42 programs in LR get ’18 extensions.
Some terms short, others go for year
Little Rock will extend its current contracts for 42 youth intervention and prevention programs or adult career skills and re-entry programs, committing up to $2.1 million for the services.
Some of the contracts will be extended for just three or six months, while others will cover all of 2018.
The short-term extensions are to allow time to monitor some of the programs that aren’t meeting goals that were set, such as attendance.
“With all that our youth programming does, it’s not always easy to quantify and qualify,” City Director Lance Hines said Tuesday. “Attendance is one way to keep track.”
City staff members will work with the program providers with short-term extensions to correct any problems and possibly recommend continued funding through the end of 2018.
The following 10 providers will receive up to $200,000 combined to continue youth enhancement programs through March: ABC Adolescent Center, Arkansas Community Dispute Resolution Centers, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Society, Center for Youth and Families, Jack Stephens Youth Golf Academy/First Tee of Central Arkansas, Junior Achievement of Arkansas, Milton Pitts Crenchaw Aviation Training Academy, Songbird Multimedia and Performing Arts, and We Care of Pulaski County.
The Dalton Whetstone Boys and Girls Club will get up to $18,750 to continue its youth intervention program through March.
The following four providers will get up to $37,500 each to continue seven youth intervention programs through June: ABC Adolescent Center, two programs; Bridge 2 Success, two programs; Pulaski County Youth Services; City of Fire Ministries, two programs.
The Mitchell Boys and Girls Club and Brandon House will get up to $37,500 each to provide youth prevention programs through June.
Our House and Protech Solutions Inc.’s The Good Grid will get up to $30,000 to provide adult re-entry services through June.
Eighteen programs are being contracted for the full year.
Each of the following will receive up to $75,000 per program to put on a youth prevention or intervention program throughout 2018: Pulaski County Youth Services, three programs; Our House, two programs; Mitchell Boys and Girls Club; Penick Boys and Girls Club, two programs; Life Skills for Youth, two programs; In His Image Youth Development Center; City of Fire; Songbird Multimedia and Performing Arts; Thrasher Boys and Girls Club; St. John Unto Others; Better Community Development; Whetstone Boys and Girls Club and Bridge 2 Success.
Our House also will get up to $100,000 for providing career and life skills development in 2018, and McMahan Counseling will get up to $50,000 to provide domestic-violence counseling next year.
The Little Rock Board of Directors approved the contracts and contract extensions Tuesday.
Together, the commitments total $2,116,250. The city’s Department of Community Programs has an annual $5.5 million budget to fund such programs.