” said Councilman David Finkel, who made the motion to approve the plan. The council voted unanimously to support it.

During the first 18 months of the program--one of only about 10 nationwide--a “Kids City” will be created. A group of middle and high school students will identify the most important youth issues, develop proposals for a youth center and create a formal organizing network including a youth commission.

Another component of the plan is an outreach program to let families know about available services and bring those services to targeted neighborhoods.

In the area of recreation, the plan includes improving parks, training staff in stress supervision skills and doubling after-school hour programs.

The report said “there can be nothing of any greater significance” than providing affordable, quality child care for both single and working parents and teen-age mothers.

The report recommends that the city contribute an additional $150,000 a year to the $550,000 it already gives to nonprofit human service organizations, particularly those with early intervention programs that keep minority students from dropping out.

The task force acknowledged that the city will probably not be able to pay the entire cost of the program over the 10 years and will seek private funding and new city revenues--possibly including new taxes--to fully implement it.

A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOUTH

FINDINGS

* Over half of students in middle and high schools say depression is a problem for themselves or their friends. Thirty-five percent of girls and 21% of boys reported suicidal thoughts, while 18% of girls and 6% of boys reported attempting suicide.

* 55% of high school students cited family violence.

* Middle and high school students identified substance abuse and gang violence as the top two problems. Half of the high school students polled said they use alcohol on a regular basis.

* Parents and youths cited lack of jobs as one of top three problems.

RECOMMENDATIONS

* Creation of a youth center for a variety of activities.

* Formation of a Youth Commission to help develop programs.

* Improvements at parks and doubling after-school programs.

* $150,000 increase in the city’s annual contribution of $550,000 to nonprofit human service organizations.