The Families, Parks & Recreation Department serves thousands of children at recreation centers, schools, and non-profit partner locations.  Since 2006, FPR has systematically enhanced its children's programs, largely via grant funding, in order to reduce juvenile crime and improve academic performance at City schools.  Grants are specifically being leveraged to: 1) engage older youth residing in high crime/low-income neighborhoods in evidence-based crime prevention programs; and 2) provide intensive academic support/counseling and workforce development training to the large number of academically-struggling older youth who attend our programs or reside in these neighborhoods.

To support this work, in 2015, FPR was awarded a two-year Operation AmeriCorps grant by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) via Volunteer Florida to hire AmeriCorps members to create an academic advocacy and counseling program targeted at high school juniors and seniors residing in Orlando’s lowest income neighborhoods at five high schools (Jones, Edgewater, Boone, Colonial and Lake Nona).

Upon successful completion of the two-year grant, CNCS and Volunteer Florida have now decided to award the City a new three-year grant so that the program can continue, using the same model at the same schools, over the next three years.

By approving this Council agenda item, the Orlando City Council authorizes receipt of this grant and continuation of the program over the coming three years, renewable each year.