Title
Accept Arizona First Things First Funds for Ongoing Early Literacy Outreach Program (Ordinance S-43329)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to accept and expend funds in the amount of $375,000 in FY 2017-2018 from the State of Arizona First Things First Phoenix North Regional Council. Funds will be used to support ongoing programs conducted by Phoenix Public Library's Early Literacy Outreach Team.
Report
Summary
The First Things First Phoenix North Regional Partnership Council grant supports a team of 7.165 early literacy outreach specialists who present parent education programs and workshops at community sites as well as seven libraries located in First Things First's North Region: Acacia (750 E. Townley Ave.), Agave (23550 N. 36th Ave.), Cholla (10050 Metro Parkway E.), Juniper (1825 W. Union Hills Drive), and Mesquite (4525 E. Paradise Village Parkway N.). Workshops for parents and caregivers focus on strategies to assist children in being ready to read by kindergarten. These programs conducted by Phoenix Public Library's Early Literacy Outreach Team are part of PHXAchieves, which focuses on increasing early literacy, math proficiency, high school completion, and college and career readiness by implementing quality programs that prepare students and families for success.
First Things First (FTF) has supported Phoenix Public Library's Early Literacy Outreach Team for seven years. This will be the third year of a three-year funding cycle with funds totaling $1.125 million over the entire three-year period.
Financial Impact
In January, the FTF Council approved continuing funding of $375,000 for the Parent Outreach & Awareness strategy and its partnership with the Library.
Location
The First Things First grant supports Phoenix Public Library's Early Literacy Outreach Team's programs held in Phoenix Public Library locations within the First Things First Phoenix North Regional Partnership Council: Acacia (750 E. Townley Ave.), Agave (23550 N. 36th Ave.), Cholla (10050 Metro Parkway E.), Juniper (1825 W. Union Hills Drive), and Mesquite (4525 E. Paradise Village Parkway N.).
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Deanna Jonovich and Phoenix Public Library.