Upfront YOUTH
Neighbors, educators seek to encourage Palo Alto youth School board, city looks to resident groups for help in increasing teens’ resilience by Sue Dremann he majority of Palo Alto teens think their neighborhoods are unfriendly, but residents in Midtown say they want to change that perception. Residents brainstormed about ways to improve the sense of connection youth feel to their neighborhoods in a meeting with Palo Alto Board of Education member Melissa Baten Caswell Tuesday, March 20. Only 35 percent of Palo Alto high school students felt valued by their neighbors, and only 22 percent felt valued by their community, Baten Caswell said, referring to the results of the city’s 2010 “developmental assets” survey. “That’s very sad,” Baten Caswell told Midtown residents. The survey was taken by 4,055 students. The numbers aren’t much better for middle and elementary school students: 40 percent of middle school and 34 percent of elementary students feel valued in their community. The meeting was part of the city’s effort to engage neighborhood associations and community groups in supporting teens. Through an initiative called Project Safety Net, school board members plan to meet with neighborhood associations and community groups in the coming months, teaching them about 41 developmental assets that help youth stay resilient in the face of stress. Project Safety Net was started after
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the series of student deaths by suicide that began in 2009. The developmental assets are divided into broad categories: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies and positive identity. Within those groups, individual assets include whether a child feels support and protection from family or school, feels a sense of value in his or her community, is involved in sports or creative activities or feels that life has a purpose. Baten Caswell asked residents to sign a pledge to reach out to youth in one or two asset areas. The outreach could be as simple as saying “Hi” to teens or hosting a barbecue — anything that says youth are valued and recognized, she said. She cited as an example a teen who said being asked how she was doing on a day when she was feeling low changed her whole attitude. The more assets a child possesses, the less at risk he or she is to depression, suicide and risky behaviors such as drinking and drug use. Children with only 11 to 20 assets in their lives are considered vulnerable, and those with fewer are at risk, according to Project Safety Net. Among Palo Alto students, 38 percent are considered vulnerable, with 6 percent at risk, according to the survey. The survey asked students how
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and a lucrative career as a property manager in her family’s business, Frankel Properties, prior to the stroke. She was in a coma for six weeks and woke up unable to use her right side and with limited use of her left. She requires full-time, round-the-clock care, Woodson said. The case was originally filed in 2008 but was dismissed in May 2010 with prejudice, which meant it could not be reopened, she said. Stanford University Medical Center, which was also a defendant, had petitioned the court for a summary judgment. Frankel’s previous attorney felt he would have difficulty opposing or winning the summary judgment and dropped the case, Woodson said. Frankel then hired David Bovino of Aspen, Colo., and co-counsels Emison Hullverson Mitchell LLP of San Francisco. The firms were able to get the case reopened by showing there were “triable issues of fact,” Woodson said. Stanford settled the case for an
What do you think of the verdict against the Palo Alto Medical Foundation? Talk about the case on Town Square, the online discussion forum, on Palo Alto Online.
undisclosed sum on Feb. 21, the first day of the trial, she said. The jury found Palo Alto Medical was negligent in Frankel’s treatment and care, and that negligence was a substantial factor in causing her harm. The verdict includes $2 million for past economic losses in earnings and past medical expenses, $14 million for future economic losses and Frankel’s future care, and $6 million for pain and suffering. The pain and suffering award would immediately be capped at $250,000, however, as required under the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act of 1975, Woodson said. There aren’t many medical malpractice cases in California, due to the pain and suffering cap, Woodson said. The large verdict is probably because of Frankel’s young age and the long life she is expected to
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they felt about statements such as: “In my neighborhood there are a lot of people who care about me.” “Adults in my town make me feel important.” “Adults in my town don’t care about me or care about what I say.” And “No one ever says ‘Hi’ to me on the street.” Among elementary school students, 57 percent said they experience caring neighbors. For middle school students, the number was 49 percent. Baten Caswell asked residents to engage with their neighborhood youth. “You don’t have to have children to make a difference,” she said. Every contact, from complimenting the teen grocery-store clerk to just saying hello, matters. “Do you remember an adult who made a difference in your life?” Baten Caswell asked. Resident Cynthia Tham recalled two adults who had given her jobs when she was very young. The message she received? “I felt useful,” she said. Terry Godfrey, Project Safety Net member and vice president of the nonprofit Partners in Education, said she set up a trampoline in her yard and invited the neighborhood kids. At first, she was concerned the number of bouncing children would crush little ones. But she had the older ones be responsible for watching the small kids, she said. Some residents considered adding more social events, pointing to a monthly neighborhood soup party that attracts families. Annette Glanckopf, the Midtown Resident Association’s emergencypreparation chair, suggested perhaps block-preparedness coordinators could hold more social events or train youth in the program. Baten Caswell said the goal is that two thirds of Palo Alto youth will have 21 or more developmental assets (putting them in the “adequate”
live with her disabilities. Frankel’s medical care costs between $300,000 and $350,000 per year, Woodson said. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Carol Overton is expected to enter the final judgment on the verdict in a few weeks. Woodson said an appeal by the medical foundation is expected and is standard in such cases. It could be filed in about two to three months after the final judgment is entered. Dr. Richard Slavin, CEO of Palo Alto Medical Foundation, said in a statement Wednesday: “We deeply sympathize with Ms. Frankel and her family. While we respect the jury process, the medical group is presently considering its legal options. We believe that the care provided by the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group was appropriate. We appreciate the trust that the community has placed in us for the past 80 years to provide the best possible care for our patients. The safety and health of our patients has always been, and will continue to be, our highest priority.” N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.
category) and that none will have fewer than 10 by 2021. An initiative by the City of Los Gatos, which was spearheaded by its mayor, shows that a dramatic turnaround is possible, she said. In 2006-07, 62 percent of high school students were termed “at risk.” In 2011, the number had dropped to 47 percent, she said. At-risk seventh- and eighth-graders
dropped from 42 to 21 percent. “The mayor did a youth-friendly business campaign; 17,000 adults signed pledged that they would commit to assets,” she said. Information about Palo Alto’s Project Safety Net is available at www.psnpaloalto.com. N Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be emailed at sdremann @paweekly.com.
CityView A round-up of
Palo Alto government action this week
City Council (March 12)
Edgewood Plaza: The council voted to approve the proposed redevelopment of Edgewood Plaza, which includes 10 new houses and renovations to three retail buildings. Yes: Burt, Espinosa, Klein, Price, Scharff, Schmid, Shepherd, Yeh No: Holman
Council Finance Committee (March 20)
Electricity: The committee recommended that the city’s Utilities Department adopt a “100 percent clean electricity” portfolio. Yes: Unanimous
Council Rail Committee (March 22)
Rail: The committee heard a report from its Sacramento lobbyist and discussed the latest legislation concerning California’s proposed high-speed-rail system. Yes: None
LET’S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk about the issues at Town Square at PaloAltoOnline.com
Public Agenda A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a retreat to discuss the city’s infrastructure backlog and ways to pay for the needed repairs. The retreat will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 26, in the Downtown Library (270 Forest Ave.). CITY COUNCIL ... The council is scheduled to meet in closed session to evaluate and set goals for the city auditor. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board will hold a 5 p.m. “tenure celebration” for 43 teachers who are receiving tenure under state guidelines, followed by its regular meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. The board expects to hear reports from Palo Alto Partners in Education, the Elementary Math Task Force and the Citizens’ Oversight Committee on the Parcel Tax; hear staff proposals on measures to mitigate concerns about the new academic calendar for 2012-13; and review a consultant’s report on high-school guidance counseling models; The regular meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, in the board room of school district headquarters (25 Churchill Ave.). UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss proposed adjustments to water and wastewater rates. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27 in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss proposed changes to the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course, review the proposed design for the Magical Bridge playground and consider a proposal to limit amplified sound at Lytton Plaza. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, at Lucie Stern Community Center (1305 Middlefield Road). PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the revised Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and consider 885 Seale Ave., a request to remodel and build a onestory addition to a family residence. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in the Council Chambers at City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.). RAIL CORRIDOR STUDY TASK FORCE ... The city will host a public meeting to discuss the recently released Rail Corridor Study, which considers the community’s vision for the Caltrain corridor. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, at Lucie Stern Community Center (1305 Middlefield Road).