By Fatima Khaliq

The Western Addition Community Response Network (WA CRN) is a crisis response agency for District 5. The CRN provides violence prevention, intervention and crisis response services to the Western Addition. When a homicide occurs in the Western Addition, the CRN immediately reports to the crime scene to support the victim’s family and residents. Following a homicide, the CRN provides support through case management and/or referral to a network of services.

Daily, CRN Street Intervention Workers (SIW) “work the streets” in their royal blue jackets providing outreach in areas of the Western Addition where youth and young adults hang out. Our outreach efforts have determined that many young people, mostly young men, need employment and education services to get them off the streets and living a productive life. The youth and young adults we serve are between the ages of 14–24 years old. We focus on building relationships with our clients by listening to their concerns and creating plans to meet their education and employment needs.

Many of our clients have been involved in the criminal justice system and are referred to us by Huckleberry House CARC (Community Assessment and Referral Center) or adult/ juvenile probation. For those clients, we provide intervention services so that they do not become involved in these activities again. For clients that do not have a criminal or violent background, CRN provides prevention services through a combination of case management, program referrals and social groups.

Whether a client needs intervention or prevention services, the first step toward achieving their goals is their willingness to commit to changing their life. With the support of the SIWs, clients work with CRN Case Manager Lindsey Quilitan to identify their challenges and come up with a realistic plan to make changes. The CRN office is open Monday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm, for drop-in services and appointments.

Social Group: Currently we are seeking to support or establish social groups (if no group exists) in the following areas of the Western Addition: Hayes Valley (Hayes Valley Playground), Plaza East, King/ Garvey housing, and Westside Courts. Hayes Valley Playground’s Park and Recreation Department has partnered with WA CRN to host a Girl’s Group for ages 14–17 years of age from November 4 through January 20, 2009, every Tuesday 4:30–6pm. The objective of the Hayes Valley Playground Social Group for Girls is to provide resource information, computer training, and life skill development. To register for the program contact Lekesha Howard at 415-921-2765.

Meet the Staff

Timothy Washington, Senior Street Intervention Worker, supports each SIW who has a specific focus area: Ivory Peterson (Hayes Valley); Marquez Shaw (Plaza East); Karim Mayfield (Martin L. King-Marcus Garvey Cooperative); Walter Redding (McAllister area). Other CRN staff members are: Case Manager Lindsey Quilitan; Programs Coordinator Lekesha Howard; and CRN Coordinator Sandra Bolden. These people are all helping the Western Addition by working with our youth. Please take the time to get to know them.