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| ARF- 3074 |
2. A.
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| Work Session |
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| Information |
| Request/Subject |
| Grantee Agreement GRA-RC004-14-0616-01-Y2 (renewal) between the Gila Regional Partnership Council, Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board (First Things First) and Gila County Library District, for the period July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016. |
| Background Information |
| The Gila County Library District's "First Things First Parent Education Community-Based Training Grant" is a government-to-government agreement with the Gila Regional Council. This is a renewal for an additional 12-month period and shall become effective on July 1, 2015, and shall terminate on June 30, 2016. Total funds available are $65,000 for this renewal period, representing a $20,000 decrease over the previous period. This agreement continues the Early Literacy strategy begun by the previous First Things First Parent Education Community-Based Training Grant for the fiscal years 2011 through 2014, and renewed with a new grant in Fiscal Year 2015. During the past year we were able to provide a subscription to Ladybug or Click magazine for children graduating from the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. This service is not included in the current grant renewal. We have also employed three Community Liaisons to reach parents in Gila County with the early literacy message. Most parents are now aware of our programs, and we have great support from other agencies. Therefore, we will not be employing Community Liaisons for FY16. Those two changes to our program will accommodate the reduction in funding for the coming year. |
| Evaluation |
The current Early Literacy Grant from "First Things First" has been highly successful in providing curriculum materials and educational training to the libraries in the service area for their use in programming and training for parents. Additionally, library staff have heard only positive comments regarding the training provided to parents on the importance of early literacy skills and of reading to their children. At this time, 1,760 children ages birth to five years are enrolled in this program and receive books each month to foster the importance of reading and the six pre-reading skills, as well as proving parents with material to read each month.In addition, 1,406 children have 'graduated' from the program by turning five in the past five years.
The public libraries are continuing to tailor and adapt programming geared at these ages and to encourage families to expand the reading opportunity by visiting the library and borrowing other books to read.
One final note: this government to government renewal does not at this time require a signature page. The approval and signature page will be forthcoming as soon as the First Things First State Board meets to approve this year's grant renewals. We will return to you for final approval and signatures at a later date. |
| Conclusion |
| Of all the programs that the Gila County Library District administers, fosters, or promotes, this grant gives staff the opportunity to reach the most residents, and creates a climate and culture to develop the pre-reading skills necessary for literacy in children. The grant renewal has a goal of enrolling 1,800 children in this program. This agreement continues what the first cycle of First Things First grants started. |
| Recommendation |
| The Gila County Library District recommends that the Board of Directors approve submission of this government-to-government renewal agreement for the First Things First Parent Education Community-Based Literacy Grant for the amount of $65,000 for fiscal year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. |
| Suggested Motion |
(Motion to adjourn as the Gila County Board of Supervisors, and convene as the Gila County Library District Board of Directors) Information/Discussion/Action to approve submission of renewal for Grantee Agreement No.
GRA-RC004-14-0616-01-Y2 between the Gila Regional Partnership Council, Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board (First Things First) and Gila County Library District in the amount of $65,000 for fiscal year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. (Jacque Griffin) |
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