School Laws of Oklahoma

Chapter 12 - Safety and Security
Article VII: Community Youth Development Act

Section 1058. Community Youth Development Act. (10 O.S. § 601.61)

This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Community Youth Development Act”.

Section 1059. Purpose of Act. (10 O.S. § 601.62)

A. The Legislature recognizes that the economic cost of crime to the state and communities within this state continues to drain existing resources, and the cost to victims, both economic and psychological, is traumatic and tragic.

1. Recognizing that many adults in the criminal justice system were once delinquents in the juvenile justice system, the Legislature also recognizes that the most effective crime and delinquency prevention programs are programs that not only provide children and youth with positive activities, opportunities and successes, but also meet local community needs and have substantial community involvement and support.

2. It is the belief of the Legislature that the best investment of scarce resources available to combat crime is to counteract the negative social and economic factors that contribute to criminal and delinquent behavior by engaging children and youth, at an early age, in such positive programs and opportunities at the local school and local community level.

B. Therefore, for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of later involvement in criminal or delinquent activities, the intent of the Legislature in enacting the Community Youth Development Act is to provide for school, school-related and after-school programs for children and youth and their families who live in at-risk school districts, neighborhoods and communities.

Section 1060. Definitions. (10 O.S. § 601.63)

For the purposes of the Community Youth Development Act:

1. “Community children and youth development programs and delinquency prevention and early intervention programs and activities” includes but is not limited to the following for participating youth and their families:

a. intensive school and school-related programs, such as tutoring and other educational services,

b. vocational training and counseling,

c. employment services,

d. counseling services, such as family counseling, mental health counseling, substance abuse outpatient treatment and education,

e. recreational and cultural opportunities including but not limited to sports, games, music, art and similar activities, and

f. neighborhood development programs, including but not limited to neighborhood mediation programs for the resolution of disputes involving children and youth, mentor or big brother and big sister programs, and voluntary community service programs for children and youth; and

2. “School, school-related or after-school programs and activities” means community children and youth development programs and delinquency prevention and early intervention programs and activities that occur during and outside of regular school hours.

Section 1061. Duties of Commission on Children and Youth. (10 O.S. § 601.64)

A. From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose of implementating the Community Youth Development Act, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth shall:

1. Issue requests for proposals and contract with eligible entities for community children and youth development programs and delinquency prevention and early intervention programs; and

2. Provide information and technical assistance to school districts, neighborhood and community organizations, and agencies within the children and youth service system, as that term is defined by Section 600 of Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, for the purpose of assisting them to make application for federal and private grants for community children and youth development programs and delinquency prevention and early intervention programs.

B. The Commission, with the assistance of and information provided by the Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Commerce, shall establish eligibility criteria for identifying neighborhoods, school districts, communities and specific areas within school districts and communities having crime rate, economic or other demographic characteristics recognized as indicators of distressed areas. The Department of Human Services, the statutorily created juvenile bureaus, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Commerce shall provide the Commission with information and assistance, as requested by the Commission, for the purpose of establishing the criteria required by this subsection.

Section 1062. Implementation of Act. (10 O.S. § 601.65)

A. The Commission on Children and Youth shall establish the proposal submission procedures and criteria and shall promulgate rules as necessary for the implementation of the Community Youth Development Act.

B. In order to be eligible for a contract pursuant to the Community Youth Development Act the proposal, at minimum, shall:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria established by the Commission;

2. Be a joint proposal made by a school district, neighborhood organization, municipality or county and one or more agencies or organizations within the children and youth service system. If a school district is not a joint participant in the proposal, the proposal shall document and describe the active participation in and support of the local school district in the program and activities for which the proposal is submitted;

3. Be for programs and activities for children not less than six (6) years of age or more than nineteen (19) years of age, or in grades one through twelve, whichever is applicable;

4. Describe the respective roles and responsibilities for the administration and operation of the program and activities, including but not limited to the designation of the entity responsible for the receipt and expenditure of any funds awarded pursuant to the Community Youth Development Act;

5. Include a match for the costs of the proposed program from the local school or other entity submitting the proposal. The match may be monetary or may be an in-kind match;

6. Specifically identify the area within a school district or community or the neighborhood where the programs and activities will be implemented;

7. Describe how the program will coordinate and cooperate with programs and services administered by the Department of Human Services, the State Department of Education, and other state or local agencies, agencies within the children and youth service system and courts and law enforcement, as appropriate for the proposed program;

8. Provide the program and activities on site in a school, community center, or similar location within the identified area of the school district or community; and

9. Include face-to-face contact with the parents, guardians or custodians of youth participating in the program and visits to the homes of such youth as an integral part of the programs and activities for which the proposal is submitted.

C. The Commission on Children and Youth shall evaluate at least annually each entity which receives a contract pursuant to the Community Youth Development Act. The evaluation report shall document the extent to which the program objectives have been met, as well as other information deemed necessary or appropriate by the Commission. Each entity receiving a contract pursuant to the Community Youth Development Act shall submit information to the Commission as required by the Commission.

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