Agenda - 02-17-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 1 I am here tonight to advocate for KidSCope's evidence-base therapy program. This is the 2 program that provides mental health services for children prior to their entry into the school 3 system. 4 5 I have had a personal relationship with children who received KidSCope's therapy services. I 6 have seen firsthand how their lives were changed for the better. I have seen children who were 7 traumatized, as well as children who had significant difficulties with common life events such as 8 death in the family, divorce, or birth of a sibling. 9 10 These mental health/therapy services have a positive impact and life-changing effect on the 11 child and their families. When the child enters school, this positive effect spreads like a ripple 12 impacting their teachers and classrooms. This saves a tremendous amount of money in our 13 school budgets, in addition to putting the child on a mainstream track. 14 15 The extra funds that KidSCope is requesting help support these evidence-based practices that 16 produce positive outcomes for children, their families and our school systems. 17 18 As you assess this request for mental health funds, I ask you to remember that: 19 20 KidSCope is the only mental health provider in Orange County that is specially trained and 21 singularly focused to provide these mental health services to young children, birth to age five, 22 their families, and care givers. Thank you for your consideration. 23 24 Kathleen Ponder is a member of the advisory council of KidSCope. She said the recent 25 tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary, Virginia Tech, and UCLA were all perpetrated by mentally 26 ill young men, and she wonders what might have been different if these young men had access 27 to services like those provided by KidSCope. She asked the Commissioners to fully fund 28 KidSCope and the schools systems. 29 30 Steven Jones is part of the Ephesus Elementary School improvement team. He thanked 31 the Commissioners for their service. He said one of the great values of this community is its 32 schools, and failing to fund the school budget requests will have a major impact on the 33 education of their children. He said everyone wants to maintain their schools as the best in the 34 state, and fully funding these requests will send a message to their parents that they matter. He 35 said strong stewardship from school management has gotten rid of the "fat", and lack of full 36 funding will mean cuts that impact students. He asked the Board of County Commissioners to 37 fund their schools. 38 Jill Simon is a parent at Frank Porter Graham, and she thanked the Board for their 39 support of education. She listed the successes and accomplishments that have been made 40 through past funding. She asked the Board to be creative with their budget in order to fully fund 41 the schools this year. 42 Adrian Vrouwenveldor thanked the Board for their service. He said everyone owes it to 43 themselves to make good public education available. He said good education makes for strong 44 contributing citizens, and good schools help attract good, high paying employers, which leads to 45 a better community. He said it is our responsibility and duty to support our schools and our 46 teachers. He said good public education must be the community's highest priority, and he is 47 willing to pay higher taxes to insure this. 48 Angie Shatas said she recognizes that the Board's job is not easy. She is a parent of a 49 middle school child at Phillips and two who have already graduated, and she is here to ask for 50 full funding of the schools. She said education drives growth, and the County's economic 51 strength is dependent on high quality schools. She said State funding is inadequate, and she 52 asked the Board to be creative in order to pick up the slack. She encouraged the Board to