LTC 255-2006 re: The Children's Trust Renews Funding for City of Miami Beach Youth Programs
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MiAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 255-2006
LETTER TO COMMISSION
FROM:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager~ ~.
October 5, 2006 () 0
TO:
DATE:
SUBJECT: The Children's Trust Renews Funding for City of Miami Beach Youth Programs
The purpose of this LTC is to inform you that The Children's Trust has approved grant
contract renewals to continue funding for two key City programs: the Out of Schools grant,
which funds the City's after school and summer programs and the Promotion and Prevention
grant which funds the City's truancy prevention program. In addition, the City is continuing to
pursue a third contract with The Trust, to fund a Service Partnership on Miami Beach.
The funded programs are as follows:
Out-Of-School ProQram
The Children's Trust has awarded the City a one (1) year contract renewal in the amount of
$525,000 to continue enhancements implemented in the Parks and Recreation
Department's After School and Summer programs. The Trust funding is combined with City
dollars to fund 325 participants, between the ages of 5-13 years old from low-moderate
income households to participate in the summer and after-school program. One third of The
Trust funds will go directly into scholarships, the balance of funding will be used for the
following: social skills development, salaries, transportation, program supplies (including
books), after school snacks, uniforms and field trips for the participants. Additional program
activities also include literacy, family involvement/outreach, educational events, physical
activitylfitness and water safety. The program, which is currently held at North Shore Park
and Youth Center, will supplement over $1 ,000,000 in City funding already dedicated to this
program. The City has allocated funding in the amount of $175,000 in the FY 06/07 budget
to provide these enhancements to Parks and Recreation programs citywide.
This is the third year that The Children's Trust has funded this program. To-date, Children's
Trust has awarded $1,151,500 to this program.
Promotion and Prevention
The Children's Trust has also awarded the City a one (1) year contract renewal in the
amount of $205,520 for the City's Truancy Prevention program administered by the
Neighborhood Services Department. The program provides after-school tutoring during the
school week (Monday thru Thursday), and Saturday enrichment programming for 40
students, grades 3 - 4 from low-moderate income homes enrolled in Miami Beach feeder
pattern schools. All children must be at-risk for academic failure and truancy to be in the
program. The program also provides home-based assessments and referrals for needed
services. . The program is held at Fienberg Fisher Elementary School and Biscayne
Elementary School.
The results from Year 1 of the program (FY 05/06) are as follows:
. 61 % of the youth in the program increased their GPA by at least 0.15.
. 89% of the youth in the program decreased their absenteeism by at least 20%
The Neighborhood Services Department will conduct post-program tracking in June 2007 to
follow up on the progress of participants who were in the class of 2006. Year-end
performance data will once again be obtained on two primary markers: Grade Point Average
and attendance.
This is the second year that The Children's Trust has funded this successful program. To-
date, Children's Trust has awarded $401,814 this program.
Service Partnership
The City is pursuing a Service Partnership grant with the Trust to provide a comprehensive
Truancy Service Partnership on Miami Beach.
Both the City and The Children's Trust have expressed a desire to continue to partner in the
future in order to serve the needs of the youth in our community.
Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information.
JMG/KB/JH
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