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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-01-25 City CouncilTO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Community Services DATE:JANUARY 25, 1996 CMR: 125:96 SUBJECT:FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER STATUS REPORT REQ~S_T This report is informational and no Council action is requested. There are no recommendations for action at this time. P~IO_NS This report does not represent any change to existing policies. EXECIITI_V~KSUMMARY On May 9, 1994, in her State of the City speech, former Mayor Liz Kniss emphasized the importance for the City and the community to respond to the changing requirements of Palo Alto families by reviewing the need for a Family Resource Center. A major component to be addressed by the development of a Family Resource Center was to assist Palo Alto’s families .in their attempts to balance their dual, and often competing, roles of leading active and successful professional lives with the pressures inherent in raising a healthy family in the 1990’s. Council endorsed the process of developing a conceptual proposal for a Family Resource Center for Palo Alto’s families on July 5, 1994. Council directed the City Manager to assign staff resources to act as liaison and support to the Ad Hoc Family Resource Center group. To gather input from Palo Alto’s families about their needs, the Ad Hoc Committee conducted a family survey and held two public meetings. The family survey was distributed in September 1994 to all PAUSD families attending Back-to-School Night and to a sampling of child care centers. The results of the survey revealed that parents are interested in locally- based services (in their library, local school, or neighborhood center), that include CMR: 125:96 Page 1 of 6 opportunities for commu~ , service, babysitting, child care, and .3rmation about resources for families. The November 17, 1995 public meeting was attended primarily by service providers, who discussed a myriad of potential users of Family Resource Center services and collaborative modes of serving Palo Alto families. At the direction of Council, staff reported on progress made toward the development of the Family Resource Center proposal in November 1994 (CMR: 481:94). At that time, Council approved the formation of a Family Resource Center Task Force to be advisory to the City Manager. The original Ad Hoc Committee was expanded to a 29-member Task Force, which set out to develop a Family Resource Center Master Plan. During 1995, the newly-created Task Force divided itself into three subcommittees: Models, Providers and Focus Groups. The intent of these groups was to achieve several goals in preparation for writing the Master Plan: ¯Hire a Family Resource Center Coordinator to assist with Task Force projects and the writing of the Master Plan (Natalie Seer, the Family Resource Coordinator, was hired in August 1995). Hold a series of community focus group meetings to clearly define the needs to be addressed by the Family Resource Center (Five community focus group meetings in October - November 1995). Conduct a survey of providers of services for families in the Palo Alto area to determine gaps in existing services and provider perspective on gaps in service provision ( Provider survey was completed December 1995). Use the results of the aforementioned projects and other sources of information on Palo Alto families to outline the program design of the Family Resource Center (An outline of FRC program design was presented to the Task Force in January 1996). In December of 1995, Council requested that the Task Force return in early 1996 to report on the progress made toward the development of the Master Plan. The following sections outline the results of the Task Force’s 1995 activities. ~2~ GAT_H E RI XG B_Y_T A SK EORCE Focus Groups and Phone Survey The Focus Groups Subcommittee conducted the series of community focus groups, including a phone survey of people interested but unable to attend, during October and November 1995. The five focus groups that were held targeted geographical, language, and cultural groups in Palo Alto: South and West Palo Alto, North Palo Alto, Japanese-Americans, Single Parent Dads, and Latino/Hispanic. The results of the focus groups and phone survey include several themes common across geographical and cultural groups: CMR: 125:96 Page 2 of 6 Infoxmatiam People wa~..o know how to access the resources _.at are already available in the community. Many people want to see a "welcome wagon" service, which would provide an easy-to use compilation of resources for families in the local area. Others are interested in accessing family services information through the Internet. Participants also desire other methods of information access including a hotline, a comprehensive Palo Alto-specific resource book, and meetings for Palo Alto newcomers. A_Centerx Focus group participants spoke of a family resource center structured as a community living room, with comfortable space for informal gatherings and family-oriented socializing. An approachable and knowledgeable staff person would be available to provide information about existing resources and programs, and materials on all types of programs for families would also be available. B_uilding_~nit~ People want to develop connections and mutual support among families and are interested in a Family Resource Center that facilitates and supports community-based activities (such as babysitting co-ops, block parties, play groups, and potluck get-togethers). ~_Care_: Both the supply of quality child care and accessible information, allowing parents to make informed choices regarding the care of their children, are inadequate. Parents need licensed, tong-term child care, which is local and affordable. Informal babysitting arrangements and drop-in care are also needed. The focus groups and phone survey also yielded information unique to each of the five groups. The LatiaoJttisp_anic participants, all Ventura area r~esidents, described experiences