Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All DeKalb County Commission Districts
Approve a $100.000.00 District 6 ARP appropriation that will be dispersed in $25,000.00 annual increments over the next 4 years to support the DeKalb Community Service Board’s APEX Program Summer Camp program.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
APEX is a DeKalb Community Service Board program under the provisions of child and adolescent services. The Camp objective is to address the continued needs for educational enrichments and behavioral health services that DeKalb County children and adolescents need when they are out of school on summer break. Educational and social emotional learning loss occurs during this season. Lapses in services could negatively affect a child’s academic success and behavioral health goal progression and can result in poor academic and behavioral health outcomes. Considering COVID-19 environment, it is vitally important that we provide an opportunity to continue engagement in services throughout the summer break. For YR 2022, this summer the camp will operate from June 6th to July 14th.
NEED/IMPACT:
Poverty has a profound effect on a child’s mental health. Chronic exposure to poverty increases their risk of mental
disorders such as depression and proposes behavioral risks such as substance use, early sexual debut, and criminal activity. Last year, 99.7% of the children and adolescents that CSB served in the DeKalb DCSB’s School-Based Mental Health Services Program (APEX) received public aid for services.
The APEX Program Summer Camp answers these needs by hosting an innovative, enriching social and emotional learning curriculum for children at their school alongside traditional camp activities and educational enrichment. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) provides self-management skills, and relationship-building skills, and teaches self-awareness and social awareness. Outcomes include improving children’s social-emotional skills, attitudes about self and others, connection to school, social behavior, and academic performance.
A fully licensed therapist is staffed in each school to provide individual, group, and family counseling to children referred for services. The school-based therapist conducts prevention activities, including classroom presentations, teacher support, parent education, and mental health consultation. The therapist responds to crises and critical incidents within the school, including potential suicidality reports. The therapist serves as a counseling team member and participates in committees as the staff mental health professional.
Their staff and clinicians have successfully engaged students and families at the partner schools for the last six years during the school year.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This District 6 ARP appropriation of $100,000.00 over the next four (4) years ($25,00.00 per year) will provide financial assistance for the portion of the program not covered by the DBHDD APEX grant. (See proposal attachment for itemized use of funding)
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the District 6 ARP appropriation and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents.