VENTURA : New Committee to Serve City’s Youth

A new youth services committee, approved by the Ventura City Council on Monday night, will help the city’s various youth organizations coordinate their efforts on behalf of children, advocates say.

“We can make sure that no (child) slips through the cracks in being provided a service,” said Lynne West, director of youth monitoring services for Interface, a nonprofit organization that serves children and families across the county.

The council unanimously approved forming the new committee.

“I’m very pleased to see that we are forming a youth services committee,” said Councilman Gregory L. Carson. “It’s important in these times of limited resources that we really focus in on the youth.”

Currently, Ventura’s Community Youth Task Force and the West Ventura Community Pride Project Team serve at-risk children and adolescents, but do not deal with the broader spectrum of youth issues, city staff members say.

The youth services committee will include representatives of organizations such as Interface, the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura, Ventura County Children’s Services Networks, and students from local high schools.

The existing, city-sponsored youth groups will also be involved with the committee, which will report to the Community Affairs Commission. Committee members will be appointed by the mayor.