MOORPARK : City, Schools Weigh Anti-Gang Program

Moorpark city and school officials are working with an Oxnard-based Latino social services agency to set up what would be the county’s first gang-prevention program jointly sponsored by a city and a school district.

“It may be unusual” for a city and school district to jointly sponsor such an outreach program, said Thomas G. Duffy, superintendent of Moorpark Unified School District. “But there’s a need.”

The program, which officials hope to have running by fall, would seek to steer youths away from gangs by addressing their problems, said Lonnie Miramontes, director of community services at El Concilio, the agency working with Moorpark officials.

As envisioned, the program would provide free after-school tutoring to children in first through eighth grades. For older youths, a counselor would conduct rap sessions on issues such as peer and family relationships.

Parents would be offered classes on “how to talk with their kids if they have problems,” Miramontes said.

El Concilio already operates similar programs in Oxnard. Last week, children took part in an after-school cultural enrichment program where they learned about painting still-lifes.

Such programs “offer a stronger support mechanism for young people,” Miramontes said.

“Once you get people involved in caring about themselves--whether it’s self-esteem, whether it’s parenting involvement, whether it’s consistency in doing homework--it opens up positive avenues. It allows the person a better choice.”

Miramontes estimated that the Moorpark program would cost $60,000 to $70,000 a year.

The city has set aside $40,000 for the program’s first two years and school officials are looking at ways to provide their share. El Concilio would contribute staff during the first years.

“We would like for the community eventually to just take it over,” Miramontes said, adding that volunteers from the city will be crucial to the program’s success.