of discrimination and negative stereotyping, and reported poor housing and neighborhood conditions. This group presented a vision of an FRC to which they could contribute by sharing their strengths and talents. Participants in the Japanese-_American focus group, concerned that their children maintain their cultural identity, were interested in information about and access to culturally-specific activities and classes for their families. They also suggested that the FRC help Set up a volunteer base of Japanese people to meet and support newcomers to Palo Alto from Japan. Single_Parent_Dads were interested in a "survival package" of condensed information and referral on services and activities for their children. They described an FRC with weekly meetings led by parents, a physical space including a quiet room and kitchen, information on child custody issues, and a planning process that includes children and youth. One of the largest concerns oftheNozth2aloAMto focus group and phone survey participants was babysitting. They want assistance with babysitter screening and suggested that new parents be given a hotline number and packet of information at the hospital aider their child’s birth. The South and Wes~c) focus group included discussion of the relative lack of resources in South Palo Alto, including tree trimming, sidewalk upkeep, and City-sponsored concerts and activities. Participants were interested in information that would make the Palo Alto Unified School District political process and the school waiting list/enrollment process more clear. They described an FRC located in South Palo Alto where youth could gather, but that would not duplicate specialized CMR: 125:96 Page 3 of 6 services provided locall),. _ his group also suggested that the Cit)ouncil host a newcomers’ introduction to Palo Alto once per quarter. Providers’ Survey The providers’ survey, sent to 127 agencies in Palo Alto and surrounding areas by the Providers’ Subcommittee, yielded encouraging results. Most major types of services are provided in Palo Alto and surrounding communities. Although there is no consensus among. providers as to gaps in specific types of service provision, many providers agree that a significant number of low-income clients, do not have access to some services. Also, many providers report those services in their specific field should be expanded or improved. Finally, agencies are collaborating with each other, and many are willing to provide off-site services. This information supports the plan for an FRC that would help to strengthen existing services and improve access by encouraging collaborative programming. In December of 1995, the Task Force charged the Models Subcommittee with reviewing information collected through the Subcommittees, including public meetings, PAUSD family survey, FRC providers’ survey and focus groups/telephone survey, and other relevant sources, including the PAUSD November 1993 Student Health Survey, 1990 U.S. Census data for Palo Alto, Palo Alto Employee/Community Child Care Needs Assessment 1989, the Palo Alto Child Care Provider Survey of 1993, and the U.S. Department of Labor - Women’s Bureau Survey, to outline a Family Resource Center program design. The recommendation for this design was presented to the full Task Force on January 11, 1995, and will be used to shape the Master Plan. C_ONCLUSIONS~kND__FRC_PRO~_I)_ESIGN The Models Subcommittee defined three main themes that emerged from the data collection phase: information dissemination (using various methods to get the information about existing services to all Palo Alto families), facilitation of community building efforts (supporting community-based efforts to reduce isolation among families), and advocacy for families (working with corporations and communities). To address these themes, the Subcommittee outlined four FRC components, which would be implemented by a coordinator based at a physical FRC site: o Information Dissemination o Collaboration Infrastructure o Facilitation of Community-Building ¯Advocacy for Families The InfoJ333affomDisseminatioJa component aims to connect people to the community by providing useful information about existing_ resources and activities while providing outreach for other components of the FRC. This FRC project would include a packet of written material (including a letter introducing FRC, a guide to services for families, information on arts and cultural resources and activities, a "how to" packet on block parties and other community events), a welcome wagon program with" person-to-person contact, and a multimedia outreach effort. This component could include the Internet CMR: 125:96 Page 4 of 6 (online information), P~ Alto Weekly (means of packet diss, mation), television (spots promoting FRC packets and explaining means of obtaining it), the. Palo Alto Unified School District (packets to new enrollees, school .report card inserts), neighborhood associations (distribution of packets to residents promoting FRC), Palo Alto Utilities (insert in utilities bill), the Chamber of Commerce, hospitals and clinics, the Board of Realtors (maintaining distribution of packets to new residents), and the business community. Although the FRC Task Force found through its information gathering process that many resources for families exist in our community, people need support in finding out about those resources and agencies need support in their efforts to collaborate. The C_oBaboyatiamInYmstructure component is a method for overcoming geographical and other barriers to families’ full use of existing resources, through better coordination between service providers and community groups. For example, people who would not ordinarily identify themselves as in need of "counseling," might feel comfortable attending a group for step-families led by a therapist from a counseling agency, if that group were hosted by the downtown library, a location and institution that is already comfortable for many people. This approach would support and strengthen collaboration among all types .of groups in a way that is "invisible to the user," by making better use of limited resources and improving referrals and public awareness of resources. The above example demonstrates how a participant in the step-family group at the library, could learn about services in the community while checking out a book at the library, without ever calling a counseling agency. Additionally, an open room at the library (an existing resource) is better used to serve the community; and many library users become aware of the services available through a counseling agency (improved referrals and public awareness). A collaborative structure would support this "Local Network" of family service agencies, businesses, and informal community groups. For instance, each member agency could display an FRC sticker at their site and agree to share space and professional resources with other member agencies. The FRC Task Force has found that Palo Alto families are feeling isolated and want improved community networks. Because many community-based efforts already exist and are successful in supporting families, the Models Subcommittee recommends that the FRC facJlRate_c_ommunity_-huilding. The FRC would assist Palo Alto families with projects determined by each respective community group or neighborhood. This component, Facilitate Community-Building, would target one area at a time with active direction from community members. The Models Subcommittee is still working out the fourth FRC component, Advocacy for Families, which will report to the Task Force in February 1996. Meanwhile, the Task Force has formed a Business Plan Subcommittee to begin work on other components of the FRC business plan, including program structure and funding. CMR: 125:96 Page 5 of 6 Timeline Under direction from the Task Force, the FRC Coordinator will complete the Master Plan by the end of March 1996. Upon completion, this Plan will be presented to the City Manager and the Council. There is no fiscal impact, since the FRC Coordinator’s salary is funded through June of 1996 with grant funds. This program is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject to CEQA requirements. Family Resource Center Membership Roster PREPARED BY: Ilene Hertz, Manager of Child Care & Family Services DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW: ~ PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: CMR: 125:96 Page 6 of 6 Alto Family Resource Center "task Force Members Sue Barkhurst Adolescent Counseling Services 4000 Middlefield Road, FI-I Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 424-0852 415 424-9853 Fax Sandy Blovad A.L.S. Iewish Community Ctr. 655 Amstradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 493-9400 W 415 493-1187 Fax Liz Coe 766 Gailen Court Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 856-4170 415 494-2778 Fax Alberto Colorado Mayfield Community Clinic 270 Grant Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 617-9722 415 323-6830 Fax Carolyn Compton The Children’s Health Council 700 Sand Hill Road Palo Alto, CA 94304 415 326-5530 Margo Dutton Palo Alto Comm. Child ~ 3990. Ventura Court Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 493-2361 Ext.11 W 415 493-0936 Fax Ruth Dzau PTA CotmcilIPAUSD 12101 Dawn Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 415 941-5980 415 941-6519 Fax, call first Tina Gutierrez ]~uman Relations Commission 2850 Middlefield Road ~224 Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 462-1686 H 415 424-43160 W 415 496-2731 Fax Sharon Hofstedt Stanford University Hospital Board of Directors 1137 Palomor Drive Redwood City., CA 94062 415 366-6156 415 365-4393 Fax Julie Jerome, PAUSD 726 Greet Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 493-8645 415 856-7636 Fax Larry Klein 1717 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 857-I717 Judy Kleinberg Kids in Common One Almaden Blvd, 10th Floor San Jose, CA 95113 415 325-8 ~222 ~ 415 988-7965 Wk City Council Member 250 l=~mllton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 329-2384 CPA 415 336-4609 VM leamae Labozetta Family Service Mid-Peninsula 375 Cambridge Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 326-6576 Janet Lederer palo Alto Medical Foundation 300 Homer Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 853-2077 415 853-4707 Fax Maria Lines 173 Waverley Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 323-9273 H 408 447-4985 W 408 447.43484 Fax Sue Mace Palo Alto Police Department 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 329-2685 415 329-~65 Fax Mary McQuaid, P.~kIRS 3990 Ventura Court Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 856-4062 415 493-3318 Fax Sharon Murphy JCC/FRC Coordinator 1540 College Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 857-1177 415 856-3655 Fax John Northway 437 Lytton Avenue Palo ,~ito, CA 94301 415 327-7070 415 327-9659 Fax =enry Page, PAUSD 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 329-3869 415 329-8515 Fax Kay Phillips, YWCA 4161 Alma Street Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 494-0972 415 494-8307 Fax Bernade~ Pl~tzikoff Child Advocacy Council 350 Cambridge Ave. Suite.50 Palo Alto, CA 94306 415 327-8120 fry Rollins, PAUSD 25 Churchill Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 329-3717 W (415) 326-7463 Fax Rachel Samoff The Children’s Preschool Ctr. 4000 Middlefield Road, tLm T1 Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 855-5770 W 415 855-5159 Fax Mary Sause 20 Kent Place Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 326-1271 H Megan Swezey Fogarty 2421 Bryant St Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 473-0428 H Barry Taylor, YMCA 4151 Middlefield Rd, Suite 211 Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 856-3955 415 856-4703 Fax Mar=~ret To0r 1159 Line.oh Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 415 329-8899 H & Fax City Staff Office of Human Servic~ 4000 Middlefietd Road, T2 Palo Alto, CA 94303 415 856-8756 Fax ]lene Hertz 415 329-2280 W David Man’in 415 329-2639 W Natalie S~r 415 329-9_375 W November 21, 1995