TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and any subsequent amendments with the Los Angeles County Children and Families First, Proposition 10 Commission - First 5 LA, to continue the Communities Strategy 1, Community Leadership and Collaborative Initiative, Central Long Beach Learning by Doing Program, and accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $345,329, for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. (Districts 1,2,6,7)
DISCUSSION
On July 19, 2016, the City Council authorized an agreement with the Los Angeles County Children and Families First, Proposition 10 Commission - First 5 LA, to accept funding in the amount of $323,423, for the period from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 to implement the Best Start Central Long Beach Learning by Doing Program. The Long Beach Health and Human Services Department (Health Department) has been awarded a grant in the amount of $345,329, to continue to work with the Best Start Central Long Beach Community Partnership to build community capacity in the Central Long Beach area.
The Central Long Beach community has a long history of working together to improve the services and resources available to Central Long Beach residents. The area has been described as having a “culture of collaboration” where the participation of multiple sectors is actively promoted. The diversity and extent of the Central Long Beach community's leadership is a model for service coordination.
The Health Department was selected by First 5 LA to be the lead agency in coordinating the Communities Strategy 1, Community Leadership and Collaboration Initiative - Central Long Beach Learning by Doing Program, formerly known as the Best Start Central Long Beach Initiative, for a third year of funding. The Health Department will continue the coordination of multiple subcontractors to implement the various strategies and activities included in the performance matrix. During the first two years, community residents and organizations serving the area assumed leadership roles that contributed to the achievement of performance objectives. It is anticipated that these community partners will continue their leadership roles into the future.
The performance matrix was developed in conjunction with the Best Start Community Partnership, the governing body consisting of Central Long Beach residents and organizations serving this area, and is designed to improve family capacities to demonstrate parental resilience, knowledge of parenting and child development, and awareness of resources that will support the development of relationships that nurture their children’s social and emotional competence. The target population is families with children ages 0-3 who reside within the borders established by First 5 LA. The performance matrix employs two strategies: 1) build parent leadership capacity, and 2) strengthen the existing Central Long Beach Best Start collaboratives, the home visitation collaborative and the Long Beach Child Abuse and Neglect Network, to strengthen organizational capacity and support service coordination. The Health Department, in collaboration with four subcontractors, will oversee and evaluate program execution. Activities include: an Early Learning Festival with the Early Childhood Education Committee taking the lead; meetings with stakeholders to identify strategies to prevent child abuse and increase community awareness through continuation of a media campaign developed in the first year; and service provider trainings to increase skills in serving families who have had a history of emotional trauma.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on June 20, 2017 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on June 23, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on July 11, 2017, to accept funding and continue program operations to meet required objectives.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City is eligible to receive reimbursement up to $345,329 for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. Sufficient funds are currently appropriated in the Health Fund (SR 130) in the Health and Human Services Department (HE). No match or in-kind service mandate is required, and there is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER