Welcome to the May-June issue of Provplan’s e-newsletter. We have lots to share in this issue – about the grants New Roots recently awarded, Ready to Learn’s survey on the impact of child-care cuts on providers across the state, and the Information Group’s work with colleges and universities to document and better understand the impact of their partnerships with public schools. The story about the two YouthBuild participants is a powerful reminder of what young people can do when given a chance.

Our last story is about Joyce Butler’s departure from Ready to Learn. Joyce has been the heart and soul of Ready to Learn since the very beginning. It is her vision, her commitment and her passion that have led to our successes in changing the lives of children and families throughout the city. She leaves a legacy of accomplishments and on behalf of all of us here, I want to let her know how much we owe her and to promise that we will continue her work.

Thanks,
Pat McGuigan, Executive Director
pmcguigan@provplan.org

New Roots reaches beyond Providence to select its newest grantee award winners
Earlier this month New Roots Providence announced the winners of 16 capacity-building grants worth a total of $200,000. Each organization will receive between $5,000 and $17,000 to support work that improves overall programs or effectiveness.

For the first time, New Roots reached beyond the borders of Providence and into neighboring urban communities to seek applicants for these coveted awards. It is also the first time that New Roots has awarded grants to partnerships made up of several organizations.

The 14 organizations and two partnerships selected for the grants will use the funds to support improvements identified in a comprehensive assessment. For some this will mean building a stronger board of directors or strengthening fundraising efforts. Others will learn how to design more effective programs and still others will address internal issues, such as accounting processes or strategic planning.

This is the second round of capacity-building grants awarded by New Roots. Of the 21 organizations that received these funds in 2006, 20 met all of their organizational goals and many far exceeded them.

Twenty-five percent of the current grantees are faith-based organizations; the remaining 75 percent are community-based groups. All are working in one or more of the following areas: youth in danger of involvement with violence or gangs; people re-entering the community from prison; children of prisoners; families moving from welfare to work; people addressing substance abuse or addiction; people who are homeless; and elders in need.

As the scope and reach of New Roots continues to grow, so too does its staff, which has doubled in size in the past year. Shown here (l-r) are Monsurat Ottun, program assistant; Nzinga Misgana, director, Sabina Matos, associate director; and Bernadette Tavares, executive assistant.

[more on New Roots Awards...]

R2LP conducts study on the impact of child-care subsidy cuts 
A preliminary analysis of surveys conducted by Ready to Learn Providence this spring has revealed some disturbing findings on the impact of the child-care subsidy cuts that went into effect last fall.

Between February and April, R2LP conducted nearly 400 surveys with a random sampling of licensed center-based and home-based providers throughout Rhode Island to investigate the impact of the revised eligibility requirements for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program. The study was set up so that findings could be analyzed across three strata – the city of Providence, the state’s six other communities where subsidy use is highest (Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Warwick and Woonsocket), and the rest of the state.

Statewide, nearly 80 percent of the respondents who served families affected by the subsidy cuts said the cuts had had an “extreme” or “major” impact on their programs. In Providence the percentage was even higher – nearly 90 percent. Financial viability and/or program quality had been compromised, most of these respondents said.

Indeed, 40 percent of those with families affected by the cuts said it is possible they will have to close their programs. The centers and providers who fear closure are licensed to serve some 1,600 children. In Providence, closures could affect slots for nearly 500 children.

To date, more than a quarter of all center respondents statewide who were affected by the cuts have had to lay off employees, and in Providence that rate is closer to 40 percent. [more on R2LP Study ...]


ProvPlan participates in inventory of partnerships between institutions of higher education and state’s public schools
Rhode Island’s 11 colleges and universities provide thousands of hours of student support in the state’s public schools, but until recently the depth and breadth of these activities were unclear.

“Partnerships for Success: College and PK-12 Activities and Opportunities Across Rhode Island” is a collaborative project led by the R.I. Campus Compact, the R.I. Office of Higher Education and the R.I. Independent Higher Education Association. With its sophisticated mapping capabilities, The Providence Plan turned the data collected by The Clarendon Group, a Providence-based consultant to the project, into a format that clearly illustrates which schools and towns are receiving support from our institutions of higher learning – and which aren’t.

In December 2007, The Clarendon Group sent out a comprehensive survey asking each of the state’s colleges and universities to identify all of the collaborative activities taking place between that institution and the public schools (PK-12). These activities included everything from student teaching to after-school tutoring, mentoring and athletic programs. For many of the institutions it was the first time they had conducted such an exhaustive inventory of their own initiatives, but all 11 completed and returned the survey.

A preliminary report outlining the major themes uncovered in the data, “top impact” partnerships and other significant findings was released at a special meeting of the state’s PK-16 Council before a large audience at the Rhode Island Convention Center on March 7. The maps prepared by ProvPlan made it possible for participants to see exactly where support programs appear to be congregating.

