2014-28755 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2014-28755
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENCOURAGE
RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY TO SUPPORT
OUR KIDS OF MIAMI-DADE/MONROE, INC. IN ITS EFFORT TO
CREATE SAFE HAVENS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
THROUGH FOSTER CARE, DONATIONS, VOLUNTARISM AND
ADOPTION.
WHEREAS, Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. was established in 2002 to
provide a comprehensive range of foster care and adoption services previously
performed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, such as prevention, case
management, adoption, independent living services for transitioning foster care youth,
and many other related programs; and
WHEREAS, there are more than 3,700 children throughout Miami-Dade and
Monroe counties currently in foster care needing support, comfort and guidance during
this difficult time in their lives and the number needing help continues to grow triggering
a need for more quality foster and adoptive parents; and
WHEREAS, Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc., is seeking the City's
participation in its grassroots campaign, "Our Community Taking Care of Our Kids"; and
WHEREAS, the campaign's mission is to raise awareness about Our Kids and
inform the community about the needs of the child welfare system and community-
based care by encouraging residents and employees to take action and become: foster
parents, adoptive parents, donors and volunteers; and
WHEREAS, one of the campaign's goals is to encourage caring adults to
become foster parents providing temporary care to a child or children whose parents are
currently unable and/or unwilling to care for them; and
WHEREAS, a second goal of the campaign is to promote adoption as a means
of transitioning children from foster care to stable, loving homes;
WHEREAS, a third goal of the campaign is to recruit volunteers who are
committed to giving back and making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable
children in the Miami-Dade and Monroe communities; and
WHEREAS, the final goal of the campaign is to seek monetary donations to
provide foster youth with necessities above and beyond what state funding provides; and
WHEREAS, our community may have residents and employees able and ready
to become foster parents, adopt children, make a financial contribution or volunteer on
behalf of vulnerable children in our community.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorize the City Manager or his designee to encourage residents
and employees of the City to support Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. in its effort to
create safe havens for children through foster care, donations, voluntarism and adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 17 day of s�eP eiW&K , 2014.
Mme(
P J-6 Ane
ATTEST:
. 7c APPROVED AS TO
CITY CLERK INCORP!ORATED: FORM & LANGUAGE
Rafael E. Granad® , .. �ai i,/(�A�_ c^ & FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney Date
Raul J. Aguila
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COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
Condensed Title:
Request For Approval To Authorize the City Manager or his designee to support Our Kids in its effort to create safe
havens for children and families in foster care
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
N/A
Supporting Data(Surveys, Environmental Scan,etc.): N/A
Issue:
Shall the City Commission authorize the support?
Item Summa /Recommendation:
Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. provides a comprehensive range of foster care and adoption services,
including those that were previously performed by the Florida Department of Children and Families.Our community
has seen a significant increase in the number of children needing services with more than 3,700 children
throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties currently in foster care. In an effort to serve these youth and provide
them with stable, nurturing environments, Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. has launched its grassroots
campaign, "Our Community Taking Care of Our Kids".
The campaign seeks to raise awareness about Our Kids and inform our community about the needs of the child
welfare system and community-based care. Its goal is to increase supporters who will become foster parents,
adoptive parents, donors and/or volunteers. The campaign will secure support from community stakeholders
including municipalities and businesses in hopes of reaching large, diverse, widespread audiences to raise
awareness and encourage greater support of Our Kids and the most vulnerable children in our community.
Through marketing materials,targeted emails and communications,Our Kids will assist the City in creating a mini-
marketing campaign for our employees and residents to obtain commitments in the four areas of foster parenting,
adoption, donations and voluntarism.
This item is sponsored by Commissioner Deede Weithorn.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission authorize the Manager or his designee to
Provide support for this awareness campaign.
Advisory Board Recommendation:
N/A
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account
Funds: N/A
2
Total
Financial Impact Summary: No City funds will be required for this effort.
