Title
Library Department recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize acceptance of a local assistance grant of $132,643 from California State Library to be utilized for staffing, supplies, travel costs and a mobile services vehicle for the implementation of the Early Learning in the Neighborhood project;
2) Authorize the Department Head to sign the Financial Claim and Grant Award Certification required to accept this grant funding for expenditures in FY 2020-21;
3) Approve and authorize acceptance of funding from the LENA Foundation of $25,634 to offset the costs of launching a LENA Start Site;
4) Authorize the Department Head to sign the LENA Foundation Launch Funds Acknowledgement ($23,455) and the LENA Foundation VOQAL Launch Funds Acknowledgement ($2,179); and
5) Authorize the Department Head to execute a perpetual agreement 4985 with the LENA Foundation for the one-time set up and first two years LENA start packages, training, and LENA devices as required by the grant for the promotion and measurement of language exchanges between children and their caregiver, for a total not to exceed $19,900 after LENA funding is applied.
FUNDING: Shared Vision: Early Learning local assistance grant administered by the California State Library.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The 2019-20 California state budget contained $8 million for the State Library to provide grants to local public library jurisdictions to implement early learning and after school programs, and to support mobile library solutions. These new grant programs will increase Californians' access to health, educational, workforce and other services, while also increasing the mobility and accessibility of public libraries. Early Learning grants ($3 million) are aimed to connect children, youth, families and caregivers with the services they need to thrive, by building or enhancing early learning hubs and wraparound services. By further integrating the work of libraries and other community service providers, these grants will help ensure that Californians will be connected to the resources they need where and when they need them. As trusted, stigma-free community hubs, libraries offer a unique setting to strengthen at-risk families, promote wellness and deliver a range of important early learning opportunities.
The Early Learning in the Neighborhood grant in the Shared Vision/Early Learning category was awarded to the El Dorado County Library system to provide direct instruction in early literacy techniques and strategies to childcare providers at their sites, for grandparents caring for their grandchildren, and through community engagement events to improve educational outcomes for young children so that they live in nurturing environments and come to school ready to learn.
One of the core elements of this grant is the use of LENA devices and training to promote language exchanges between children and their caregiver. LENA uses a small wearable device on a vest for the child - often referred to as a “talk pedometer” - to measure the amount of language spoken. These measurements are used to deliver detailed feedback to the caregivers that helps adults make proven, sustainable increases in interactive talk with children, which is a critical factor in early brain development.
The LENA Foundation is providing matching grant funds for this project to allow us increase the number of children and caregivers that we can serve, which reduces our costs for the product from $43,534 to $19,900. This project also includes funding for a mobile hybrid van for Georgetown to be used on the Divide to deliver outreach early learning services, school and caregiver outreach, and provide mobile WiFi services with laptops to isolated and remote areas.
The Department will work with Fleet to determine the appropriate type of mobile service vehicle authorized by the terms of the grant, and will purchase a vehicle for this purpose in FY 2020-21. The Library Department and Fleet will return to the Board with an FY 2020-21 Budget amendment to add revenue and appropriations to their respective departments and add a vehicle to the Fixed Asset list once the funding is acknowledged and received.
The LENA agreement is a perpetual agreement that will automatically renew for additional successive one year renewal terms unless notice is provided 60 days prior to the end of the initial term by either party of intent not to renew. The Department will allow renewal only if the program is successful and ongoing funding is identified.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Early Learning in the Neighborhood and Lena grants are not accepted, the Library will not implement the project, and the California State Library must be notified of the grant refusal. The California State Library has encumbered these funds for our Library system and they must be notified as at least one week in advance of the ending of their fiscal year (June 30, 2020) if the funds cannot be accepted. Any funds that are not accepted/encumbered by June 30, 2020 will be forfeited by the California State Library.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Fleet will assist with the purchase the mobile service vehicle for the Library Department with these grant funds.
AQMD plans to utilize their own grant funds to install an electric vehicle charging station at the Georgetown Library.
County Counsel reviewed the grant agreement and LENA agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with this item. The $26,529 matching funds requirement of the California State Library grant will be met by:
$25,634 LENA Foundation Launch grant funds and $2,800 in-kind Community Hub Family Engagement Specialist (EDCOE - 2 hours per month x 4 sites x 10 months)
The $25,634 matching funds requirements of the LENA Foundation Launch grant will be met by the $132,643 California State Library grant.
The Library Department will return to the Board with a budget transfer in FY 2020-21 to amend the Department revenue and appropriations budget once the grant is acknowledged and received.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Carolyn Brooks, Director of Library Services