Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 6
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Districts
Appropriate District 6 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding of $4,000 to support CPA 2 and 3 of the DeKalb County PAL Plus Unit Career Development Program.
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Edward “Ted” Terry
Phone Number: 404-371-4909
PURPOSE:
DeKalb County Police Athletic League Plus (PAL) is a charitable non-profit organization, whose goal is to have a positive impact on the youth of DeKalb County and improve the quality of life for all its participants with its primary focus to provide a “safe-haven” for kids to go and grow. PAL’s Career Development Program provides interview skills, fiscal management, hygiene, business management and mentorship for youth in DeKalb County through weekly workshops during the session dates, in a classroom setting at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. There is no cost to the participants.
Participants receive a variety of materials, including information about local and national colleges and universities, worksheets with examples of fiscal responsibility and budgeting, tips on how to manage social media and other important documents. Local business owners (some of whom hold doctorate degrees), college professors, veteran police officers and the DeKalb DA’s office also collaborate to equip these teen participants with diverse skills that include conflict resolution, coping with trauma, gangs and drugs, interview skills, workplace etiquette, entrepreneurship training and several other topics related to mentoring teens.
NEED/IMPACT:
PAL utilized preventive programs and activities to combat juvenile crime as it effects all of DeKalb County and its residents, businesses, and visitors. There has been an uprise in crime, drug use, and suicide attributed to the short and long term affects of COVID and sadly, more youth are vulnerable to social and societal negative impacts. It is more important than ever to support efforts that combat this.
DeKalb County PAL Plus has incorporated a combination of education, athletic and crime prevention initiatives strategically implemented via youth programs. When youth are involved in healthy, structured, and supervised activities, statistics prove that they are less likely to join gangs, get involved with illegal activity or even experience disciplinary problems in school. Through the structured PALP activities, our youth develop self-respect, respect for authority and pride in their community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CDP Session #2 - 05/11/22 to 08/17/22 and CDP Session #3 - 09/07/22 to 12/14/22 @ $2,000.00 each to total $4,000.000 which funds drinks, snacks and a full dinner during each workshop, defrays fieldtrip costs, and the program graduation banquette and ceremony at the end of each CDP program session (see budget included).
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the district 6 ARP appropriation of $4,000.00 and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents