County of Santa Clara
Office of the Board of Supervisors

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County Government Center, East Wing
70 West Hedding Street, loth Floor
San Jose. California 95110
(408)299-2323
FAX 298-8460 TDD 993-8272

James T. Beall, Jr.

Supervisor, Fourth District

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
VAN PARISH

408 299 3924

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 22,1999
Santa Clara Countv

Supervisor Jim Beall Meets with National Leaders At

White House Summit on Children Exposed to Violence

SAN JOSE, California—^Today, Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall is in

Washington D.C. to meet with President Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno,Secretary
of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and 150 of the nation’s most

renowned experts in the fields of law enforcement, social services and child development
to draft a National Action Plan to address the needs of child crime victims and witnesses.

In the wake of the numerous tragic events that took place on schoolyards last
year. President Clinton launched the Children Exposed to Violence Initiative. The
Initiative focuses public attention on the abuse and violence that devastates the lives of

children. The Initiative is designed to work in partnership with families, communities.

Federal, State and local governments,law enforcement and social service agencies. As
part of the Initiative, the White House directed the Department of Justice and the

Department of Health and Human Services to convene the Summit with a goal of
developing strategies and implementation methodologies.
Supervisor Beall was selected to participate in the Summit because of his

outstanding work in the area of violence prevention. Since joining the Board of
Supervisors, Beall has spearheaded Santa Clara County’s creation of a Violence
Prevention Action Plan and serves as co-chair of the Violence Prevention Council. As a
San Jose City Councilmember, Beall served as co-chair of the San Jose Child Care Task
Force.

“I am honored to participate in this most important dialogue at such a critical
time” said Beall from the Summit. “
For years, families, community organizations and

government have worked separately to try to address the causes and effects of youth

violence. This Summit is an opportunity for child protective service providers, law

enforcement agencies, mental and physical health care practitioners, school officials
domestic violence advocates and government officials to get together in one room’and
develop a plan of action.”

Safe From the Start: The National Summit on Children Exposed to Violence

started today and will conclude on Thursday June 24* with a panel discussion with
President Clinton.
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