Our Growth Fund

Annual Report 2007-2008

 The Council

At Children’s Services Council, a special

taxing district, we help children begin life
healthy, remain free from abuse and neglect,
Rod Macon, Chair, Judge Ronald Alvarez, Dari Bowman,
enter school eager and ready to learn, and FP&L* Vice Chair, Juvenile Secretary,
Court Judge Child Advocate*
thrive in quality afterschool programs so our
entire community succeeds.

Annual Report Staff Table of Contents

Written and Edited by
Shana Cooper, Public Information Specialist
& Healthy Beginnings..............................2-3
Perry Borman, Vincent Goodman, Carrie Hill, School
Marlene Passell, Public Information Director Quality Counts ....................................4-5 Regional Director, Retired Educator* Board Member
Department of
Positive Connections............................6-7 Children & Families
Design by
CSC at a Glance....................................8-9
Caren Hackman
caren@carenhackman.com

Children’s Services Council of

Palm Beach County
2300 High Ridge Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33426
561-740-7000 Dr. Art Johnson, Jeff Koons, County Gregory A.
Superintendent of Commissioner Langowski, Executive
1-800-331-1462 Schools Director of Palm
FAX 835-1956 Beach County
Republican Party*
www.cscpbc.org

All meetings of the Children’s Services Chief

Council are open to the public. Monthly
meetings are held on the fourth Thursday Executive
beginning at 5 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Officer

Willie A. Miller, Jr.,

Assistant to County
* Gubernatorial appointees Commissioner
Priscilla Taylor* Gaetana D. Ebbole
 Want Economic Growth? Invest in Children
We call this our annual report. We could
just as accurately have titled it, “Financial Planning: How to
Get the Highest Return on Investment.”

The future of any society depends on its ability to foster the

health and well-being of the next generation. Stated simply,
today’s children will become tomorrow’s citizens, workers,
and parents. When we fail to provide children with what they
need to build a strong foundation for healthy and productive
lives, we put our future prosperity and security at risk.

Science has a lot to offer about how we as a community can

use our collective resources most effectively and efficiently
to build that strong foundation. The data on the impact of
prenatal care and early childhood education on the lifetime
trajectory of a child are indisputable, yet those things get
the least public attention, the least policy discussion and the
least funding. What makes this even more disappointing
is that we know what to do to ensure the success of our
children—the research provides the evidence.

When we invest wisely in children and families, the

next generation will pay that back through a lifetime of
productivity and responsible citizenship. When we do not
make wise investments in the earliest years, we will all pay
the considerable costs of greater numbers of school-age
children who need special education and more adults who
are under-employed, unemployed, or incarcerated.

Unlike the other economic dilemmas we are currently facing

in the county, state and nation that may take years to figure
out, the facts and figures on these pages tell us that we
already know what to do for high return on investment.

What we do with these facts and figures is purely up to us

and we are choosing to use them to make a difference for
our children, our community and our future.

Rod Macon Tana Ebbole

Chairman Chief Executive Officer

Children’s Services Council Annual Report 2007- 2008

—2—

Healthy Beginnings The mothers-to-be are often young,

unexpectedly pregnant and mired in difficult relationships.
So they’re understandably cautious around the nurse who
shows up at their home nearly every week to discuss health,
wellness and baby care. But little by little, these nurses
make deep connections with struggling families—building a
trust that thrives.

Today, six nurses work with nearly 150 families through

the evidence-based Nurse-Family Partnership program,
which Children’s Services Council and its partners brought
“The reason I like this to Palm Beach County a year ago. The program, soon to
expand, is just one example of Children’s Services Council’s
program is because it commitment to creating a seamless system of care that
really works. It keeps the addresses the needs of at-risk families while providing the
community with an enormous return on its investment.
kids out of my courtroom.”
Families involved in Nurse-Family Partnership show
a significant decrease in children’s language delays,
— Ronald Alvarez, in mothers having another baby within two years and
Palm Beach County in cases of abuse and neglect. Long-term, this means
healthier children, self-sufficient families and prosperous
Juvenile Court Judge communities.

In all, more than 19,500 children and families­—many

of whom come from disadvantaged socio-economic
backgrounds—received direct services last year under
Children’s Services Council’s Healthy Beginnings division.
Those programs and services include access to early,
consistent, affordable prenatal care; childbirth education;
nutrition information; counseling; developmental and
behavioral assessments; and family support programs that
encourage parent-child bonding and early literacy.

Children’s Services Council is now refining its system of

care to be more efficient, effective and accountable. The end
result? More families will get the help they need to succeed.
 Healthy Beginnings by the Numbers
Birth Outcomes
15,702 Palm Beach County births (2007)
Of those … 9,356 (60%) Healthy Beginnings clients
Of those …
5,565 (60%) Postnatal clients

3,629 (39%) Prenatal clients

162 (1%) unknown clients

Low Birthweight - under 5.5 lbs.

