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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-10 City CouncilTO: FROM: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report POLICY & SERVICES COMMITTEE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES DATE:FEBRUARY 10, 1998 CMR: 131:98 SUBJECT:SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT REGARDING PROPOSED FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REPORT IN BRIEF At the November 12, 1997 Policy and Services Committee meeting, staff was directed to return with information on an evaluation mechanism for determining the effectiveness of the proposed FRC, and to provide a definition for "family." This report details staff’s response to the P & S Committee’s request for additional information. The development of an evaluation process is critical to the success of the FRC if it is to provide the resources and services that the community desires. Staff believes that two separate types of evaluations need to take place during the first three years of the FRC. First, because it is important that the ]:RC be governed by an independent steering committee, staff believes that the tools and processes that will comprise the FRC annual self-evaluation be developed by the steering committee during the first year of operation. Second, in the third year of operation, staff will make an independent assessment of the effectiveness of the program and return to Cotmcil with a recommendation to continue, alter or end the program. Regarding a definition of"family", the FRC will define family as, "A family consists of two or more people, whether living together or apart, related by blood, marriage, adoption, or commitment to care for one another." CMR: 131:98 Page 1 of 5 TO:POLICY & SERVICES COMMITTEE FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES DATE:FEBRUARY 10, 1998 CMR: 131:98 SUBJECT:SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT REGARDING PROPOSED FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IMPLEMENTATION PLAN RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve the attached Family Resource Center (FRC) Implementation Plan, as described in CMR: 415:97 (Attachment One). BACKGROUND On July 5, 1994, Council endorsed a process to develop a conceptual proposal for a FRC. In November 1994, a 29-member task force was assembled to assess the needs of the community and develop a business plan to implement a FRC. In May 1996, the Family Resource Center Business Plan was transmitted to Council (CMR:254:96). No action to implement the plan was taken at that time. On October 20, 1997, staff forwarded to Council a proposed FRC Implementation Plan and budget (CMR:415:97), which was referred to the Policy and Services (P&S) Committee for discussion at its November 12, 1997 meeting. At the November 12, 1997 P&S Committee meeting, staff was directed to return with information on an-evaluation mechanism for determining the effectiveness of the proposed FRC, and to provide a definition for "family." This report details staff’s response to the P & S Committee’s request for additional information. DISCUSSION Staff is projecting that the implementation of the FRC will be accomplished in three phases, over approximately three and one-half years. During Phase One, which is considered a "start-up" phase, an advisory Committee comprised of City staff, family service providers, Palo Alto Unified School District representatives, and business andcommunity members will be formed. This committee will direct the development of all organizational elements, including the development of the FRC’s governance and structure, information dissemination CMR:131:98 Page 2 of 5 programs, parmership with family providers, promotional and advocacy programs, fund raising and progress evaluations. Staff believes that this committee will have the knowledge and expertise to develop an annual self-evaluation tool for the FRC. This annual self- evaluation will give the Advisory Committee the data to make sound decisions to adapt programming to fit the community needs. Evaluation Guidelines This self-evaluation process wili focus on determining FRC outputs and outcomes and will be implemented, on an annual basis, beginning in Phase Two. The following examples describe how outputs and outcomes could be measured. These examples are ideas only, as the FRC Advisory Committee will develop the specific evaluation measures dm-ing Phase One. Outputs could be defined by such quantitative factors as: ¯Number of people that access the FRC Web site ¯Number of service providers who join the provider partnership ¯Number of media resources that contribute to the promotion and advocacy campaign ¯Number of individuals served by FRC programs and activities ¯Number of brochures and materials distributed Examples of output measurement tools could include surveys and the collection and analysis of FRC data. Outcomes, which are defined as benefits to people, will be measured by qualitative factors such as new knowledge, or improved conditions for families. Outcomes could be assessed through: ¯focus groups ¯interviews with participants ¯surveys Examples of questions that would provide information on such qualitative factors could include: ¯ ® How did you hear about the FRC? Describe your interactions with FRC staff: were they helpful in providing information about services and programs