City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 9, 2014
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing on the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan from the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission.
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ISSUE: Public Hearing on the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan from the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council upon conclusion of the Public Hearing that City Council schedule the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan for final passage on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.
BACKGROUND: The Alexandria City Council, in conjunction with the Alexandria City Public Schools, created the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission in 2011. The Commission was established to promote the coordination, alignment and effectiveness of services provided to children, youth and their families by the City, the Alexandria City Public Schools, and community organizations. The creation of the Commission represented a paradigm shift from an age-based focus to a more holistic, outcome focused approach for its programs and services. The City Council charged the Commission with the development of the City's first Children and Youth Master Plan to guide this alignment and encourage greater collaboration.
The members of City Council formally received the plan at their Legislative Meeting on April 22, 2014, and scheduled it for Public Hearing on May 17, 2014. The Alexandria City Public School Board received the Plan on May 3, 2014. A Joint Work Session of the City Council and School Board is scheduled for May 28, 2014.
DISCUSSION: The Commission approved the Master Plan, which was developed with the support of a 35-member Design Team, on March 12, 2014. The Plan articulates a vision for the well-being of children and youth in the community and serves as the basis for the coordination, alignment and delivery of effective services for children, youth and their families by the City, Alexandria City Public Schools, and nonprofit and community organizations.
The Plan's vision that "All of Alexandria's children and youth succeeding today and tomorrow," includes five goals for children, youth, and families, as well as the organizations that serve them:
1. Every child will be physically safe and healthy.
2. Every child will be academically successful and career-ready.
3. Every child will be socially connected, emotionally secure, and culturally competent.
4. Every family will be equipped and empowered to support the well-being of their children effectively.
5. Alexandria's systems and institutions will be responsive, coordinated, efficient and effective in service to children and families.
These goals are accompanied by action steps and research supported strategies. Additionally, the Commission identified a set of preliminary key indicators to gauge progress towards achieving the goals.
The Plan aligns with the City's Strategic Plan and the ACPS Strategic Plan and was developed to also coincide with other City Council approved plans, such as the Housing Master Plan, and the Alexandria of Our Future: A Livable Community for All Ages (Strategic Plan on Aging, 2012-2016).
Staff will schedule a joint meeting of the City Council and School Board to discuss the Plan. Following the Alexandria School Board's endorsement and City Council's adoption, the City Manager and Superintendent of Schools will direct staff to work with the Commission in developing implementation strategies. Progress on implementation of the Plan will be reported in the Commission's annual report.
FISCAL IMPACT: Council's receipt and adoption of the Children and Youth Master Plan does not commit any additional City resources to the implementation of specific initiatives. Implementation of the initiatives will have a fiscal impact in terms of personnel and non-personnel costs. Staff will explore grants and other non-City funding opportunities where available. Any requests for City funding will be made through the City's regular budget process.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Children and Youth Master Plan
Attachment 2: Children and Youth Master Plan - Overview
STAFF:
Debra R. Collins, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Director, Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)
Deborah Warren, Director, Center for Children and Families, DCHS
Ronald Frazier, Director, Office of Youth Services, DCHS