Orange County NC Website
• <br /> 1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 17, 2014 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-c <br /> SUBJECT: Proposal to Create an Orange County Child Poverty Council (OCCPC) <br /> DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Proposed Orange County Child Dr. Colleen Bridger, 245-2411 <br /> Poverty Council Structure <br /> 2. Orange County Child Poverty Council <br /> Draft Charter <br /> PURPOSE: To approve the structure, designate/confirm organizations to be represented <br /> (proposed list below and in Attachment 1), and appoint two Commissioners to the Orange <br /> County Child Poverty Council (OCCPC). <br /> BACKGROUND: During the joint Board of Commissioners-Board of Health meeting in May <br /> 2014, the Health Department outlined the growing issue of child poverty in Orange County. A <br /> large and multi-disciplinary body of research shows that a family's income shapes a child's <br /> educational, employment, and health outcomes throughout their life. In particular, children who <br /> have adverse childhood experiences that are more common among families experiencing <br /> poverty are at higher risk of health outcomes like obesity, depression, and substance abuse. <br /> An approach being used with success across the United States is modeled after the Harlem <br /> Children's Zone. This model brings together collaborative partners to define a common agenda, <br /> common progress measures, and to carry out mutually-reinforcing activities. The model is <br /> implemented in specific geographic neighborhoods facing challenges to their community's <br /> success. The Health Department has developed a quantitative index that identifies six (6) areas <br /> of high poverty in Orange County to intervene. <br /> One of the first major steps to begin work on a cradle to career vision is to bring together a <br /> multi-sector partnership that will collaboratively address poverty and its effects. In Orange <br /> County, this partnership includes stakeholders in early childhood education, K-12, non-profit, <br /> civic/government organizations, and business sectors. <br /> Initially, this group will serve as a planning body for the project and its first activities will include: <br /> 1) collaboratively setting the mission, vision, and goals of the project; <br /> 2) identifying membership gaps and functional advisory work group structures; <br /> 3) determining a name for the project; <br /> 4) outlining the process for choosing the neighborhoods for intervention; and <br /> 5) selecting the neighborhoods to participate in the project. <br />