in Palo Alto? How long did it take for you to identify the services/programs you were interested in after your initial contact with the FRC? Were the services provided by the FRC beneficial to you? Why or why not? Do you have any suggestions for improving the services provided by the FRC? CMR:131:98 Page 3 of 5 The reformation gathered through an evaluation process will be incorporated into the FRC operation by redesigning programs, developing new initiatives, and reshaping strategic direction for each succeeding phase. Staff Assessment In Phase Three, and as part of the 2000/01 budget process, staff will return to Council with a full assessment of the FRC and make recommendations as to the continued funding of the program. At that time, staff will also make an evaluation as to whether the FRC will be ready to be "spun-off’, after Phase Three, into a nonprofit organization. Staff’s assessment will be based on; the effectiveness of the program, using the FRC Advisory Committee’s annual self-evaluation as part of the evaluation, the level of outside ftmding, the potential for increased outside funding, and community input. In addition to evaluating the FRC’s benefits to the community, staffwill also assess the FRC operation as a whole. General categories related to the operation of the FRC could include: Collaborative efforts - To what extent is the FRC a lrue collaboration of service providers, PAUSD, City staff, and the community? ’Volunteers - Is the FRC making adequate use of volunteer resources to augment staff resources? Cost-effective use of City funds - What did the funds purchase? Is the FRC cost- effective in relation to the number of people served? How do these costs compare with similar organizations? Diversification of Funding - What funds were raised from non-City sources? What was received from individuals, foundations, corporations, fees, and in-kind sources? What percentage of FRC funds were raised from non-City sources? ServiceDelivery - Who is being served by the FRC? Are all parts of the City represented geographically? Is there an emphasis on a particular group such as single parents or those for whom English is a second language? Definition of"Famil¥" The original FRC Task Force spent a considerable amount of time deliberating this issue and concluded that the proposed FRC would consider "family" in a broadly-defined and inclusive manner. The following definition of"family" as stated by Family Service America, supports this sentiment: "A family consists of two or more people, whether living together or apart, related by blood, marriage, adoption, or commitment to care for one another." CMR:13l:98 Page 4 of 5 RESOURCE IMPACT As stated in CMR:415:97, the staff recommendation for the proposed budget for the FRC included spending $44,400 from the General Fund in FY 1997/98 (this funding was approved in the I997/98 budget). Because the time line has slipped by two months, staff anticipates that General Fund spending FY1997/98 will be reduced to approximately $15,000. Staff will request FY1998/99 FRC funding through the upcoming budget process. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This recommendation creates a program that is described in the draft Palo Mto Comprehensive Implementation Plan section entitled Community Facilities and Services. TIME LINE The proposed implementation plan reflects a three-phase approach to the development of the FRC. Staff anticipates .that the three phases Will span approximately three and one-half years, at which point the FRC would transition from a City program to an independent agency in the community. If Council approves staff’s recommendations, the FRC could begin Phase One implementation in April 1998. ATTACHMENTS Attachment One: CMR:415:97 Proposed Development of a Family Resource Center Three-Year Implementation Plan for the PREPARED BY: Ilene Hertz, Manager of Child Care & Family Services DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW~~ PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: CMR:131:98 Page 5 of 5 TO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE Cl i f CO~SNCiL 3 ATTENTION: POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Community Services DATE: SUBJECT: October 20, 1997 CMR: 415:97 FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends that Council approve the attached Family .Resource Center (FRC) Implementation Plan and budget, which will fund the program for the remainder of the 1997/98 fiscal year. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This recommendation creates a new program, which represents a change in existing City policy. However, it should be noted staff anticipates that, in three to four years, this program will evolve into an independent community agency, similar to the Senior Coordinating Council. BACKGROUND On July 5, 1994, Council endorsed a process tO develop a conceptual proposal for a Family Resource Center (FRC). In November 1994, a 29-member Task Force was assembled to assess the needs of the community and develop a business plan to implement an FRC. In May 1996, the Family Resource Center Task Force business plan was transmitted to Council (CMR:254:96 and Attachment Two: Executive Summary_ of the Family Resource Center Task Force.Business Plan). No action to implement the plan was taken at that time. Since then, staffhas reviewed the FRC Task Force report and its funding