“I have always said that we need our institutions of higher learning to assist us in our ongoing efforts to improve our public schools,” Governor Donald L. Carcieri said after the meeting. “Partnerships for Success is an important starting point. With this preliminary report, we can now begin a more informed dialogue.”

Example of "Saturation Mapping." Click for PDF of map series.

[more on Partnerships...]

As YouthBuild Providence, a program of The Providence Plan, prepares to graduate members of its 11th class in June, we take a look at two of this year’s students.

Two YouthBuild students reflect on where they’ve been and where they’re headed
Just a year ago, Ramonita Cuba was struggling with postpartum depression. At 16, she had no idea how to care for her infant son – emotionally, physically or economically. A high school dropout, Ramonita moved with her baby from one difficult, even abusive, living situation to another until the Department of Children, Youth and Families stepped in and placed them with a foster mother.

Meanwhile, Miguel Berrios, who is now 21, was spending his days and nights in a small apartment with his girlfriend and young son trying to avoid the police. There was an outstanding warrant for his arrest that stemmed from charges of driving without a license and failing to show up at court.

Ramonita Cuba

Like Ramonita, Miguel had not finished high school. His father, who had lived out of state but who had helped with the family’s support, was sent to prison when Miguel was 17. Miguel left school to work full-time in a series of dead-end jobs just to keep the electricity from getting turned off in the small apartment he shared with his mother and siblings. He even started selling drugs, albeit on a small scale, to bring in some extra money.

Miguel Berrios

When his girlfriend gave birth almost two years ago, Miguel swore off drugs, but his economic struggles multiplied. Without skills and a degree, Miguel was at the mercy of a difficult economy and often found himself getting laid off when small businesses (pizzerias, cell-phone stores) would fail. Because he often lacked the money to pay for car repairs, insurance and payments, transportation to and from jobs became yet another challenge.

Indeed, life looked bleak for both Ramonita and Miguel not too long ago. “I was always grouchy,” recalls Miguel. “Always yelling and screaming.”

Happily, their futures – and those of their children – now look markedly different. Next month they will graduate from YouthBuild Providence and will also receive their GEDs. Their own hard work coupled with that of the YouthBuild staff has brought them farther than they ever dreamed just 10 months ago. [more on YouthBuild Students...]

An enduring legacy
Joyce Butler is stepping down as director of Ready to Learn Providence next month, but her legacy is almost immeasurable.

Under Joyce’s leadership, R2LP has evolved from what was little more than an idea in 2002 into a strong coalition of partners working toward the vision that all children in Providence will enter school healthy and ready to learn. The R2LP community now numbers well over 2,000 individuals and organizations devoted to school readiness.

Since 2004 when R2LP launched its first professional development program, nearly 900 early-care educators and providers have been trained in early literacy, curriculum, early childhood development, early learning standards and much more. Through these providers, R2LP has reached over 7,500 children

Always believing that a parent is a child’s first, and probably most important, teacher, Joyce placed great value in R2LP’s many family engagement initiatives – workshops and special events, for example, designed to support parents in preparing their youngsters for school.

The R2LP AmeriCorps program is now one of the largest and most respected in the state. The 30 members (next year there will be 35) can be found working with children, providers and families in the city’s libraries, child-care settings and at R2LP to further the organization’s vision.

Understanding the value of data and research when making decisions and setting priorities, Joyce invested in a strong data team at R2LP. The research and studies conducted by this group will help us understand what interventions have a meaningful impact on the well-being and school readiness of young children.

When Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings came to R2LP in 2006 with a check for nearly $7 million to fund two professional development programs, the secretary said: “The eyes of the nation are on you.” It was a challenge Joyce didn’t take lightly. She has worked tirelessly with the staff of the Early Reading First and Early Childhood Educator Professional Development programs to ensure their success.

Still, Joyce’s most important legacy may be the tone and spirit she established at R2LP. Her passion for children and the early-care field fuels her staff on a daily basis. And because of the enormous respect Joyce has for those who work in early care, the providers who participate in R2LP programs see themselves as true professionals and as future leaders.

Good luck, Joyce, in all your future endeavors. You will be missed, but your work will live on. [top]




New Roots Awards, cont.
New Roots awarded grants to two partnerships of agencies seeking to work together more effectively to address specific issues in their neighborhoods. They are the Mt. Hope Empowerment Network (led by the Mt. Hope Learning Center) and Project RENEW (led by the Pawtucket Citizens Development Corporation).

In this round, New Roots sought applicants from Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, Pawtucket and Central Falls as well as Providence. New Roots received 43 applications for the 16 grants, up more than 25 percent from the number of applicants in 2006. An external group of volunteer grant readers conducts an exhaustive review to select the award recipients.

