Roving Leaders 061509

Susie Cambria, MSW Public Policy Consulting
Why, oh, why are the Roving Leaders going away? (6/15/09) So the new director of the Department of Parks and Recreation allegedly plans to eliminate the Roving Leaders program. This makes sense. Not.

dcpsnews/newsrelease/News%20Release-% 20Status%20of%20DCPS%20after%203-weeks.pdf on October 29, 2008)

According to the recently released gang report on gang and crew violence, “When allowed to work consistent with the model, there is wide consensus that Roving Leaders have a positive impact on the lives of young people.” (A Blueprint for Action, online at www.dccollaboratives.org, page 16)

While the Roving leaders were successful in helping DCPS achieve their immunization goals, deploying them to meet other needs only dilutes the effectiveness of the intervention, one that is predicated on one-on-one relationships and being available when needed. Their job is to connect with unconnected youth to get them into services and off the street where they are, presumably, engaging in less than optimal behaviors.

The District has been home to the Roving Leaders since 1954 when they were created to engage those we now refer to as “disconnected youth”, those young people who are least likely to be connected with services and supports. The most effective Roving Leaders are legendary and revered for their ability to change lives. They do this by connecting young people to mentoring, employment and training referrals, school and home visits, and one-onone meetings. Mostly, though, the RLs connect with young people. Over the years, Roving Leaders roved less and served other masters more. In September 2003, for instance, Roving Leaders contacted parents of students who were not immunized per school requirements. (DC Public Schools, September 15, 2003, “District of Columbia Public Schools Making Significant Progress in Hiring of New Teachers and Immunizing Students: School Officials Offer Positive Assessment of School Progress in Third Week of Classes”, downloaded from www.k12.dc.us/dcps/

Given the value of the program, demonstrated over the years and more importantly life by life, isn’t solving a management challenge better than eliminating the program?

Levon’s Story Although Levon earned his high school diploma, he wasn't doing much with it. He was spending all his time at home or out playing ball. He needed to get his mind and hands motivated to gain some additional training to make it into the world of meaningful work. A member of the D.C. Roving Leaders referred Levon to Covenant House Washington's Community Outreach Center where he was directed by a Service Manager to participate in the Artisans Woodworking Program. Now, with a newly discovered interest in working with his hands and a talent for creative design, Levon is focused on building a career in woodworking. Just what sparked Levon's interest in wood craftsmanship? The answer to that question can be discovered at the Artisans Woodshop. . . at 1235 Kenilworth Avenue, NE. (Covenant House Washington, October 2, 2003 at http://www.covenanthousedc.org/News&Views/ PressReleaseDocs/2003/PRArtisansOctober2003.htm)

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