recommendations, and has assessed the potential impact on staffing and funding resources. Based on an analysis of existing City resources that could be utilized to achieve the goals of the FRC, staff and an advisory committee consisting of FRC Task Force representatives have developed a three-phase implementation plan for a Family Resource Center. It is important to note that, although the name Family Resource Center might connote a single physical location, this FRC proposal is based on a philosophy of reaching out into the community rather than. centralizing all services under one roof. CMR:415:97 Page 1 of 5 DISCUSSION The FRC implementation plan is based on the comprehensive work performed by the Task Force as well as extensive discussions among Community Services Department staff. This plan was developed to address the major themes that emerged during the community input phase of the Task Force’s work. These themes were: Families from all socioeconomic levels expressed a sense of being overwhelmed by the challenge of balancing work and family life; , While there are many family-related services in the community, families feel isolated and lack awareness of those services, and The sense of "neighborhood" from twenty years ago does not exist today. The FRC concept is based on thepremise that a new, proactive, collaborative approach to the promotion and provision of community .resources for families is needed. This implementation plan seeks to facilitate connections between people, to decrease the isolation experienced by many young families, and to build community. It is envisioned that the FRC will serve as a hub for a myriad of family-oriented services that will enable City staff, community groups, and provider agencies to work together to promote and support a coordinated network of family-oriented programs, services, and information. It is hoped that this collaborative approach will .ultimately result in a community that empowers its families to be advocates of quality family life. The mission of the FRC is to: 1)Make families and providers aware of pertinent services, resources and programs through the dissemination of family related information in a variety of formats and frequently visited locations; 2)Provide the means to allow families to connect with one another for mutual support; 3)Facilitate neighbor~hoods and community groups’ identification of and addressing specific needs by using the FRC as a resource; 4)Develop an administrative hub that will provide the community with a clearinghouse for information, and a place to meet and serve as resources for each other; C1~[R:415:97 Page 2 of 5 5)Facilitate the provider community strengthening itself through collaboration and networking, thereby sharing resources and providing families with more comprehensive services, and 6)Assess and evaluate access to existing programs and services and to recommend changes or enhancements to meet the emerging family needs of the community. The plan for achieving this vision includes a "high-tech/high.-touch" collaboration between family service providers and City staff. A key feature of the FRC will be the development of a comprehensive information service, including materials and brochures, and a web site that will include links to family resources and related web sites in and around Palo Alto. The development and maintenance of a strong FRC Interact presence could dramatically improve the traditional method of providing families with information services. The development of this web site will be the foundation of information collection and dissemination for the FRC, allowing fast retrieval of information from a variety of locations throughout Palo Alto, including homes, offices, nonprofit agencies, schools, and libraries. Person-to-person contact is as important as the technology that will be used to retrieve information. Staffthat is available to offer technical assistance with information technology, as well to provide knowledgeable information about family resources in Palo Air, o, will be a vital component of the FRC. This plan includes the use of facility, technology, and staffing resources already available within the City and the community. For example, the City’s libraries staffhas, for many years, been disseminating information to the public and could provide the FRC with its expertise in this area both in the start-up phase and for the long- term. As the FRC evolves,~ collaborati~,e opportunities between various City and community organizations will emerge. By providing coordinated resources, the FRC will minimize duplication, provide a greater focus on families, and maximize access to services for families during a time when resources are diminishing. The attached plan presents a staged approach to the development of the FRC. Phase One, which should last for approximately eighteen months, will be dedicated to: the development of an advisory committee; the hiring of staff; the development of a fundraising plan; and the development of the infrastructure necessary to support an administrative hub. In Phase Two, over approximately a one-year period, the FRC will: open an administrative hub at the Mitchell Park Community Center; develop a collaboration of family service providers; implement the fund development plan and offer on-line and printed information at various locations throughout the community. During Phase