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United for Families, Camp Foster Child, Children's Services Advisory Committee <br /> C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION (Entire Section C, I — 6, not to exceed two pages. Box will <br /> expand as you type) <br /> 1 . List Priority Needs area addressed . <br /> Access to childcare <br /> 2 . Briefly describe program activities including location of services . <br /> United for Families will provide summer-camp opportunities to at least 20 and no more than <br /> 50 school-age foster children in Indian River County during the summer of 2008 . The project will <br /> make use of existing camp resources , particularly those offered by city and county parks and <br /> recreation, the Boys and Girls Club, Life for Youth Ranch and other popular summer venues <br /> within Indian River County. We also are interested in educating foster homes on the types of <br /> camps available and to provide children and their families with a choice of camp experience <br /> during the summer months. The amount requested will pay for field trips and registration for <br /> children under the age of 13 and for tuition, registration and field trips for teen-agers . <br /> 3 . Briefly describe how your program addresses the stated need/problem. Describe how <br /> your program follows a recognized "best practice" (see definition on page 12 of the <br /> Instructions) and provide evidence that indicates proposed strategies are effective with <br /> target population . <br /> Summer camp meets a special two-pronged need in the foster-care community: First, it <br /> promotes self esteem, sportsmanship and the feeling of community among children whose <br /> development in these areas and whose connection to other human beings has been dramatically <br /> curtailed by previous maltreatment. It is particularly important to ensure opportunities such as <br /> summer camp to these children to keep them from feeling further alienated from society . Second, <br /> summer camp is an important component in the retention of foster homes . A 2003 United for <br /> Families telephone survey of foster parents who opted to leave the system indicated that the No . 1 <br /> requested support among foster parents is summer care. It is essential that UFF responds to these <br /> requests for support if we are to improve the retention of foster parents in Indian River County, <br /> where foster homes are so limited. The retention of homes is critical to decreasing the number of <br /> times children move from home to home; therefore it is also critical to increasing the stability and <br /> ental well-being of children in care. <br /> 4. List staffing needed for your program, including required experience and estimated <br /> hours per week in program for each staff member and/or volunteers (this section should <br /> conform to the information in the Position Listing on the Budget Narrative Worksheet). <br /> No additional United for Families staffing will be required. <br /> 5. How will the target population be made aware of the program?United for Families will <br /> promote the program through a monthly newsletter and at monthly foster parent meetings. <br /> Resource specialists co-located with dependency case managers also will assist by helping to <br /> enroll children. <br /> 6 . How will the program be accessible to target population (i. e., location, transportation, <br /> hours of operation) ? Parents will have a choice in where their children attend camp, and <br /> herefore in the location and time of camp. <br /> 5 <br />