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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1303 |
| Critical Support for At-Risk Youth - Delray |
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| Requester: |
Sharon L'Herrou |
Organization: |
Delray Beach Weed & Seed |
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| Project Title: |
Critical Support for At-Risk Youth - Delray |
Date Submitted |
1/12/2005 3:10:16 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Dawson |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| This project reduces crime by serving at-risk youth, the majority of whom have already been in the Criminal Justice System. The Delray Youth Vocational Charter School (DYVCS) currently serves 25 students and will be expanding to 100 in the fall of 2005. Youth are provided with academic and vocational skills training. Approval of this funding request would allow the school to provide additional social services support, life skills training, and tutoring in basic reading skills. |
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| Recipient: |
Delray Youth Vocational Charter School (DYVCS) |
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Contact: |
Dr. Frank Little, Principal |
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1300 SW 30th Avenue, Bldg. #5 |
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Contact Phone: |
(561) 736-7224 |
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Boynton Beach 33426 |
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Contact email: |
docfml@fuse.net |
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| Counties: |
Palm Beach |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| DYVCS was designed to provide an educational venue for at-risk youth between the ages of 14 to 22 that would offer them an alternative to a life of crime: a chance to learn a job skill, earn a GED, and gain life skills. Consistent with its mission, the school provides an academic curriculum and offers training in various disciplines within the automotive industry, a field that has many well-paying jobs for non-college graduates.
This project is requesting funding to add a Social Worker and a Certified Reading Specialist to the staff at the DYVCS. These positions are essential to the school��s mission of successfully turning troubled youth from a life of crime toward a healthy, productive life as tax-paying citizens. The school has found that, on average, 80% of the youth enrolling are reading below a 5th grade level. Most of these students dropped out of their traditional high-schools and were ��hanging out�� on the streets before being enrolled in DYVCS. In order to pass the FCAT and obtain a GED, students must read at a minimum of a 9th grade level. In addition, the school demographics show that 80% of the youth have already been involved with the criminal justice system. Their lack of adaptive life skills contributes to the poor choices many of these youth have made in the past.
Poor reading skills and a lack of a high school diploma are linked with lower incomes and higher risk of incarceration than the general population. Some interesting facts are listed below:
"X Almost 50% of adults on welfare do not have a high school diploma or GED
"X The majority of prisoners in the U.S. do not have a high school diploma or GED
"X 70% of prisoners scored in the lowest two levels in the National Adult Reading Survey
Despite the critical nature of reading skills and social services support, positions for a Certified Reading Specialist and a Social Worker are not included in the school��s current budget due to funding constraints. |
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| Is this a project related to 2004 hurricane damage? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| a. 100% of youth completing the school program will increase their Scholastic Reading Inventory levels by two grade levels.
b. 100% of the youth enrolled in DYVCS will have a service plan completed by the School Social Worker (includes a needs assessment and development of goals).
c. 100% of youth who are identified as needing services will receive a referral to an appropriate agency (where one is available). The Social Worker will identify appropriate agencies, complete referral, and facilitate the youths�� participation in necessary services/ programs.
d. 90% of the youth completing DYVCS will be placed in above minimum-wage employment.
e. 90% of the youth completing DYVCS will remain crime-free for at least one year following the completion of the program. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$86,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$350,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Private, Federal |
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Cash Amount |
$250,000 |
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In-kind Amount |
$100,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
2003-2004 |
Amount: |
$150,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Low reading scores (SRI); Serves youth in locality designated by DOJ as high-crime/low income nghrbd |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Delray Beach City Commission |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
06/08/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
