Title
First Things First Grant Application and IGA (Ordinance S-49230)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, and expend First Things First (FTF) grant funds for both Phoenix Public Library's (PPL) Early Literacy Outreach Team (ELOT) and the City of Phoenix Youth and Education Office's Phoenix Families First Resource Centers and to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board regarding the same. PPL requests approval to apply for up to $2.6 million total for the life of the agreement, to be expended over a four-year grant cycle (up to $650,000 annually), to support ELOT efforts; and Phoenix Families First Resource Centers requests approval to apply for up to $3.2 million total for the life of the agreement, to be expended over a four-year grant cycle (up to $800,000 annually), beginning in City of Phoenix Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24.
Report
Summary
Phoenix Public Library Early Literacy Outreach Team
Phoenix Public Library has maintained a productive partnership and received grant funding from Arizona's First Things First in support of PPL's Early Literacy Outreach Team since 2009. PPL/FTF outreach workshops for parents and caregivers focus on strategies to help children get ready to read by kindergarten. Hands-on workshops guide parents and caregivers in assisting children with critical pre-literacy skills such as letter knowledge, print awareness, developing a rich vocabulary and comprehension. In addition, when visiting neighborhood events and organizations, library staff present parents with a coupon that can be redeemed at any PPL location for a free children's book, further encouraging families to regularly visit the library and begin building a book collection for the home.
Phoenix Families First Resource Centers
The Human Services Department and Youth and Education Office entered into an intergovernmental agreement with First Things First in July 2018 to create four Family Resource Centers in current City facilities controlled by the Library, Housing, and Parks and Recreation departments. The Phoenix Families First Resource Centers increase families' access to concrete support and services in times of need; improve knowledge of parenting and child development; foster parental resilience and successfully connect families to support in the community; and promote social and emotional competence in children.
Contract Term
In January of 2023, First Things First will start the funding cycle for Arizona state fiscal years 2024 through 2027 by formally issuing requests for proposals. FTF Regional Councils vote to approve proposals by May and then all funding plans go to the First Things First State Board for final approval in June for contracts that will begin in July 2023 and end in June 2027.
Concurrent/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval at the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee on Nov. 2, 2021, by a vote of 4-0.
Financial Impact
The amount of the two grants: PPL's ELOT up to $2.6 million total and to be expended over a four-year grant cycle (up to $650,000 annually) and Phoenix Families First Resource Centers up to $3.2 million total and to be expended over a four-year grant cycle (up to $800,000 annually) beginning in FY 2023-24, and no matching funds are required.
Location
Phoenix Public Library ELOT
Citywide
Phoenix Families First Resource Centers
Goelet A.C. Beuff Community Center - 3435 W. Pinnacle Peak Road
Burton Barr Central Library - 1221 N. Central Ave.
Cesar Chavez Library - 3635 W. Baseline Road
Aeroterra Housing Community - 675 N. 16th St.
Council Districts: 1, 7, and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson, the Library Department and the Youth and Education Office.