The Escambia County (Ala.) Children's Policy Council (CPC) held it's quarterly meeting on Thursday, June 27, to give updates on programs and events that help area youth and solicited board members' input on needs assessment in the county, noting that Alabama ranks 44th out of 50 in child well-being.
CPC Executive Director Karean Reynolds said according to a recent report, Alabama is 44th out of 50 for child well-being and was 42nd out of 50 last year. The video shown at the meeting stated the Annie E. Casey Foundation uses 16 indicators to rank the state ranking. The reasons the state can't keep up with well-being are: program investment, child poverty, employment in families and need data to get help.
Reynolds then addressed Escambia County's 10 areas of need are substance abuse, mental health, poverty, early education, health and well-being, parental involvement, juvenile crime and safety, housing and neighborhoods, transportation and school success.
Of those 10, Reynolds, said, the top three are substance abuse, juvenile crime and safety and the enhancement of school success.
Reynolds cited data and numbers used to compile the needs assessment for the county. He noted that poverty is a big problem in the county, which effects all of the needs.
Reynolds said the Mentor Program Grant application was approved and the program has to be implemented by August 1, 2019.
“We actually asked for $8,000 but we got approved for $5,000, which is still good for our county and the program,” said Reynolds.
CPC Chariman Judge Eric Coale spoke at the first graduation of the Mentor Program, where 19 students graduated and seven had perfect attendance. Judge Coale expressed that he thought the program was worthwhile and hoped they would find the funding to continue it.
Reynolds said the schools expressed interest in continuing the Erin's Law Sexual Prevention Law program and that he got everything submitted when it was due.
Other programs showing promise are the Peer Helper Program, with seven PH programs with about 150 students throughout the county.
The Peer Helper Program is instrumental and is important because it adds 150 more people in the streets who are actually promoting our agenda and our mission,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds showed a video created by Peer Helpers at Escambia County High School highlighting the downside of teen alcohol consumption, promoting the agenda of the Prom Promise, where teens promise make a promise not to drink alcohol at prom time.
“They can reach a population that we won't see,” said Reynolds. “The video has been shared and viewed thousands of times.”
The Drugs Erase Dreams Program will begin in the fall, with Molly Pizotti, a recovering addict who shares her story.
Reynolds said the Drugs Erase Dreams traditional curriculum will continue with the partnership it has presently, especially during Red Ribbon Week Activities with Sheriff Heath Jackson and his staff.
Project Turn Around got the number of youth enrolled up to 18 people and it wrapped up in mid June.
Project Cloud is a traditional program at Brewton Library that runs from early July to the end of August, for kids going through drug court.
Liletta Jenkins, state manager of Childrens Policy Councils, from the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education told council members about the upcoming State Children's Policy Council Conference on Friday, August 2 in Montgomery. Jenkins said Gov. Kay Ivey will be at the conference again this year.
Jenkins noted that there will be new Pre-K classrooms added in the county.
“We had 164 new classrooms across the state that will open in the fall for a total of 1,045, so with new 164 classrooms, more children across the state of Alabama will have an opportunity to go to school,” said Jenkins.
Following more discussion addressing the needs in the county, Reynolds said poverty was a big issue.
“My recommendation is based on the current issues effecting Escambia County, I suggest that we continue with our current priorities but also work to address issues of poverty,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds addressed the needs assessment, which is required annually by the state, soliciting input from council members present.
Brewton pediatrician Dr. Marsha Raulerson spoke about the desperate need to expand Medicaid and how the lack of healthcare is at the core of many other problems.
She asked council members to make their voices heard to State Rep. Alan Baker and State Sen. Greg Albritton the need to provide healthcare to the adults and children of Alabama.
“If parents are sick, the children are going to suffer,” said Raulerson.
Escambia County Director of Human Resources Lynn Barnes mentioned the lack of child support, lack of access to rural transportation, childcare and other limitations add to the problems of poverty.
Other council members mentioned how the schools are benefitting from many programs but noted that more opportunities are needed for children to have success, especially to change the concept of cyclical poverty, and the success of that is effected by lack of services.
Escambia County School Superintendent John Knott and Brewton City School Superintendent Kenneth Varner talked about the success of vocational and apprentice programs in their school systems and the passion their instructors had in working with youth. Knott noted the success of the programs offered at Escambia Career Readiness Center.
