Michelle Abarca

The Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County has unveiled a new strategic plan, serving as a roadmap for the next five years, developed to address the changing needs of families, particularly post-COVID. Key strategic objectives include closing disparity gaps in child outcomes, enhancing youth well-being, optimizing accountability, expanding community partnerships, increasing direct community connection, boosting funding for grassroots organizations, improving access to basic needs, strengthening the Early Childhood System of Care, building provider capacity, and refining human resource allocation. The plan's vision is for all children to grow up healthy, safe, ready for school, and ready for life, with an overarching goal to improve the well-being of all children served by CSC.

This annual report for the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County outlines the organization's activities and an updated strategic plan. The plan aims to improve the well-being of all children and families by focusing on key objectives: closing disparity gaps, enhancing youth well-being, optimizing accountability, expanding partner collaboration, increasing direct community connection, boosting funding for grassroots organizations, improving access to basic needs, strengthening early childhood systems, building provider capacity, and optimizing human resource allocation. The overall vision is for all children to grow up healthy, safe, ready for school, and ready for life.

The meeting included discussion and tentative adoption of the 2024-2025 budget and millage rate. The percent increase above rolled-back rate was 8.22%. The final TRIM Hearing was announced for September 19, 2024.

The Council workshop focused on re-imagining Early Care and Education (ECE). A presentation was given on the history of the project, with a focus on funding provider salary supplements and supports for behavior and child development. Four options were presented for the provider salary supplement focus area over the next 3 years. A recommendation for classroom supports in FY 24-25 was presented in the form of minigrants to the childcare provider community. The Council members were generally supportive of the recommendations for subject areas for ECE funding and supported funding Option 1 for the salary supplement.

The council meeting included presentations on the Birth to 22 Alliance Youth Master Plan 2.0. The Finance Committee recommended approval of the financial statements for the period ending April 30, 2024, and the Investment Policy Revision. Resolution #24-007 was approved, authorizing funding to seven Community Driven Innovation Providers. Resolution #24-008 was approved, authorizing an increase in allocation to the agreement with Nutritious Lifestyles, LLC for the Nutrition Services for Women and Families Program. Resolution #24-009 was approved, authorizing a no-cost contract extension with Philliber Research Evaluation for Evaluation of "What Works" in Healthy Beginnings System. The council approved Resolution #24-010 approving an increase in the use of under expenditures for Summer Camp Scholarships. A proclamation was read declaring May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness and Trauma Informed Care Month in Palm Beach County, Florida. The CEO reviewed highlights from her report, and upcoming TRIM Hearings in September were discussed.