Posted in Politics

Daily Outtakes: For the children

   Published Date: June 14, 2023

Trust Update

Early childhood detection and mental were the two issues the Escambia Children’s Trust tackled on Tuesday morning.

  • The board approved allotting $1.35 million for Arc Gateway to implement the Escambia County Help Me Grow Collaborative

Help Me Grow Florida currently serves 38 counties and about 33,000 children. The organization promotes early identification of developmental, behavioral and educational concerns, then links children and families to community-based services and support at no cost.

  • The board also approved requesting proposals for “Community-Led and Community-Operated Mental Health Supports for Children and Families.” The Trust will request the proposals beginning Wednesday and will award up to $3.34 million in total to successful proposers.

The Trust board also approved a Request for Proposals to create or expand informal mental health supports offered by community-led and community-operated organizations including trusted peers, friends and family, religious leaders, support groups or other non-health professionals.

The review committee will weigh whether the submitted proposals increase the availability of preventive and proactive supports for mental health and well-being, increase the capacity of child-serving service systems on trauma-informed practices, and improve equity in mental health and reduce health disparities through equitable access to services.

Why this matters: The approved measures Tuesday ensures the Trust will increase its 25 active contracts and its service of 5,000-plus children across Escambia County. The organization collects $9-$10 million annually from a half-cent tax voters approved in 2020.

More to Come

Executive Director Tammy Greer told her board that she is in discussion concerning several projects that could allocate the Trust’s remaining budget.

  • “Of the $10.7 million that we may be awarding this year, I’ve already received a very large request from (Pensacola State College) that will come before the program committee,” she said.
  • “For anyone who heard the mayor’s press conference yesterday, they’re going to be submitting a $3.9 million  ask any day now. And I’ve had conversations and
  • “I have a meeting coming up with Sen. (Doug) Broxson and several folks around Charter Schools USA, and they’re going to be coming to us with a significant ask. Every dollar of that $10 million could very well be spent by Sept. 30.”

Dig Deeper: Greer referenced Mayor D.C. Reeves announcing the City of Pensacola plans to partner with Community Health Northwest Florida and ask the Trust for a grant to buy the Morris Eaddy Activity Center to create a children’s resource center.

“To ultimately put in a children’s services center wraparound services – be it recreation, classrooms, computer labs, and of course, the Community Health piece and potentially mental health through a partnership with Lakeview, I think that’s a much-needed asset in our community because we know that the children are our greatest asset, and it’s the thing that’s most important for the future viability of the city,” Reeves said.

Charter Schools USA recently took over operations of Warrington Middle School after contentious negotiations with Escambia County Public Schools.

And: One other notable approval by the board on Tuesday concerned the millage rate. The board approved the maximum rate of .05 to fund Trust operations for the next fiscal year.

Tammy Greer will be my guest on WCOA at 8 a.m. today.

Wahoos Win 12-9

Cody Morissette and Dalvy Rosario powered the Blue Wahoos into a 12-9 victory against the Mississippi Braves to open their six-game series at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Why this matters: The Blue Wahoos (36-22) maintain a six-game lead against Beau Rivage Schuckers in the Southern League division race.

Next: The second game of the series will be Wednesday and will include a post-game fireworks show, as part of the school’s out, mid-week displays in June and July.

  • Wednesday’s game is also the “Winning Wednesday” promotion with fans able to play baseball bingo during the game for prizes. And the Morgan Law Firm will be at the game as sponsor for Hurricane Prep Night.

First pitch from Blue Wahoos Stadium is scheduled for 6:35, with a live broadcast beginning at 6:30 on BlueWahoos.com, the MiLB First Pitch app (radio), Bally Live and MiLB.tv (video), plus a local television broadcast on WFGX MyTV 35. For more information, visit BlueWahoos.com or contact the box office at (850) 934-8444.

Read Bill Vilona’s write-up here.