On March 7, 2011, the Orlando City Council approved free enrollment of children (who are City residents) in after-school and summer camp programs offered by the Families, Parks and Recreation Department (FPR) if their families qualify for the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT- Food Stamps) program.

Previously, the criteria for free attendance depended upon whether the children qualified for free lunch at their schools, but the verity of free lunch documentation was unreliable. By using the EBT standard instead, the reliability of FPR's free enrollment system has increased, but at the same time inadvertently excludes some foster children from being able to attend for free. This is because all foster children automatically qualify for free lunch (as well as WIC and, for children under the age of 10, federally-funded child care subsidies), but they don't necessarily qualify for EBT.

This agenda item seeks to reinstate free enrollment in FPR after school and summer camp programs for foster children residing in the City, as long as documentation of their foster care status is provided to the City in the form of a foster care placement letter, with the letter showing that the placement is located within the City limits.

By approving this item, City Council will restore benefits to foster children who reside in the City to the level they had previously enjoyed prior to March 2011.