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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2015-013 Ordinance approving Budget Ordinance Amendment #8-A for FY 2014-15 transferring funds from Social Justice Fund to Family Success AllianceORD- 2015 -013 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD of COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 19, 2416 Action Agenda Item No. 7 -a SUBJECT: Family Success Alliance Request for Social Justice Funding and Approval of Budget Amendment #8 -A DEPARTMENT: Health Department PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) I No ATTACHMENT(S): None INFORMATION CONTACT: Colleen Bridger, 919-245-2412 Meredith Stewa r, 919-245-2070 PURPOSE: To approve Budget Amendment #8 -A transferring funds from the Social Justice Fund to the Family Success Alliance to 1) pilot kindergarten readiness and literacy programs for at least one school in each of the pilot Family Success Alliance zones; and 2) provide initial funds to a zone partner agency for a Family Success Alliance navigator in each zone. BACKGROUND: The Family Success Alliance (FSA) was created with support and approval from the Board of Commissioners in June 2014 in response to Health Department reports about the growing issue of child poverty in Orange County. In May 2014 Health Department staff highlighted a large and multi-disciplinary body of research showing that a family's income shapes a child's educational, employment, and health outcomes throughout their life. In particular, children who have adverse childhood experiences that are more common among families experiencing poverty are at higher risk of health outcomes like obesity, depression, and substance abuse. FSA staff and zone partners have worked since January 2416 to collect qualitative and quantitative date about the state of the cradle-to-college/career pipeline in each zone. A total of 132 community surveys, 21 in -depth interviews, and 6 focus groups were conducted between January 34th and March 13 th across the two zones. FSA staff also analyzed secondary quantitative data, such as birth data and school performance data, and reviewed existing community reports publically available for each zone, such as Self Help's Northside Housing Market Action Plan. Each zone reviewed the resulting data at a community meeting, and took part in activities to choose initial priorities for action. Zone 4 prioritized the need for transportation, activities to prepare children for kindergarten, and increased support for Latino families. Zone 6 prioritized affordable housing, activities that I prepare children for kindergarten, access to quality, affordable childcare, and support for families like school -based mental health and more community enrichment activities. Taking the results of the recent gap analysis, community prioritization, research, and other cradle-to-career/college models into consideration, FSA staff has identified a solution to be implemented with remaining FY 2014-15 Social Justice Funds to increase zone children's readiness for kindergarten and literacy skills. This action is designed as a first step in building the long -term foundation for the pipeline in each zone, and a cohort of children that can be followed longitudinally throughout the work. The transition to kindergarten is an important one, yet a national survey of kindergarten teachers showed that they considered only about 50% of their students to have made a successful transition to school (Rimm- Kaufman, Pianta, & Cox, 2444 ). This transition includes challenges such as the social demands of new peer relationships and the need to follow new classroom routines, in addition to the cognitive demands of school (Berlin, Dunning, & Dodge, 2010). Many school systems, including within Orange County, have experimented with strategies to facilitate the transition to kindergarten. Mirroring national trends (LoCasale- Crouch et al. 2448; Pianta et al., 2441), the most frequently used transition strategies are "low- intensity, generic contact such as flyers, brochures, and open houses." This is the case also in Orange County, where schools and educators struggle to find the resources to implement systematic transition strategies for incoming kindergartners. One school reported that they ask teachers to do at least one home visit to each of their new kindergartners before the year begins, outside of their regular teaching responsibilities. Another school reported holding open -house style informational sessions to interested parents. Both expressed interest in expanding and formalizing their kindergarten prepa ratio nitransition practices if resources allowed. Responding to these needs, and the research showing the importance of early literacy and preparation for kindergarten, this request for funds would allocate funds to at least one school in each zone to pilot a kindergarten "kick start" program and literacy services for incoming kindergartners who 1) have not attended pre - school or other organized care or 2) are otherwise identified as being at -risk for transition challenges that may affect their academic, emotional, or other well- being. FSA staff has already begun conversations with staff at several schools to identify evidence -based curricula and plan for logistics. In preliminary conversations, the identified Zone 4 School is New Hope Elementary and the Zone 6 Schools are Carrboro Elementary and Frank Porter Graham Elementary. Northside Elementary (Zone 6) will likely send identified students to Carrboro Elementary for logistical reasons. Approximately $84,444 of the requested total will be allocated for these activities, with the total amount being split between the zones to meet identified student need. FSA staff will also work with each pilot program to ensure that activities are evaluated to show the effects of this investment. The remaining amount of the total request, approximately $10,000, will be used to fund temporary staff based in a partner organization in each zone to act as a zone "navigator' for the end of this fiscal year (FY 2414 -16 ). Continuing funds for fiscal year 2416 -16 for these positions will be granted to partner organizations in each zone as a grant, and will be approximately $150,000 of the requested $264,444 FSA budget for FY 2015-16. No permanent County positions will be added with this proposal. These navigators will serve both short -term and long- term functions for the FSA project. K In the short -term, these navigators will assist in identifying and enrolling the incoming kindergartners in the proposed kick start program. They may also work with the families of these kindergartners by conducting home visits before and after the start of school to prepare children and families for kindergarten, and to coordinate existing supports provided by the other agencies along the cradle-to-career/college pipeline. In the long -term, these positions will form the foundation for a coordinated support network — providing the link between parents, children, school, and other supports in the zone. Similar programs exist in model cradle-to-career/college projects such as the Northside Achievement Zone and East Durham Children's Initiative. These staff members would be located not at the Health Department, but within an agency in the zones and the priority is to hire staff with deep familiarity in the zones (ideally a community member). NOTE: Additional information about the Family Success Alliance Advisory Council and zones can be found at www.orangecountync.gov/health/fsa.asp. Data from the gap analysis will be posted on the website after the web migration takes place. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Board previously approved Budget Amendment #6 -A in February 2015 transferring $10,000 from the Social Justice Fund to the Health Department to pay for Family Success Alliance attendance at the Harlem Children's Zone Practitioners Institute. The total funding proposed for transfer through this Budget Amendment #8 -A is $90,000, which would effectively utilize the remaining Social Justice Funds designated for Family Success Alliance use for FY 2014 -15. The majority of these funds (approximately $80,000) would be allocated to a pilot kindergarten preparation program with literacy focus in at least schools. The remainder of the funds (approximately $10,000) would be allocated for one navigator at a partner agency in each zone for the remainder of FY 2014 -15. Continuing funding for these positions for FY 2015 -16 will be approximately $150,000 of the requested $250,000 budget for FSA and will be granted to partner organizations. No new permanent County positions will be created with this proposal. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget Amendment #8 -A transferring funds from the Social Justice Fund to the Family Success Alliance to 1) pilot kindergarten readiness and literacy programs for at least one school in each of the pilot Family Success Alliance zones; and 2) provide initial funds to a zone partner agency for a Family Success Alliance navigator in each zone.