City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 18, 2014 (REVISED)
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER
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Consideration of the Adoption of the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan's Goals and Strategies.
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ISSUE: Adoption of the Goals and Strategies of the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the Goals and Strategies of the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan, from the Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission.
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 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.
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 research-supported strategies and action steps. 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, the ACPS Strategic Plan and 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).
City Council held a Public Hearing on May 17, 2014, where 14 persons spoke in support of the Plan. The list of the speakers and written comments from Councilman Justin Wilson, Pat Harris and Gwen Mullins are attached (Attachment 3).The Plan was one of three agenda items at the City Council and the School Board Joint Work Session on May 28, 2014.
The School Board approved the Plan in its entirety, on June 19, 2014. It was approved, with the understanding that in so doing, it does not commit either the Board or the City Council to specific Action Steps.
City and School staff have developed a proposed approach for developing the Children and Youth Master Plan implementation plan (Attachment 4). Following the approval and adoption of the Plan by the Alexandria School Board and City Council, respectively, the City Manager and Superintendent of Schools will formally direct staff to develop implementation strategies. Staff will consider all comments in the context of the development of the implementation plan. Progress 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
Attachment 3: Excerpt from the City of Alexandria, Meeting Minutes of Saturday, May 17, 2014 of the Comments from the Public Hearing on the Alexandria Children and Youth Master Plan; and Written Comments
Attachment 4: Proposed Approach for Developing the Children and Youth Master Plan Implementation Plan
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