Council Update: Majority of CSC-funded programs performing well, according to annual review

As part of an annual review of funded services, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County evaluated nearly 70 programs for elements such as program fidelity and performance, staff shared with council at its most recent meeting. Overall performance has continued to improve as providers recover from the impact of Covid-19. However, programs outlined multiple, persistent barriers hampering their ability to meet the community’s needs. Those include:

Recruiting and retaining staff: Programs stated the average length for vacancies was 61 days, with some vacancies lasting as long as 244 days. Salaries and required qualifications are noted as the most common reasons for the long vacancies.

Language accessibility: Programs reported a need to keep up with Palm Beach County’s diverse population, particularly in finding staff who speak Haitian Creole and languages spoken by the Guatemalan community.

Housing and economic insecurity: Programs reported that economic instability and the county’s housing crisis has made it difficult to engage some families in services. Providers note that it is difficult to serve families focused on meeting basic needs and living in insecure environments. In addition, families are exhibiting growing levels of anxiety, stress and depression due to potential homelessness and ongoing unemployment, inflation and isolation.

Legislative changes: Some families report feeling apprehensive about engaging in services following newly enacted state laws. In addition, some families have been impacted by Florida’s Medicaid Redetermination Plan, which has caused them to lose medical coverage.

Despite these pressing issues, families and programs reported the following positive outcomes:

• 91% of families reported seeing improvements in their child’s overall development because of participation in First Steps. 
• 96% of families reported seeing improvements in their child’s overall development because of their child’s participating in Forward Leaps. 
• Pre/post assessment outcomes showed that families are decreasing their depression, stress and anxiety related to parenting and increasing their confidence in setting goals and reinforcing positive behaviors in themselves and their children. 
• Assisting with Medicaid applications resulted in families obtaining medical coverage shortly after hospital discharge. 
• Children have expressed how lucky they feel to have an attorney in the courtroom representing just them and their interests.
• Children are so appreciative and say how the attorney changed their lives. 
• “TOP has been such an impactful experience. I learned so much about myself and how to handle situations. I’m going to really miss coming every week.” - A quote from a graduating high school senior participating in the Teen Outreach Program (TOP). 
• CSC increased the income eligibility threshold from 300% to 350% of Federal Poverty guidelines for families needing child care to ensure that families maintained care even as inflation rises.
• Clinics Can Help provided 479 pieces of donated and gently used medical equipment to 293 children in need. 
• 922 clients received transportation services and 9,338 taxi trips were provided.

In other business

Strategic Planning: The Council approved the CEO to move forward with contract discussions with two external facilitators to assist CSC in its strategic planning process. CSC will continue talks with LBL Strategies and Perceptist, LLC. The finalized contract will run from March 1 through Sept. 30, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $65,000.

Monday Morning Update: After 17 years, CSC’s weekly e-newsletter, the Monday Morning Update (MMU), will sunset the end of February. A review of MMU metrics found that as communications tools have changed, MMU’s impact has diminished. CSC encourages MMU subscribers to follow the organization on its other communications channels (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, as well as the CSCPBC.org website and EveryParentPBC.org website and EveryParent app) to stay up to date with CSC and community news.