Three, which should also last CMR:415:97 Page 3 of 5 approximately one year, the Advisor)’ Committee will evaluate the activities begun in Phases One and Two. make corrective changes, and begin implementation of the plan to allow the FRC to achieve self-sufficiency. Upon implementation, this plan will be managed and refined by an Advisor)" Committee composed of City staff, agency providers, Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) representatives, and business and community members. It is important to note that both the FRC Task Force and City staffagree that, once established, the FRC should separate from the City and become its own entity in the community. Examples ofthismodel, where the Cia° has helped create and support an agency that later separated from the City to emerge as an independent agency include: Palo Alto Community Child Care, the Senior Coordinating Council, the Career Action Center, and the Another Way Committee. Staff recommends that this model be. followed with the understanding that during Phase One, the FRC Advisory Committee will develop a long-range plan to spin off the FRC into an independent agency by September 2001. RESOURCE IMPACT The staff recommendation includes a proposed budget for the remainder of the 1997/98 fiscal Year of $52,900, of which $44,400 is being requested from the General Fund, with a balance of $8,500 coming from the portion of the Arrillaga grant, dedicated to a family resource center program. (Note: $80,000 is earmarked for the FRC in the-current 1997/98 budget. If approved by Council, staff will return with a Budget Amendment Ordinance to change the Table of Organization.) It is proposed that the FRC be staffed through additions to Table of Organization of 1.5 FTE. The 1.0 FTE Coordinator’s position would be filled in February 1998 and the 0.5 FTE Office Assistant position filled in April 1998. The cost for these positions is reflected in the amount already appropriated in the General Fund. Staff is requesting that these positions be added to the Table of Organization because the positions do not fit the guidelines for contract work, and the hours involved in phase tnvo do not correspond with the 1,000 hour limitation for temporar)" employees. It is anticipated that approximately $85,000 for FY 1998/99 and $62,000 for FY 1999/2000 will be requested from the General Fund, with the additional funds coming from the Arrillaga .donation as well as additional grants and sponsorship. A specific request for future year funding will come through the 1998/99 budget process. Although the plan is to "spin off’ the FRC, the progam may continue to require financial support beyond the initial three-and- one-half year start-up phase; those details have not yet been developed. ’ CMR:415:97 Page 4 of 5 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This program is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject to CEQA requirements. ATTACHMENTS Attachment One: Attachment Two: Proposed Implementation Plan and of a Family Resource Center Executive Summary of the Family Business Plan Budget for the Development Resource Center ,Task Force Attachment Three: May 1, 1996 Letter from the Chair of the FRC Task Force Attachment Four: FRC Advisory Committee Membership Roster Prepared By: Ilene Hertz, Interim Human Services Administrator Richard James, Administrator, Community Services Department DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIE _ PAUL THILTGEN ~d Director of Community Services CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: dUNE City Manager cc: FRC Advisory Committee CMR:415:97 Page 5 of 5 Attachment One Proposed Implementation Plan and Budget for the Development of a Family Resource Center (FRC) Introduction Since the 1980’s, the City has addressed the family service needs of the community by creating partnerships with nonprofit groups and providing contract funds tO a variety of community-based human service agencies. Many services and programs exist in isolation from one another, including programs offered through the City’s Community Services Department. Consequently, families are left on their own to learn about the many programs and resources that are available. In 1993, community leaders responded to the continuing concerns of their neighbors and friends by elevating family issues to the level of public discourse. The FRC concept was born when this informal group of citizens, School District representatives, and human service providers approached the City of Palo Alto in an effort to strengthen community support for families. From the outset, inherent in these discussions was the premise that healthy families were vital to the health and growth of the community and that the community needed to support its families actively. In 1994, the City Council endorsed a process to form an FRC. An FRC Task Force was assembled that same year to develop a Master Plan. As part of the process, a series of community meetings and community focus groups was held, and a telephone survey to assess the needs of the community was conducted. The results of this research yielded four major issues that were commonly identified across geographical and cultural groups: there is a need for knowledge of, and easy access to, information and services in support of families; there is a serious lack of quality child care, drop-in care, and baby-sitting options; there is