12/7/95 Agenda & Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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i.l L- .A.11J as a...CS a t.a c.a iJ at home with the children. The other category is the working poor. These are the folks that seem to be in the most need. They are struggling to survive. Both parents work, or in many cases a single parent is working to make ends meet. The children are home alone a great amount of the time with little or no supervision, they have difficulty with transportation, and they have very stressful home situations, trying to cope with low income, often times single parenthood, and with the risks generated with unsupervised youth at home alone. There are many programs that are geared for the needs of the low income families of Mounds View. Unfortunately, most require user fees because of the shift to user fees versus subsidy of recreation programs due to budgetary restrictions. User fees of course are one of the most restricting reasons why children are unable to participate in recreation programs. User fees often times prevents the participation of youth in recreational programs. Although the department offers scholarships, which is fee assistance to youth, this is only available because of the generous contributions of the Mounds View Lion' s Club. The pot is not endless. Programs such as after-school activities offer supervised activities after school when youth typically may be home alone, • unsupervised. Summer activities also offer supervised activities at neighborhood parks during daytimes when parents are working. Ice skating rinks offer supervised places to go during the winter months when darkness comes early, evenings are long and boring and children become antsy for physical activity. Self help programs including "I 'm In Charge" , Babysitting and Safety Camp offers children information, and skills in safety and wellness issues needed in their situations of increasing responsibilities, making good choices, and becoming caretakers of siblings. While every recreation program is designed to provide a benefit to youth whether it be skill development, social skills, physical fitness and wellbeing, safety or emotional development through competition, the opportunities are abundant if only youth are able to pay. It is the dream of the Parks and Recreation staff that all programs were offered to all children regardless of economic status, but unfortunately it is not reality. So, how do we serve the low income families of Mounds View? Certainly the Council ' s thoughts on this issue will be of great interest. It is staff' s opinion that through increased subsidy of programs, continued partnerships whenever possible, and continued solicitation of grants and subsidies through community agencies such as the Mounds View Lion' s Club low income families will have greater opportunity to reap the benefits of 411 recreational services.