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- emotional well being. The collaborative partners will provide a comprehensive list of services to the fathers and families which include outreach, recruitment, assessment, case management, parenting skills, family economic stability activities, mental health, legal assistance, education, job development,
father/child workshops, field trips and reading workshops. Participating fathers are enrolled in the program for one year and then are encouraged to become "alumni" volunteers and mentors to assist the new participants the following year. The LBCSDC is the ROMA collaboration's lead agency and will facilitate the distribution of grant funds to DHHS and the LBUSD for the first year in the amounts of $115,150 to the City of Long Beach and $12,600 to the LBUSD. For each subsequent year, the parties shall execute an amendment to the agreement that identifies the budgeted amount for distribution of grant funds to each respective collaborative partner for that year.
This matter was reviewed by Senior Deputy City Attorney Donna Gwin on March 23,2005 and Budget Management Officer David Wodynski on March 24,2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]