HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8833INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
No.
April 3, 2007
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS INITIATIVE
The City of Fort Worth launched the Early Childhood Matters (ECM) Initiative in October 2004.
This report presents a brief history of Early Childhood Matters, an update on the current status
and accomplishments of the initiative, and future strategies for implementing the ECM goals.
Background and History
Developing the Early Childhood Matters Plan
In May 2003 the City accepted a challenge from the National League of Cities (NLC) to
develop a plan for early childhood success. In January of 2004, Fort Worth was chosen as
one of six cities nationwide for an NLC Technical Assistance Grant. A committee of key
stakeholders including the City of Fort Worth, Camp Fire USA, Child Care Associates (Head
Start), Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Corporate Champions, Education Service
Center — Region 11, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, FWISD, Fort Worth Museum of
Science and History, the Partnership for Children, United Way of Tarrant County, Workforce
Solutions for Tarrant County, Tarrant County College, and Tarrant County Extension Service
conducted a citywide inventory of early childhood needs, programs, and gaps.
The ECM Working Group developed a Community Action Plan that was endorsed by the City
Council in October 2004. The plan's three central goals are to:
1. support families and primary caregivers to help them support children's learning
2. improve the quality and accessibility of early care and education programs
3. improve the health of children through access to medical care and community education
Implementing the Plan
The ECM Working Group identified a federal grant opportunity, Early Learning Opportunities
Act (ELOA) funding available through the US Department of Health and Human Services
(USDHHS). In July of 2005 Council authorized Workforce Solutions to apply for a 17 -month
grant on behalf of the City. In October of that year the application was approved for funding
which includes $687,138 in federal funds and $124,988 in -kind ($98,038 in staff time, facilities
usage and indirect cost from the City and $26,950 from Camp Fire), for a total of $812,126.
The approach of the ELOA - funded project is to produce change at the neighborhood level — to
reach parents, caregivers, child care professionals and others in defined neighborhoods.
The ECM working group chose two neighborhoods in which to open Early Childhood
Resource Centers (ECRCs). The North Tri- Ethnic and Polytechnic areas were selected based
on data that showed that 40% of children entering kindergarten lacked the necessary skills.
The ECRCs are designed to provide resources, education and support to adults and to
promote the importance of early childhood throughout the community. ECM has convened a
leadership council in each area to provide neighborhood input, guidance, advice, and
community awareness.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
10
April 3, 2007
Page 2of2
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS INITIATIVE
Status of ELOA Grant
Partners and Their Roles
Implementation of the ELOA grant builds on the collaborative ECM approach, bringing the
expertise and existing relationships of partner organizations to bear on the common goal. All
of the partners serve on the Working Group. While partners are many, the key roles are these:
• Workforce Solutions: fiscal agent and liaison with federal agency
• City of Fort Worth Community Relations Department: convener and project manager for
entire project
• Other City Departments: Public Health, Parks and Community Services, Public Library:
facilities, activities and training
• Camp Fire USA: curriculum development and training for parents and child care providers
• FW/SD and Child Care Associates: technical expertise, help communicating with
neighborhood residents
• United Way: oversees marketing and communication plan component
• UT Arlington: project evaluation
• United Community Centers: facility in Polytechnic area
Accomplishments
• Opened two early childhood resource centers by March 2006
• 596 parents attended training for 8,140 contact hours; 45% attended 4 or more sessions
• 3,260 children's books distributed
72 clock hours of training for child care centers, family child care, and others
• Two neighborhood leadership councils actively working to support resource centers
• Special events, billboards, yard signs, community outreach and other public awareness
In the Future
In the adopted 2006 -2007 budget, City Council provided funding to support continuation of the
ECM initiative. The Early Learning Resource Centers are just one strategy working toward
one goal of the overall Early Childhood Matters Community Action Plan. Additional strategies
are needed to implement the other objectives with defined action steps, and to mobilize the
community to achieve the plan's goals. One of the first steps will be to update the City's early
childhood inventory and to carefully define the measurement tools to track our progress going
forward.
Chaves R. Boswell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH. TEXAS