SUBSTITUTE
Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
To appropriate $13,000 from the District 6 Reserve for Appropriations to New American Pathways (New
AP) to Ensure Every Family in Their Program Has the Support Needed to Ensure Student Success.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward C. “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
To appropriate $13,000 from the District 6 reserve for appropriations to New American Pathways to assist with
the family support programs with community members who can communicate in languages as the population
diversifies. On average each family receives 10 hours of in-language support each year. New AP pays
approximately $20 per hour for contract interpretation (including in person interpreters and limited use of
language line). This support will allow New AP to ensure that every family in their program has the
communication capacity critical to ensure student success.
NEED/IMPACT:
New American Pathways is a nonprofit located in DeKalb County that empowers refugees and supports their
successful integration into Georgia's communities. Established in 2014, New AP resulted from the merger of
Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta (RRISA) and Refugee Family Services (RFS). This
year the program is serving an increasingly diverse group of students and families reflecting the increasing
number of refugees arriving in DeKalb County. Currently enrolled families speak 17 languages. New AP works
to staff their family support programs with community members who can communicate in language but as the
population diversifies, they do not have language capacity on staff for all participants. Interpreters are needed to
provide orientation and enrollment support for the after-school program, host information sessions and
workshops, follow up with parents on academic, behavioral, and health issues, and connect parents to
community resources. This funding will allow 65 families to receive 10 hour of contract interpretation support
@$20 per hour = $ 13,000
FISCAL IMPACT: D6 Unincorporated Fund appropriation
Increase appropriations for the following account by the amount indicated below:
Non-Departmental - Unincorporated Fund - Other Miscellaneous Payments (09130.573099.272.0000.0000) -$13,000.00
Decrease appropriations for the following account by the amount indicated below:
Non-Departmental - Unincorporated Fund - Reserve for Appropriation (09130.579002.272.0000.0000) -
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the requested D6 Reserve for appropriation of $13,000 to New American Pathways and authorize the Chief Executive Officer or his designee to execute all necessary documents.