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Cultural Council of Indian River County <br /> Summer Cultural Camp <br /> Children's Services Advisory Committee - Indian River County <br /> Be PROGRAM NEED STATEMENT (Entire Section B not to exceed one page) <br /> 1 . a) What is the unacceptable condition requiring change? b) Who has the need ? <br /> c) Where do they live? d) Provide local, state or national trend data, with reference <br /> source, that corroborates that this is an area of need. <br /> What : Limited number of affordable programs available to working parents in the two weeks <br /> prior to the start of school. Who : Children with risk factors such as qualifying for the free or <br /> reduced lunch program, living in single parent homes, alcohol, tobacco or drug use, symptoms of <br /> depression, displaying anti-social behavior or dropping out of school. Many families have single <br /> parents or both parents working full time. Many parents find themselves stretched to the limit <br /> trying to provide just basic needs. Organizations need to work together to insure the frugal use <br /> of public dollars . Where: The numbers of school aged children living in Indian River County <br /> are located in the Western, Central and Southern ends of the County. Programs offered for <br /> children during those two weeks and especially those offered for teens are limited . The Summer <br /> Cultural Camp offers productive, supervised activities that give children tools for living. The <br /> Summer Cultural Camp offers transportation to a central location in the morning (GYAC) . From <br /> there, field trips and classes are arranged . Transportation home is also provided at the end of the <br /> day. Data : Figures from the Florida Department of Education indicate a steady increase in <br /> students eligible for the Free/Reduced Lunch Program statewide. Indian River County shows <br /> 39% of the children in the school system qualify for this program, which translates into 5935 <br /> eligible children. Data from the Needs Assessment conducted last year by the Children' s <br /> Services Advisory Committee indicated that the percent growth in impoverished families with <br /> children in Indian River County had a 46% rise from 1990 —2000 . A subsidized childcare sites <br /> and wait list chart in the same report indicated that there is a capacity for 182 in-school children, <br /> but the need is for 250, revealing a gap of 68 needing a place for childcare after school. The <br /> Cultural Council is identified as an asset to the community in the service that we currently <br /> provide. The focus on the need for mental wellness in our children was evident in the report, <br /> especially for programs that prevent mental distress and illness . This program provides such a <br /> focus. <br /> 2. a) Identify similar programs that are currently serving the needs of your targeted <br /> population ; b) Explain how these existing programs are under-serving the targeted <br /> population of your program. <br /> a) The Indian River County Recreation Department offers "Pool Days, Not School Days" <br /> for part of the time this camp is offered . The City of Vero Beach Recreation Department <br /> is not offering programs at this time. Some community organizations are offering arts <br /> classes but the cost is high and the start time does not fit a working families ' schedule. <br /> Boys & Girls Clubs, will be operational at this time, Gifford Youth Activities Center is <br /> hosting the Summer Cultural Camp . Dasie Bridgewater Hope Center and Children' s <br /> Home Society' s are operational. <br /> b) All these locations are already filled to capacity during these two weeks . <br /> 5 <br />