96-069 - Grant Award Agreement for the Santa Ana Community Action Network Program

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1.77 The fees present a major obstacle to parents in the target area due to the high level of economic deprivation. Also lacking are,program,s that target the academic preparedness of pre-school children. This results not only in the program being inaccesible to residents in the target area but also in the inability to effectuate positive attachments to school and learning. It was hoped that the Assistance League would be able to offer more scholarships to residents of the target area, however, due to the limited resources of the day care center, this was not possible. The Assistance League has, however, participated in other ways that have made significant contributions to the community. The Assistance League organized a Concerts in the Park series in conjunction Orange County Musician's Association, Western Medical Center, and the U.S. Recording Music Performance Trust Fund. A total of three concerts were conducted with the purpose of exposing residents to new and varied types of music. The Assistance League also solicited and secured funding from one of their sponsors for playground equipment/supplies ($1,500) and identified other sponsors for project special events which covered the cost of supplies, food, and door prizes. CITY OF SANTA ANA RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY The City of Santa Ana Recreation and Community Services Agency, Youth Guidance Division, provides a variety of recreational and educational programs that stimulate mental, social, and physical development in a safe and protective environment. The agency includes four full-size recreation centers, two mini recreation centers, twenty seven playground sites, and six intermediate school recreation sites, all of which offer daily programs, excursions, and special events. Daily programs include before and after school supervised recreation, youth sports leagues, a mobile recreation unit, teen clubs, arts and crafts, and homework assistance. The highlight of the Agency is its prevention programs, Project PRIDE and Safe Haven. The purpose of these programs is to diminish the gang recruitment base and prevent substance abuse among youths and thek families by increasing and retaining youth and family participation in city educational and recreational activities, providing resources for support and opportunities to experience success, and teaching the skills needed to remain gang free, drug free, and in school. The programs also are aimed at recreating family unity through leisure. The prevention programs available to the target area through the lead agency included the gang prevention curriculum offered at Carver Elementary School, the PRIDE Teen Club offered at Willard Intermediate School, and the Mobile Recreation Unit, a van equipped with recreation equipment stationed at the park three days per week after school. Also, flyers were distributed to these schools and at Flower Street Park to promote the city's youth sports and excursion programs. Additionally, El Salvador is the recreation center that serves the target area and provided an additional site for project activities.