a need for "community building"’ so that families may develop connections among themselves; and there is a desire for a comfortable place for families to gather, interact, and obtain information Although many organizations already supply a diverse array of family-supportive services and activities, it became clear that our community’s families are often unable to access those resources due to lack of information or lack of time. For families to access information conveniently, it must be provided in locations that busy families frequent such as: libraries, community centers, schools, and other locations throughout the community, such as the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. To help provide solutions to these issues, the following FRC implementation plan is proposed in three phases. Each ’phase represents approximately one year, but phases may overlap as the program develops. This is a step-wise, systematic approach to developing this program, with Phases One and Two focused on design and development, with full implementation of the FRC being achieved in Phase Three. The concepts below are founded on the work carried out by City staff and . the FRC Task Force and are meant to be a vehicle to implement the mission and values the Task Force developed for the FRC to, "... engage our community to build on existing strengths to promote the well-being of our children and families." Phase One: Development This phase will focuson the.development of the infrastructure from which the FRC will be launched. The infrastructure of the FRC is based on five elements: Governance and Structure Information Dissemination Partnership of Family Service Providers Promotion and Advocacy Fund Raising Phase One goals include the development ofa(n): Advisory Committee: A committee, consisting of approximately fifteen representatives from provider agencies, the School District, businesses,community leaders and City staffwill be developed. This committee will steer the development of the FRC and provide programmatic and policy guidance. It is anticipated that the Advisory Committee will identif)" strategies to increase the availability of quality child care options in Palo Alto, since this issue was raised repeatedly during the community input phase of the Task Force. This committee will also be responsible for fund raising, soliciting community input and evaluating FRC programs. FRC Coordinator Position: An FRC Coordinator will be hired to implement the goals of the Advisory Committee. It is anticipated that during Phase One, the coordinator will collect information, develop a public relations program, and design a system for information dissemination. System to Disseminate Information: Phase One wiI1 focus on four main aspects of information dissemination: 1) development of information displays placed at locations that busy families frequent; .2) development of a family resource web site; 3) facilitation of public access to the FRC web site by increasing the number of community-based locations that offers such technology resources to the public, and 4) utilization of the local media to promote family resources in Palo Alto. The FRC Advisory Committee will be working closely with the City Libraries’ staff to coordinate this information dissemination component. The FRC will also provide information in more traditional ways, including a collection of written materials, maps, and brochures, which will be made available at the FRC hub as well as at sites throughout the community. The action-plan for Phase One is as follows: Governance and Structure Develop anAdvisory Committee comprised of local community members, educational and nonprofit providers, and City staff to oversee and implement the program -Recruit, interview, and hire FRC staff Design and implement a Community Services Department staff training program Develop a plan to make facility improvements to Mitchell Park Community Center to enable it to open to the public in Phase Two Develop a plan for the FRC to become an independent agency Information Dissemination Gather and classify information Design FRC web site Develop a plan to maintain current FRC information, including Web Page Partnership of Family Service Providers Design a plan to partner family service providers into a collaborative network to provide more effective and efficient services to the community Promo.f!on and Advocacy Develop a plan for the promotion of community information & resources Develop a strategy to address the need for additional child care options Fund Raising Contract with a fund development consultant Design a fund development program to augment City funding Develop a long-range plan allowing FRC to achieve financial independence from the City Phase Two - FRC Begins Operation Phase Two will mark the opening of the FRC to the public. The administrative hub will open to the public at Mitchell Park Community Center (MPCC) and will feature a library of family related material, and will offer space for family and neighborhood- related meetings and programs. Web site development will be complete and available to the public. This phase will also implement the plan developed in Phase one that will enable family service providers to collaborate and partner with each other to help maximize resources by encouraging the sharing of facilities, expertise, staff, and marketing and public relations efforts. The