Youth And Violence Issues Being Tackled During Task Force Meeting

Elected city and school board officials are asking: Are you concerned about your child’s cyber safety? About bullying/sexting, virtual gaming addictions, mental health, violence, drugs, or alcohol use among kids?

Special keynote speaker Melissa Donaldson will address these youth issues during the June 20 meeting of the Regional Family, Youth and Health Task Force, scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. at Murrieta City Hall, 1 Town Square.

Donaldson serves as executive director for Safe Alternatives For Everyone (S.A.F.E.), a nonprofit agency providing services for children, youth and families throughout Riverside County who have experienced, or are at risk of, abuse and violence.

“Throughout her career, Donaldson has operated domestic violence shelters, programs for runaway and homeless youth, gang diversion, foster care, group homes, drug and alcohol treatment, and child abuse programs,” according to a news release distributed by the City of Temecula.

The Regional Family, Youth and Health Task Force is represented by elected city and school board officials from across Southwest Riverside County including Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Menifee, San Jacinto, Perris, Canyon Lake, and Hemet.

Wildomar officials include city council members Ben Benoit and Bridgette Moore. Lake Elsinore officials include Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Johnson, Councilman Steve Manos, Lake Elsinore Unified School District governing board president Tom Thomas. Canyon Lake is represented by city councilman Tim Brown.

Thursday’s meeting marks just the second one for the task force and it will be led this week by Murrieta Mayor Rick Gibbs and Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar.

The task force’s goal is to provide resources and information about issues affecting youths in the community. The group’s first meeting was held in April.

The public is invited to the meetings.