Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for and, if awarded, accept a grant in the amount of $20,000 from the Mardag Foundation for the purpose of supporting youth worker professional development through the Sprockets Out-of-School Time Network.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation is requesting permission to apply for $20,000 in grant funds from the Mardag Foundation for the purpose of supporting youth worker professional development through the Sprockets Out-of-School Time Network; and
WHEREAS, the Mardag Foundation invested $20,000 in Sprockets year one implementation of a three year quality improvement plan and this grant would be a renewed investment of an additional $20,000 to support Sprockets year two implementation; and
WHEREAS, Sprockets network members have identified challenges to ensuring quality in youth programs such as little shared language or understanding about what makes a quality program, little to no budget for staff training and professional development, and organizational leadership that lacks the understanding or capacity to support staff in implementing improved youth work practices; and
WHEREAS, research shows that the components of out-of-school time program quality include effective staff and intentional, focused programming; and
WHEREAS, research shows when programs do not have quality elements, participants can fail to achieve positive outcomes or even begin to perform worse than their peers; and
WHEREAS, Sprockets, Saint Paul's Out-of-School-Time network, has identified continuous quality improvement as one of its six key strategies; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for and if awarded accept these funds.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment.