Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
February 23, 2010
Agenda Report # 471
TO: Mayor and City Council
SUBJECT: Learning Together Parents as Teachers Program
INITIATED BY: Joanne Cavis, Cooperative Extension Service
Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application is if approved
accept a $98,480 grant from the Governor?s Office for Children and Families
(2010 System of Care: Community Strategy Grant Program) and adjust the
Multi-Governmental Fund by the grant amount.
Background: What happens in early childhood matters for a lifetime. The basic
principles of neuroscience indicate that providing supportive and positive
conditions for early childhood development is more effective and less costly
than attempting to address the consequences of adversity later.
Results from the Building Prosperity in Columbus study by the Fanning Institute
and Columbus community leaders, show that there is a high need to have our
children ready to succeed in school, but little in the community to support
parents preparing their birth through age three children. Since education
begins at home and parents are their children?s first and most influential
teachers, educating and supporting parents is a logical strategy.
Parent education programs are needed to increase the number of parents of very
young children who understand positive discipline techniques, child development
and developmentally appropriate practices, in order to prevent child
maltreatment and prepare them to succeed in school. This program will use the
Parents As Teachers curricula and a personal visit approach to provide families
with the information and skills needed to create a nurturing and safe
environment for their children age birth through three years. This project is
congruent with research on early brain development. The mission of the
Governor?s Office on Children and Families is to build capacity in communities
using the System Of Care (SOC) approach (coordinating and integrating
prevention and intervention programs from multiple entities) to build
infrastructure needed for positive outcomes for children and families. The
Zero-To-Three Task Force, composed of community partners who have interest in
and/or services for very young children and their parents, is facilitating the
development of an SOC that addresses the target audience so that children are
ready to succeed when they enter school. The Learning Together Parents As
Teachers program is one component of the System Of Care. More parent educators
are needed.
Analysis: This grant will enable the continuation of the parent education
programming, as well as increasing the capacity to reach more children and
parents, delivered by Cooperative Extension over the last 25 years. There is no
cost to the participants who have few choices for proactive parent education
programs. UGA Cooperative Extension is a recognized leader in delivery of high
quality training and, as a collaborator with others who need training and
resources. This grant will ensure the continuation of the Learning Together
Parents As Teachers program in Columbus, as well as provide leverage dollars to
secure additional grant funding. All transactions will be conducted through
the Local Government Finance System. The grant period is June 1, 2010 through
June 30, 2011.
Financial Considerations: The grant is for a total of $98,480 and will become
a component of the Positive Parenting Program. Funding requests will be
considered for a second and third year. Preference is given to applicants that
have investments from at least one other source in their community, which would
be covered by the $8,000 match in the FY10 and proposed $8,000 match in the
FY11 Positive Parenting budget.
Legal Considerations: The applicant, Columbus Consolidated Government (for
Positive Parenting Program), is eligible to receive these funds.
Recommendation/Action: Approval is requested to submit and application and if
approved accept a $98,480 grant from the Governor?s Office for Children and
Families and adjust the Multi-Governmental Fund by the grant amount.
A RESOLUTION
No. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND IF APPROVED ACCEPT
$98,480 IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE GOVERNOR?S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO
FUND PROGRAMMING TO EDUCATE THE PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND TO AMEND THE
MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY A LIKE AMOUNT, WITH A LOCAL MATCH OF $8,000.
WHEREAS, the funds have been made available from the Governor?s Office
For Children and Families for the purpose of conducting parenting education
under a System Of Care: Community Strategy Grant Program in the EDUCATED
Result Area; and,
WHEREAS, the UGA Cooperative Extension in Columbus has operated
parenting education programs under the umbrella of Positive Parenting Program;
and,
WHEREAS, there is a need to increase the knowledge and skills of
parents with young children so that they can provide a nurturing and safe
environment; and,
WHEREAS, parent education is a proven deterrent to prevent child
maltreatment and parents are their child?s first teachers who help them be
ready to succeed in school; and,
WHEREAS, there is limited access to pro-active parent education for
families in transition or parents who want to increase their parenting skills
and knowledge; and,
WHEREAS, it is important to keep in active status, the Learning Together
Parents As Teachers program in Columbus.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is here by authorized to submit an application
and if approved accept a $98,480 grant from the Governor?s Office for Children
and Families to fund a parent education program and authorize amending the
Multi-Governmental fund by the award of the grant.
___________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the 23rd day of February, 2010 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _________members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting ____________
Councilor Anthony voting ____________
Councilor Baker voting ____________
Councilor Barnes voting ____________
Councilor Davis voting ____________
Councilor Henderson voting ____________
Councilor Hunter voting ____________
Councilor McDaniel voting ____________
Councilor Turner Pugh voting ____________
Councilor Woodson voting ____________
____________________________________ ______________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor
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