As New Roots expands into new communities, interest in its free monthly training workshops continues to grow. These popular workshops, which are offered every month except August, provide knowledge and skills on topics like fundraising, leadership development, strategic planning and financial management. Currently, two sessions of each workshop are offered each month, but New Roots hopes to increase that number to three to accommodate the additional interest. For a schedule of upcoming training workshops, be sure to check the New Roots web site at www.newrootsprovidence.org.

Congratulations to the 2008 Capacity-Building Grantees:

Individual organizations:
Alternative Education Programming, Inc.
Asociacion de Venezolanos de Nueva Inglaterra (Venezuelan Association of New England)
Camp Street Ministries
Destiny House, Inc.
English for Action
Mt. Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc.
Providence City Arts for Youth, Inc.
Providence Intown Churches Association
Raising Hope, Inc.
River of Life-Line Ministries
The George Wiley Center
The People’s School
Warwick Interfaith Association for Affordable Assisted Living
Woodlawn Community Development Corporation

Partnerships:
Mt. Hope Empowerment Network
Project RENEW

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R2LP Study, cont.
R2LP is currently interviewing families who have lost all or part of their child-care subsidies to study the impact on them. (It hopes to reach as many as 250.) R2LP requested the assistance of child-care providers who participated in the first stage of the study to recruit these families.

A final report on the study will be issued in June. It will be posted on the R2LP web site, www.r2lp.org.

Dr. Jeff Priest, research and evaluation specialist at R2LP, is the study’s lead investigator. Dr. David Robinson, consulting evaluator for R2LP, submitted the research plan to the Institutional Review Board at Simmons College, which approved both the study design and participant recruitment process.

The 2007-2008 state budget restricted eligibility for child-care subsidies to families falling below 180 percent of the federal poverty level – down from the previous threshold of 225 percent. The new requirements disqualified about 1,900 children statewide. [top]

Partnerships, cont.
The project’s working group also produced other products highlighting the involvement of the colleges in the schools, including case studies of successful projects that could be replicated elsewhere and profiles of the different institutions.

The survey found that Providence was the only municipality in the state to benefit from partnerships with all 11 institutions of higher learning, but Rhode Island’s other urban communities are generally well represented.

“The data collected in this survey can be used as a baseline,” notes Perri Leviss, who until recently served as the executive director of the R.I. Campus Compact, a statewide coalition of colleges and universities committed to promoting civic engagement and public leadership. Since this data represents just a snapshot of what is currently taking place, it is hoped, she says, that the project will eventually evolve into a live web site in which participating members could regularly edit and update the information.

“I think the presidents [of the different institutions] were surprised by the level of engagement in the schools,” Perri continued. “Now that we have access to this data it challenges us to use it better and more strategically.”

“Our intent was to begin a conversation about partnerships between PK-12 and higher education,” explains Stacy Paterno, vice president of public affairs for The Clarendon Group. “We strove to take a lot of information and bring it to a broad audience.” A final report, which will include all of the maps prepared by ProvPlan, is expected to be released in June.

Other partners in the project include the Providence After School Alliance, the Governor’s Office, R.I. Department of Education, the CollegeCrusade of R.I. and the R.I. Office of Labor and Training.

The “Partnerships for Success” project was funded by the Rhode Island Foundation, the Rhode Island Commodores, the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the National Governors Association.

Both Perri and Stacy had high praise for ProvPlan’s contribution to the project. “This has been a nice opportunity for organizations around the state to see the role The Providence Plan can play in policy and planning discussions,” says Perri. “It’s a hidden gem.”

Project materials are available at http://www.pk-16.com.

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YouthBuild Students, cont.
Although much of the focus at YouthBuild is on construction skills, it’s possible that neither Ramonita nor Miguel will move into that industry. Ramonita, who is the only female member of this year’s YouthBuild class, admits it’s “pretty cool” that she’s learned how to build a house, but she now thinks she’d like to pursue a nursing career. Thanks to the confidence, education and workforce skills she gained through the YouthBuild program, she is now planning to go to college in the fall.

“YouthBuild helped me see that I could get somewhere without welfare,” says Ramonita. “The teachers and the case manager here really take the time to get to know you, and to help you get what you don’t understand.” At the same time, she notes, her foster mother has helped her with her mothering skills and she is now much more comfortable in that role.

With help from YouthBuild’s case manager, Robert Nyahkoon, Miguel removed many of the obstacles that were making it so difficult for him to move ahead. His arrest warrant is now gone, he is driving with a legal license for the first time in years, and a problem with his landlord has been resolved.

“Now I can sleep well at night,” Miguel says. “I’m much more relaxed.” Like Ramonita, Miguel would like to pursue college, possibly in finance or business, but he hasn’t ruled out a future in construction. First and foremost, he says, he wants a “good job” so that he and his girlfriend can provide a good life for their young son. “I’m finally headed in the right direction.” [top]