TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement and subsequent amendments with the Long Beach Community Services Development Corporation and the Long Beach Unified School District for a collaborative grant from the Knight Foundation to fund the Role of Men Academy program for $750,000 for a period of five years; and increase appropriations in the Health Fund (SR 130) in Department of Health and Human Services (HE) by $115,150. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach in partnership with the Long Beach Community Services Development Corporation (LBCSDC) and the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Head Start and Child Development Centers programs, has been
awarded a five-year national demonstration grant from the John E. and James L. Knight Foundation, in the amount of $750,000, for the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Role of Men Academy (ROMA) Collaboration. The
purpose of ROMA is to enhance the parenting and life skills of fathers of children 0-5 years of age residing in the 90806 area of Long Beach. The Role of Men Program was initiated in 1996 to assist the DHHS State grant-funded Black Infant Health program in decreasing the high rate of infant mortality
among African Americans in Long Beach by increasing the positive role of men/fathers in childbirth and child rearing and promoting a healthier family atmosphere. Since its inception, more than 3,000 fathers of African American and other ethnic backgrounds have graduated from the program, and many have continued to be involved with the program by assisting new participants through mentoring and community projects. The Knight Foundation's program goal of ROMA is for the three organizations, LBCSDC, LBUSD and DHHS, to work in
partnership to serve more than 600 fathers and their children in the 90806 Target Area by continuing to increase the parenting and life skills among fathers while enhancing their involvement with their children's educational and socio- emo...
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