Mitchell Park Community Center is proposed to become the administrative hub of the FRC. The FRC Task Force reported that families expressed their desire for a site that would provide a comfortable place for families and young Children to meet, and for information about family resources to be coordinated in a central location. Families spoke of their desire for opportunities to build connections with other 4 families and suggested that a central location could help alleviate some of the isolation parents sometimes feel, especially single parents. Although the MPCC will serve as a central location for the Family Resource Center, it is a main goal of the FRC to provide access to family resources throughout the community. The hub will serve as a main coordination point for both providers and the public to access and promote information about services and programs that are located throughout the community, rather than attempting to house all services under one roof. The MPCC presents itself as an excellent location for this hub because it is adjacent to both a park and a library, serves several elementary schools and a middle school, and is on a public transportation route. In addition, there are a multitude of child, care centers, family child care homes, and community organizations located within a block of MPCC. These groups currently frequent the Mitchell Park Library regularly. The action plan for Phase Two is as follows: Governance and Structure Continue to develop Advisory Committee membership Evaluate progress of Phase One and make necessary adjustments Continue to develop a plan for the FRC to become an independent agency Information Dissemination Begin information dissemination throughout the community using the Mitchell Park Community Center as a central coordination.location Provide technology for public access to FRC Web site at locations identified by the Advisory Committee Partnership of Family Service Providers Implement the plan for partnering family service providers to provide more efficient and effective services to the public Promotion and Advocacy Begin advertising and promotional campaigns Set up information displays at locations identified by the Advisor" Committee Partner with the local media to maximize information dissemination and distribution Continue to develop a strategy to address the need for additional child care options Fund Raising Implement fund raising plan Secure grant/foundation funding Phase Three - Program Development and Enhancement The FRC Task Force reported that families in the community spoke about the need for additional programs and activities for middle and high school students, and better coordination of program scheduling and registration to coincide with PAUSD holidays, vacations, staff development days, and summer vacations. The majority of families indicated that they experienced difficulties in accessing programs in the community due to the absence of an after-school transportation system. Many families also spoke of the need for more Child care, particularly infant care, and information on more affordable child care options. Parents also spoke about the need for babysitting resources and their desire to hire neighborhood students whom they can trust. Based on an analysis of the existing resources in the community provided by the city and community-based programs, Phase Three will focus on the collaboration of City staff, PAUSD, and community providers to combine resources to: Strengthen existing programs that represent an identified need in the community; Increase the availability of quality child care options in Palo Alto; Promote family, resources and programs at locations throughout community; the Begin the process to allow the FRC to evolve into an independent community organization. 6 Action plan for Phase Three: Governance and Structure Continue Advisory Committee input and review Begin implementation of the plan developed in Phase One and Two for the FRC to become an independent agency Evaluate progress of Phase Two and make necessary adjustments Information Dissemination Contixtue data collection Refine and maintain web site Promotion and Advocacy Maintain FRC information displays Continue advertising and a promotion campaign Foster partnerships with PAUSD and neighborhood associations Implement the plan developed in Phase One and Two to address the need for additional child care options Fund Raising Continue implementation of fund raising plan BUDGET The attached spreadsheet outlines the funding requirements for the FRC during the balance of this fiscal year. For year one, staff projects the required funding to be $52,900 and is proposing that $44,400 come from the General Fund and $8,500, of one-time expense, be paid through grant funding. In year two, staff estimates $148,519 will be required to fund the program with $85,019 coming from the General Fund and $31,000 from grant funding. Year three will require approximately $120,875 in funding with $61,875 coming from the General Fund and $59,000 from grant funding. Future year projections will depend on how the FRC has evolved and how close it is to becoming an independent community organization. Re~e GF Support 19>/-98 1998-99 1999-00 Budget Pro forma Pro forma Explanation $44,400 $85,019 $61,875 One time purchases of computers, ArriIlaga Funds $8,500 $32,500 $9,000 furniture and web page design. Unrestricted Grant Funds $0 $16,000 $0 New Grant Funds $0 $15,000 $50,000 Clerical (.5 FTE)$4,000 $23,856 $24,572 First year assume hired in April 98. Coordinator (1 FTE)~~~ First year, assumed hired February ’98 Web Page Design $0 $15,000 n/a Ongoing Web Design n/a $0 $3,000 Grant Writer/Fund Developer $8,000 $20,000 $20,000 Outreach!Publicity $2,000 $7,000 $2,000 Staff Training $0 $1,500 $0 Office Supplies $500 $1,500 $1,500 Art/Photos/Maps $0 $2,000 $1,000 Books/Publications $0 . $1,000 $1,000 Computer Software $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 Association membership $500 $500 $500 Travel and Meetings $500 $500 $500 Office Furniture/Setup $1,500 $1,500 $1,000 Equipment Purchase $0 $7,000 $0 Computers (2)/Printer $8,500 $7,000Computer Replacement Costs $1,000 $2,000Printing/Paper $300 $1,500 One time expense. Contracted position. FKu.io.sks and lobby~ fur0_i0age.st year computers tz) ~orCoordinator and Clerical. Second and third year 3 public access $3,500 computersto be intalled. $2,500 $1,500 10/08/97 Attachment I wo Executive Summa~" of Family Resource Center Task Forcc Business Plan June 28, 1996 History of Family Resource Center Responding to the concerns brought forward by PaIo Alto community members, former Mayor Liz Kniss brought the Family Resource Center concept to the forefront in her May 9, 1994 State of the City speech. Her speech led to the formation of the Family Resource Center Ad Hoc Committee, which later expanded into tb.e Family Resource Center Task Force. This Task Force was composed of parents, family service providers, and Palo Alto Urti.ffed. Sclaool District representatives. This advisory group set out to gather community input on the needs of Pato Alto families in order to create a Master Plan (now referred to as a "Business Pl.an") for Palo Alto’s Family Resource Center. Activities of Family Resource Center Ad Hoc Committee and Task Force In order to lay the foundation for gathering community input, the Ad Hoc Committee first reviewed existing community assessment documents,including surveys of students, child care providers, City of Pa!o Alto employees, and the 1990 U.S. Census data for Palo Alto. Next the Committee held a series of public meetings, attended primarily by family service providers, and conducted a wrRten survey of approximately 4,000 Palo Alto families. These initial projects yielded encouraging results, which led to the expansion of the Committee into a 29-member Task Force. Betxveen the fall of 1994 and the spring of 1996, the Task Force researched national models of Family Resource Centers, conducted a survey of family service providers, and held a series of focus groups for Palo Alto residents. The Task Force identified the major concerns that emerged from the data collection phase and used that information tb develop their proposal for a Family Resource Center. Findings: Needs of Palo Alto Families and Family-Serving Agencies Several major themes eme~’ged from the family survey and focus groups with Palo. Alto paren.ts: ¯ Lack of accessible., information: Families want accessible information about the resources that are available in the community. Parents are especially interested in information about babysitting and child care services. ¯.Need for child care and babrsitting services: Not only are families unable to access information about child care and babysitting in the community, but there simply is not enough quality, aftbrdable child care .and babysitting to meet the need. ¯Preference for locally-based resources: Respondents to the Family Sura’ey preferred their local library, school, or neighborhood center to a city-wide center or social service agency as the location of family services. Focus group participants ,,’,’ere interested in a comfortable Family Resource Center ‘’‘"here they could meet other parents and access information. ¯Desire for stronger connections between families: The participants in the focus groups revealed that our families, who are extremely involved in work, school, and other activities, experience isolation within the smaller communities of neighborhood and Family Resource Center Task Force OiT~c~ ~’ ltumaa May’ 1, 1996 Dear Council M~rabers:, Two }’ears ago former Mayor Liz Kniss pledged to create a partnership among government, the community, and businesses to respond to the changing needs offamilies in our community’. The Family’ Resource Center (FRC)Task Force, consisting of service providers, communib’ leaders, and parents, was created to further develop the concept of a family resource center for Palo Alto. At this time, the FRC Task Force is excited to present you with a plan for an irmovative way of Supporting the families of our tit2,.’