5/13/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

M M identifiable. She told of the successful results of the Head Start Program that occurred 20-30 years ago. Also in 103.26, Funding, she felt it should not be a fixed millage amount which would tie the hands of administrators in the future. She had faith in the elected officials and was willing to pay more money for good service. Jeffrey Horn spoke as a taxpayer and advocate of children in favor of the program. He felt it was a misnomer to call it welfare; it is providing the services for children directly. He believed that as a community we must step forward for our children and have direct involvement with them. He has acted as a volunteer and tutor and chaperone for youngsters' activities. As you become a friend they open up to you. He has heard the pain of children who have parents who don't care, of kids who were worried about their future. We have the opportunity here to fund professionals and to be a catalyst to provide services for the kids whose parents can't afford it. The children are our future. Kathy Orton, Visiting Nurses Association, which receives funding for Healthcare on Wheels and Indigent Care in the Homes, spoke in support of the proposal. She wanted to point out one area where collaborative services sould be helpful. The VNA had to stop their early intervention program serving children 0-3 years old who are developmentally delayed, because of lack of resources, money and staff. They have served over 200 children in the last few years and now these children are not getting any services. She wanted to point out how this collaborative effort would be helpful to our children. Rose Gaines, mother of four, related how she was helped by a neighbor during her family's crisis when she was a child and that she will never forget it. She felt there was a need to be cautious in adding another layer of bureaucracy because all of the dollars come with a price tag. Children are destroyed one at a time and they will be saved one at a time by interacting with caring adults. She issued a challenge to all who care about children to reach out to kids in their neighborhood. She cautioned that a commitment was needed to be there for that child. She spoke of tight money and how it will get tighter. She was concerned about increased taxes, she advised that the Board closely examine the statistics, that they are not put out to save or increase a bureaucracy. She felt we all have the responsibility to find ways to spend less and do more. The Chairman declared a short recess at 11 am. The Chairman reconvened the meeting at 11:10 am. Chris Altman, 106 10P Court, residential administrator for Samaritan Center, did not want this community to become a graveyard for people to come to. She was raised, as was her father, in this community. Children have to grow up and be nurtured, learn and develop, to become responsible adults that become an adult community. Samaritan Center is a shelter for homeless families. She felt it was important for people to know that they shelter adults, who are parents, but who are emotionally behaving like young teenagers. They lack parenting skills because they have been raised in environments where they have not had positive modeling of what it is to be an appropriate parent. They have not learned accountability and responsibility for whatever reasons. At Samaritan Center they have to start by teaching the parents how to parent the kids. She quoted statistics on homelessness, the need for teaching life skills, and for the community to support the need to teach. Victor Hart, 4635 34a` Avenue, advised that he is not on any payroll of anyone in Indian River County. He is president of the Indian River branch of NAACP and involved in other things. He spoke in support of the Children's Services Network He raised 11 children; now has 30 grandchildren and was speaking on their behalf. He thought the presentation documented the needs and commended those who put it together. It has taken 10 years to convince the Board to admit that poverty exists in Indian River County and many years to get a central water system in Indian River County. We cannot continue to push our problems over to other counties. We have got to admit we have a problem with children and not continue to bury our heads. It is not just a black problem, there are not that many black folks in Indian River County. It is hypocritical to say there is not poverty in Indian River County. He appealed to the Board to listen to everyone and look at the needs. He hoped it would be a 5-0 vote. Dr. Roger Dearing, speaking as Superintendent of Schools, stated that schools are not the cause but the reflection of our social problems today. He related 5 recent incidents in the county indicating the 39 -0 4i PAGE �.t�� MAY 132 1997'!,