Healthy Beginnings
Prenatal clients 9.4%

Healthy Beginnings
Postnatal clients 11.9%

Countywide 9.4%

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Preterm - less than 37 weeks

Healthy Beginnings
Prenatal clients 12.7%

Healthy Beginnings
Postnatal clients 21.1%

Countywide 14.7%

0 5 10 15 20 25

Children’s Services Council Annual Report 2007- 2008

—4—
Quality Counts
Working parents wonder,
“Are my children safe,
secure, well-fed and loved?
Are they learning, trying,
doing and growing? Are
they happy?”
Every working parent knows the anxiety that
comes with leaving their children in the care of others. But
last year, thousands went to work each day knowing their
children were thriving—thanks to Palm Beach County’s two-
pronged Quality Improvement System (funded and supported
by Children’s Services Council and community partners).
Whether their toddler was in an early care & education
program or their ‘tween attended an afterschool site,
parents could literally see, hear and feel the quality.
Research has proven that children in well-designed
early childhood education programs blossom physically,
cognitively, socially and emotionally—so they’re ready and
eager for kindergarten. Their caregivers are well-trained
in child development and given the opportunity to grow
professionally. And their parents are encouraged to be
involved. The end result is a startling benefit to society.
Studies have shown a long-term return on investment
ranging from $1.80 to $17.70 for each dollar spent.
Thousands more Palm Beach County school children
engage in everything from fine arts to sports at local quality
afterschool programs. They received homework help,
nutritious snacks and a pat on the back from caring staff.
These programs helped build children’s confidence, improve
their school performance and keep them safe. Studies show
children in quality afterschool programs are significantly
less likely to skip school or experiment with drugs, alcohol,
smoking or sex.
As 2010 approaches, Children’s Services Council has
taken these quality improvements further so the child
care and afterschool systems are even more efficient and
accountable—and parents, ultimately, have more affordable,
quality choices.
For working parents, that’s peace of mind.
 Quality Counts by the Numbers
Quality Programs

Early Care & Education

132 6,000+ 500+

Afterschool

90 8,300+
Waiting for Care

Children’s Services Council Annual Report 2007- 2008

—6—
Positive Connections
“It really doesn’t matter
what we do. There’s a
benefit of us just being
together.”
­— Ken Arfa, Mentor
After seven years of mentoring , Ken
Arfa knows the impact he’s had on Vincent Belfiore’s life.
Through school projects, tennis games, car washes and
the occasional heart-to-heart, Arfa has watched a lost boy
blossom into a young man.
“I’ve seen him go through a lot of changes and he’s really
come a long way,” Arfa said. “… I know we’re going to be
buddies for life.”
Mentors show children a different view, expose them to
unexplored opportunities and teach them to build trust.
The proof is in the results: Youth who regularly meet with a
mentor are 52 percent less likely than peers to skip school
and 46 percent less likely to use drugs, according to a study
by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.
That’s why the Children’s Services Council, through its
Positive Connections department, continues to promote
mentoring, aid grassroots programs and recruit dedicated
volunteers. And that’s why the department reaches out
to others in the community who need a little extra help—
whether they’re struggling teens, grieving children or
grandparents raising grandchildren.
Children’s Services Council supports programs that help
teens make healthy choices to prevent pregnancy and
develop life skills. Children’s Services Council also funds
advocacy programs—such as providing lawyers for those
embroiled in the child welfare system—to ensure children
removed from their families because of abuse or neglect
find safe, loving, stable homes as quickly as possible.
In the coming months Children’s Services Council
will enhance its community outreach with an evidence-
based, universal parenting initiative for all Palm Beach
County families.
Because healthy children, raised within stable families,
create strong communities.
 Mentoring by the Numbers
Meaningful Matches
Nearly 1,700 mentors volunteered in Mentor Center
network programs, according to a 2008 survey.
By Gender

43% men
57% women

And nearly 550 children remained

By Race
on waiting lists for mentors.

9% Hispanic By Gender
54% White

37% African-American 35% Girls

65% Boys

During the same time, there were more than

2,050 children matched with a mentor. By Race
By Gender

8% White
92% Minority
48% boys 52% girls

By Age

By Race 19% under 5 years old

10% 14-18 years old

54% 5-10 years old
15% Hispanic
72% African-American 17% 11-13 years old
13% White

Children’s Services Council Annual Report 2007- 2008

—8—

Children’s Services Council Revenues 2008

by the Numbers
Property Taxes: Grant Income: $6,084,346
$95,375,652 Interest $3,002,373
Miscellaneous: $14,114

TOTAL REVENUES: $104,476,485

Expenditures 2008

Children’s Program Administrative: $13,085,831

Services: $79,526,183
Capital Outlay: $405,895
Other: $1,262,662

TOTAL EXPENDITURES: $94,280,571

Children’s Program Services 2008

Other: $4,139,880
Healthy Beginnings
System: $28,512,241
Quality Early Care &
Family & Community Education: $18,624,321
Services: $16,287,204
Quality Afterschool
Programs: $11,962,537
TOTAL: $79,526,183
 Children’s Services Council
Children and Families Served at a Glance 2007/2008

Afterschool: 6,465 Prenatal/Postnatal: 19,582

Family Support: 19,418 Early Care & Education: 16,726

Total Children/Families Receiving Direct Services: 62,191

Additional Children/Families Receiving Indirect/Outreach Services: 90,951

Household Composition

Other Household: 11% Single-Parent

Household: 46%
Two-Parent
Household: 43%

Region

North: 14%
Central: 51%
South: 20%

West: 15%

Race

Black: 43% Hispanic: 24%

Haitian: 7%
Mayan: 2 %
White: 15% Other: 9%

Children’s Services Council Annual Report 2007- 2008

 PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
WEST PALM BCH FL
PERMIT NO 1305
2300 High Ridge Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

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