. Over the course of the last two years, numerous communib" meetings were held which resulted in some startling findings: ’ Familles from all socioeconomic levels expressed a sense of being oven,’helmed by the challenge, of balancing work and family life. ,,’ Wkile there are many family-related services in the community’, families feel isolated and lack awareness of those services. " The sense of neighborhood as we understand it from 20 years ago does not exist today:. The FRC, in addressing the above-identified needs, has developed a plan which does not create another bureaucratic layer which would on]y add to the frustration families experience today. Instead, the model created represents a collaborative, public/private partnership consisting of "high-tech" and "high-touch" elements which aims to strengthen and empower families and the community to achieve a seamless network of family support. The report of the FRC Task Force consists of a comprehensive presentation which will be made on May’ 6 and the attached FRC Business Plan. This Business Plan is not intended to be an encompassing, stand-alone document, but rather a source of background information and documentation. The Task Force felt that the full impact of the report could not be contained in the nuts and bolts of a business plan. Rather, the sense of urgency expressed by families and the commitment and collaboration of the FRC Task Force’s response is best conveyed in the presentation and ensuing dialogue with Council members. Sinc Northway /,Chair, FRC Task Force street. Families want connections with their neighbors, but are often so ovenvhelmed by the demands of" life that those connections are difficult to achieve and maintain. In surveying the agencies who provide services for the families in Palo Alto, the Task Force found the following: ¯Adequate level of services: NIost major types of services, are provided in Palo Alto. ¯ ¯Willingness to collaborate: Many agencies already collaborate with one another and would be willing to pro,Adz off-site services. Family Resource Center Task Force Program Plan The Task Force developed a multi-faeeted program plan for addressing the concerns and issues raised by Palo Alto residents. This plan is characterized by its focus on connections between people, asset-based approach, proactive and preventive nature, collaborative structure, and a high. level of community input and guidance. The components of the FRC plan are as follows: ¯ Information Disse’mination: This component was designed to include written, audio, and video materials available at a Family Resource Center site and a "Welcome-Wagon" program with an information packet distributed by community volunteers. ¯Neighborhood / community-building: The purposes of this program are to assist residents in assessing the assets of their community, defining the needs they want to address, and to help develop solutions to their needs. ¯FRC Membership ...Club: This component would develop a structure for collaboration between family-serving agencies in Pal0 Alto in order to coordinate community needs assessment projects/maximize resources, and improve communication between service providers in order to best serve families. ¯Advocacy: The Ta~k Force.emphasized the importance of an advocacy component with the purpose of promoting quality family life through the media and other avenues to all facets of the community; including businesses, schools, and the government. Family Resource Center Structure The Task Force proposal outlines a basic plan for a Family Resource Center structure, including an advisory board~two staff persons, and a physical site. The plan identifies the City of Palo Alto as the core funder and fiscal agent for the project. Attachment I:our Fami . Resource Center Advisor), C ,::,mittee September 1997 Members Sue Barkhurst Adolescent Counseling Services 4000 Middlefield Road, FH Palo Alto, CA 94303 650-424-0852 phone 650-424-9853 fax Margo Dutton Palo Alto Community Child Care 3990 Ventura Court Palo Alto, CA 94301 mdutton@paccc.com 650-493-2361 ext.11 phone 650-493-0936 fax Julie Jerome Palo Alto Unified School District 726 Greer Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 650-493-8645 Jeanne Labozetta Family Service Mid-Peninsula 375 Cambridge Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 jeanne@fsmp.org 650-326-6576 phone 650-326-1340 fax Janet Lederer Palo Alto Medical Foundation 300 Homer Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-853-2077 phone 650-853-4707 fax Sharon Murphy ¯ Xerox/JCC Parent Resource Center 1540 College Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 paiwf@aol.com 650-493-0563 ext.258 work 650-587-1177 home 650-856-3655 fax John Northway 437 Lytton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 sandnarch@aol.com 650-327-7070 phone 650-327-9659 fax Rachel Samoff The Children’s Preschool Center 4000 Middlefield Road., TI Palo Alto, CA 94303 racheLsamoff@roche.com 650-855-5770 phone 650-855-5159 fax Mary Sause Palo Alto Unified School District 20 Kent Place Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-326-1271 Margaret Toor 1159 Lincoln Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 mktoor@a01.com 650-329-8899 phone & fax Community Se~ice Department Staff Ilene Hertz Office of Human Services 4000 Middlefield Road, T2 Palo Alto, CA 94303 ilene_hertz@city.palo-alto.ca.us 650-329-2280 phone 650-856-8756 fax Richard James Community Services Administration 1305 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 richard_james@city.palo- alto.ca.us 650-329-2581 phone 650-321-5612 fax Mar)’ Jo Levy Libraries Division 270 Forest Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 ¯ maryjo_levy@city.palo- alto.ca.us 650-329-2403 phone 650-327-7568 fax Paul Thiltgen Community Services Administration 1305 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 paul__thiltgen@city.palo- alto.ca.us 650-329-2188 phone 650-321-5612 fax Dan Williams Recreation Division 1305 Middle field Road Palo Alto; CA 94301 dan_williams@city.palo- alto.ca.us 650-329-2180 phone 650-321-5612 fax