HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2017-075 Resolution approving the Rural Impact County Challenge RES-2017-075 U
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION
RURAL IMPACT
COUNTY F LLENGE
WHEREAS, small towns and rural communities are home to millions of Americans and are a
vibrant part of our nation's economy;and
WHEREAS, in 2014, approximately 1.4 million children in rural areas were poor and over 700,000
children lived in rural families with cash incomes that fell below half of the poverty line;and
WHEREAS, high rates of poverty have persisted for generations, including over 300 rural counties
with poverty rates of over 20 percent in every Census since 1980; and
WHEREAS, investing in poor children and their families not only reduces poverty in the near term,
but also improves children's education, health,and earnings outcomes later in life;and
WHEREAS,rural and tribal communities face distinct challenges,including limited access to critical
services, fewer job prospects, and in some places, relative lack of institutional capacity; and
WHEREAS, no matter where they live, all families aspire for the cornerstones of economic
security: a well-paying job, child care,a college education,health care,a home, and retirement; and
WHEREAS, Orange County and all counties recognize that a child's zip code should not determine
her destiny, and that every child should have the opportunity to succeed; and
WHEREAS, Orange County formed The Family Success Alliance (FSA) in 2014 in response to
significant disparities in opportunities for children in Orange County, in both rural and urban areas.
It is designed as a place-based initiative to build a pipeline of success from cradle-to-college/career.
FSA uses a "collective impact" approach to bring together community members, local government
agencies, non-profits, and other community leaders to close the opportunity gap and eliminate
intergenerational poverty in two zones where families are struggling to make ends meet.;and
WHEREAS, through The Rural Impact County Challenge, the National Association of Counties and
the White House Rural Council are encouraging public, private and nonprofit leaders to reduce the
number of children living in poverty in rural areas;
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, THAT we, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, do hereby sign on to the Call to Action to reduce the number of children living in
poverty, commit to sharing lessons learned with other counties in my state and across the country to
support a national initiative and encourage all county officials, employees and residents to participate
in The Rural Impact County Challen Challen
Impact County ge. We resolve to utilize the resources available through The Rural
ge to:
• Convene or draw on a diverse team of leaders and decision makers from multiple agencies
committed to reducing the number of children and families in rural areas living in poverty.
• Develop a plan with measurable outcomes that improves access, participation, and/or
impact of evidence-based and other promising practices in one or more of the following
areas: early childhood education, nutrition, workforce development, and health and human
services.
• Implement research-based approaches that advance the plan.
• Create a process to track progress using data and information systems, and to report on
successes. q
ADOPTED AND APPROVED this—1;( day of 017.
Mark Dorosin, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners