Over the summer, nonprofits have tried to figure out the Escambia Children’s Trust’s (Trust) Healthy Schools Escambia. On Friday, Oct. 4, the Trust’s grant review committee unanimously approved a proposal by United Way of West Florida to implement the program over three years for $4.2 million.
- Joel Hollen, Lynsey Listau, Terri Marshall, Tori Woods and David Williams are members of the grant review committee.
From the sparse minutes of the meeting: “Mr. Joel Hollen motioned to approve the proposal and send to Program Committee for approval. Ms. Terri Marshall seconded, Ms. Listau requested Ms. Gillam review the budget and see if any adjustments could be made to included and unincluded costs and pass any proposal changes on to Ms. Cannon. Ms. Gillam agreed. Unanimous vote to move proposal forward allowing for adjustments to dollar amount.”
HEALTHY SCHOOLS ESCAMBIA
Healthy Schools Escambia aims to build healthy school communities through partnerships and collaboration within Escambia County. Escambia is currently 51st out of 67 counties in the state of Florida for health. While it’s purported to be based on the CDC’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model, no children’s services organization, like the Trust, has tried this program. One school district has done it, and they refused an interview.
- Some have compared Healthy Schools to the Community Partnership School programs at C.A. Weis Elementary, Pine Forest High School and Bellview Middle School, but the Community Partnership Schools only involve three entities – Children’s Home Society, Community Health Northwest Florida and the University of West Florida.
Healthy Schools involves nine agencies and a gardener:
United Way of West Florida – lead agency
Achieve Escambia – subject matter expertise and operational support
University of West Florida – data curation, analysis, evaluation and reporting
Community Health Northwest Florida – medical, dental and vision care
Legal Services of North Florida – direct legal assistance and legal education
Lakeview Center – mental health services
ARC Gateway – Help Me Grow will provide Parent Cafes
Gulf Coast Kids House – child abuse prevention and reporting education
Council on Aging – foster grandparents
YMCA of Northwest Florida – on-site afterschool programming with a focus on physical activity and additional academic support
Greg Miller – community gardens at schools
In the first year, Healthy Schools will be established at two elementary schools, O.J. Semmes and Global Learning Academy, and it will expand each subsequent year if the board continues to fund the program.
The budget by year:
Year 1: $808,173
Year 2: $1,408,365
Year 3: $1,987,579
Total: $4,204,117
For Year 1: Subgrants to Partner Organizations within the total budget consists of:
• Community Health Northwest Florida – $100,000
• ARC Gateway – $18,730
• Lakeview – $1,000 (incidentals)
• Gulf Coast Kids House – $1,000 (incidentals)
• YMCA – $79,386: $31,796 Sports Program, $47,590 Afterschool Program
• Council on Aging – $30,000
• Legal Services NFL – $7,002
• Achieve Escambia – $24,000
• University of West Florida – $14,000
Greg Miller: $33,000 to establish gardens at the two schools.
Other notes on the budgets for the schools
Global Learning Academy
Salaries and Wages: Salary and wages for direct service staff, including a program coordinator at the school. This also includes a portion of salaries for UWWF staff, including the CEO, VP of Impact, Director of Operations (HR), Administrative Assistant (assists Dir of Operations, CEO and VP of Impact with scheduling and managing HSE meetings), Director of Finance, and Finance Assistant (grant management and reimbursements)
Other Professional Services/Contract Labor: Includes $24,320 for teacher stipends to help reengage teachers in tutoring students
Staff travel: Travel for direct staff and UWWF staff to HSE-related activities. 200 miles@ $.55/mile
Printing and Binding: To print fliers to publicize events, meetings, etc. To secure posters related to healthy lifestyles, physical activity and other WSCC components.
Office Supplies: Laptop for program coordinator; monitors and docking stations for support staff; office supplies such as pens, paper, post-it notes, etc. for Program Director and Coordinators.
Professional Development: Training for direct staff and other staff to learn from other WSCC programs. Available for other related training.
Fingerprinting and Background Checks: $85 for each background check and $36.05 for drug screens
Food and Snacks: To establish or expand food backpack program
Participant incentives: $2,000 per participant (parent/family); $1500 per school (students)
Volunteer Training: If volunteers are utilized for programs, these funds would be available for training and volunteer support
Program Supplies: $2,000 for program coordinator discretionary funds
Field Trips: Available for student field trips related to HSE programming
Indirect Expenses: Indirect expenses are calculated at 15%, the maximum allowed for the grant.
O.J. Semmes budget has similar notes.
Read proposal.
The Trust board meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox St.
Photo under the Unsplash License
