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Quorum: Yes

Chair’s Report:
Dr. Martin acknowledged outgoing Board member Kymberly Cook with a plaque expressing appreciation for her participation on the Children and Families Advisory Board. Kymberly was not able to attend today’s meeting. The plaque will be delivered to her.

Dave Evans expressed appreciation to Mike Knievel, Interim Community Services Director for his support and response to the Board’s request to include an increase in the per capita rate in the funding recommendation submitted to the County Manager.

Based upon the assumed increase, the budget sub-committee and County staff have prepared budget recommendations based upon a $.50 increase in the per capita rate for Children and Community. Mr. Evans gave an overview of the changes in the scoring process and the increase in the weight of the monitoring. He further stated that in the 2006-2007 funding criteria, item 2, funding of new programs, a cut-off score of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 was established. As a result of the additional funding, he is recommending that item 2 be revised to reduce the cut-off score from 3.0 to 2.0, but programs scoring between 2.99 and 2.0 receiving only 50% of calculated value. New programs that score below 2.0 would not be considered for funding. The Evaluation Elements were also provided.

An alphabetical listing of all programs was provided with the overall score, as well as the cost effectiveness efficiency spread sheet with applicable scores. A summary of monitoring scores was also provided for each program.

There are three programs that applied for funding that have open issues. One program is not currently in Operation, the Family Crisis Help Center Youth of Valor Program. The second program, Bethune Center’s Have-A-Chance program has some unresolved tax issues, and payments have currently been suspended until items are resolved. The third program has had a change in organization. The corporation currently responsible for the program is going to disband and another organization will be operating the program. The Richard V. Moore Community Center will be under the organization of the Bethune Cookman College.

Dave Evans reviewed proposal of the budget sub-committee for children. If the per capita increase is approved, the Children funding would be $2,225,921, an increase of 17.20%. Recommended funding for new programs is $50,148, existing programs $1,988,620, summer camp $215,000 and contingency/reserve of $22,301. The percentages assigned to scores for children and community were presented. Every existing program was recommended for an increase. Only one new children’s program fell below the minimum score of 2.0. Deborah Denys asked how much impact the Board would have if the program received no funding. For example Great Kids Middle School program was recommended for $3,413. If they do not receive the funding, does it still exist? One of the concerns expressed by Dave Evans was that we require a lot of work from the agencies, the application, the monitoring, the reporting, for a relatively small amount of money. Deborah Denys expressed concern if the board is being effective and being good stewards with the money in funding everything for the sake of numbers, or if the funding recommended is not enough to run the program, is it the right thing to do. Is it better to take those dollars and allocate them to a tried and proven effective program? MaryLou Mirino stated this has been an issue in the past and the Board would ask the agency if the program would be able to run with the limited funding. The new cut off in scoring would be the same approximate 60% as used before. Dr. Martin asked is the Board was supposed to be encouraging new programs. This is an on-going discussion and Dave Evans replied that the Board should be encouraging new programs; the real issue is the sun-setting of funding to existing programs to make way for new programs. MaryLou Mirino stated that the Board’s wishes were that the agencies would become more self-sufficient and secure alternate sources of funding. Dave Evans stated that the Board has built that fact into the formula this year.

In reviewing the Community dollars the total increase would be 29%. Out of funding availability of $989,298, $872,511 would be allocated to existing programs, $49,358 to new programs, $50,00 to homeless assistance, and $17,429 contingency/reserve. Several new programs fell below the original 3.0 minimum score; however, they scored over the 2.0 minimum score. Some recommendations were small amounts of money.

Deborah Denys questioned if this was the appropriate time to pull the funding for the three programs mentioned earlier, Youth of Valor, Richard V. Moore, and the Bethune Center. Essie Smith questioned if the Board is considering suspending the funds for these three programs until questions are resolved. Deborah Denys stated that as a Board, they are responsible to hold the agencies accountable. Deborah Denys made a motion that funding for Family Crisis Help Center’s Youth of Valor, Richard V. Moore Community Center and the Bethune Center’s Have-A-Chance Program be held in suspense until issues are successfully resolved as deemed by the Board. Motion seconded by Dr. Martin. Motion passed.

Motion made by Dr. Martin and seconded by Deborah Denys to approve revising the cut-off score for new programs from 3.0 to 2.0. with a 50% reduction to those programs that fell below the 2.0. Motion passed.

Motion made by Karen Bourbonnais and seconded by Essie Smith that percentages assigned to scores for Community funding as recommended be approved. Motion passed.

MaryLou Mirino questioned why percentages are different between Children and Community. Dave Evans explained that the per capita rate is not the same for Children as it is for Community. The increase in the per capita rate is $.50 for each pool. However, the Children pool is much larger.

Motion made by Karen Bourbonnais and seconded by MaryLou Mirino that percentages assigned to scores for Children funding, as recommended, be approved. Motion passed.

Motion by Deborah Denys and seconded by MaryLou Mirino that the funding recommendations for Children and Community, as recommended, be forwarded to the full CFAB. Motion passed.

Dave Evans suggested that a date be set for the full board to meet. Committee agreed on August 16 at 4:30 pm at United Way. Dave Evans requested that representatives of the three agencies, whose recommended funding are in suspense, attend the August 16 meeting. (Ruth Plummer of Family Crisis Center, Joan Thompson, representing Richard V. Moore Community Center and Dr. Reed of Bethune College and Frances Mobley of the Bethune Center).

Public Participation:
Joan Thompson, Richard V. Moore Community Center.
Claris MacKie, Family Renew Community
Jim King, Association for Retarded Citizens
Loretta Jennings, Outreach Community Care Network


Board Participation:
Dr. Henry Martin suggested that two items be put on the agenda for the next meeting, i.e. sun setting of funding. Deborah Denys expressed concern that according to Council’s procedures terms of four board members would be over. These board members are Mary Bruno, Dr. Martin, MaryLou Mirino and Maria Augustine. There will be an effect of these members leaving the board with their vast experience. She suggested that the board approach the County Council to request a one or two year extension, because there is a lot of transition going on in the County, the loss of the experience on the board. Dr. Martin suggested that the item be put on the agenda for the next meeting. Dave Evans also suggested that the scoring methodology be discussed at the next meeting to see if it’s feasible to continue using the same approach. Mr. Evans stated that he had hoped the “community needs assessment” would have been completed by this time so it could be used as a tool for evaluation. Karen Bourbonnais stated that the board needs to appoint a representative to the Community Alliance. She will continue to serve as the representative until the board makes a new appointment.

Meeting Adjourned: 6:45 pm.

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