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Maria L. Ruiz, Office of Housing &Community Services Department Director, Ext#6491
Sign-Offs:
Department Director Assistant Cit Mana er City na er
MLR KGB JLM
T:\AGENDA\2014\September\Our Kids SUMMARY 09172014.doc 17 T
AGENDA.ITEM P7C
MIAMIBEACH DATE -17-IV
-
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beath, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach,Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members o the City mmission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: September 17, 2014
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR IND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS
DESIGNEE TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY TO
SUPPORT OUR KIDS OF MIAMI-DARE/MONROE, INC. IN ITS EFFORT TO
CREATE SAFE HAVENS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH FOSTER
CARE, DONATIONS, VOLUNTARISM AND ADOPTION.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution as sponsored b Commissioner Deede Weithorn.
P P Y
FUNDING
No funds are being requested for this item.
ANALYSIS
Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc.was established in 2002 and began providing services
in 2005. The agency provides a comprehensive range of foster care and adoption services,
including those that were previously performed by the Florida Department of Children and
Families (DCF), such as prevention, case management, adoption, independent living
services for transitioning foster care youth, and other related programs.
Our Kids' mission is to oversee and lead a coordinated system of care in order to deliver
needed services to abused,abandoned,and neglected children and their families in Miami- l
Dade and the Florida Keys.
Our community has seen a significant increase in the number of children needing services
with more than 3,700 children throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties currently in
foster care. In an effort to serve these youth and provide them with stable, nurturing
environments, Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. has launched its grassroots campaign,
"Our Community Taking Care of Our Kids".
The campaign seeks to raise awareness about Our Kids and inform our community about
the needs of the child welfare system and community-based care. Its goal is to increase
supporters who will become foster parents,adoptive parents,donors and/or volunteers.The
campaign will secure support from community stakeholders including municipalities and
businesses in hopes of reaching large, diverse,widespread audiences to raise awareness
and encourage greater support of Our Kids and the most vulnerable children in our
community.
September 17, 2014
City Commission Meeting
Page 2of2
Through marketing materials,targeted emails and communications, Our Kids will assist the
City in creating a mini-marketing campaign for our employees and residents to obtain
commitments in these four areas:
Becoming a Foster Parent: Foster a child, change a future
A foster parent is one who provides temporary care to a child or children whose parents are
currently unable and/or unwilling to care for them. Hundreds of children in Miami-Dade and
Monroe need someone who can provide them with much needed love and support. Adults
who are interested in becoming a foster parent will be required to successfully complete all
courses and meet requirements necessary to become a foster parent and begin making a
difference in the life of a child.
Adopting a Child: Become a Forever Family
Adoption provides children with a permanent, safe and loving environment. Adoption is a
legal action that gives all parental rights to adoptive parents, making the adopted child a
legal member of the new family with all rights and privileges of a biological child.Adopting a
child out of foster care can be the most rewarding experience of a lifetime. Most adults who
can provide a stable, loving home to a child can adopt. Married couples, single parents,
working mothers, parents who already have children, people who live in apartments, and
people of any religious faith, race and education level will be considered.
Becoming a Volunteer: Want to get involved?
Volunteering in support of a cause that you believe in can be one of the most rewarding and
beneficial experiences of your lifetime. Our Kids, its agencies and partners, are in need of
volunteers who are committed to giving back and making a difference in the lives of the most
vulnerable children in Miami-Dade and Monroe communities. There are many volunteer
opportunities available. Our Kids is prepared to help interested parties choose the best
volunteer fit including the Guardian Ad Litem program.
Giving a Donation: How can you help?
Charitable giving makes.a huge impact on the abused, abandoned and neglected children
served in our community. The support of private individuals, corporations and foundations
allows Our Kids to go above and beyond what state funding provides. Donations of time,
money, services or goods to benefit children in care are welcomed.
Additional information about this campaign can be found at www.fosteringourkids.org or by
calling 1-855-786-Kids (5437).
CONCLUSION
The Administration requests that the Mayor and City Commission authorize the City
Manager or his designee to encourage residents and employees of the City to support Our
Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. in its effort to create safe havens for children through foster
care, do tions, voluntarism and adoption.
JLM/KG - MLR
TAAGENDA\2014\September\Our Kids MEMO 09172014.doc