2016-596-E Finance - El Centro Hispano, Inc. - Outside Agency Performance Agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID:6BDD2794-5ECO-4DFF-B4F6-F496A1C3AB13 t A - continued Provider's Outside Agency Application MAIN APPLICATION c) Describe the local need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Consolidated Plan or other community priorities (i.e. Council/Board Goals). Cite local data to support the need for this program and the population being served. This initiative aligns with the following priorities listed in the 2012 Human Services Report, such as: 1) Education and Family Support and 2) increasing language services to individuals with limited English proficiency. The ECH Education Program addresses many of the educational needs among the Latino Community in Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County. In North Carolina, 69.4% of foreign-born Spanish speakers older than age 5 have Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Thirty-one percent of NC Spanish-speaking households are linguistically isolated, meaning all persons ages 14 and over in the household are LEP, which is higher than other immigrant groups.1 In addition to limited English proficiency, many Latino immigrants have very low education levels as compared to the general population. In the U.S., 23.5% of all Latinos and 34% of foreign-born Latinos have less than a 9th grade education.2 In Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, only 66.2% of Latino youth graduated from high school in 4 years in 2010, as compared to 92.5% for white students.3 Research shows that low literacy and education levels make it difficult to get a job, access resources, and assist with children's education or literacy development. Furthermore, low literacy levels in Spanish make it more difficult for native Spanish speakers to learn English. Developing English proficiency is an important pathway to improving employability and economic success in the United States for immigrant families.4 Many Orange County Latino families also face additional barriers to improving their education and economic situation as well as to raising healthy and academically successful children. In North Carolina, Latina women are at a higher risk than white women for unintended pregnancy and reporting physical violence during pregnancy. North Carolina's Latina formal maternal education level is among the lowest in the nation.5 In North Carolina, only 25% of Latina mothers read to their children at least once a day in 2005, compared to more than 50% of mothers in the general state population.6 Latino parents in North Carolina are more likely to report that their children have fair or poor health and have had no health insurance in the past year than White parents.7 Moreover, national evidence shows that Latinos are less likely than children of any other racial or ethnic group to be enrolled in an early childhood program or to receive early intervention services. In 2005-06, 27% of Latino four-year-olds lacked regular, non-parental arrangements for child care, compared with 18% of white preschoolers and 16% of black preschoolers.8 Thus, many Latino children reach school age without having been exposed to developmentally appropriate preschool settings. Such preschool education engages children in activities that get them ready to learn; these activities are designed to build cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Lack of mastery of these important developmental steps makes it difficult for children to begin learning when they enter a formal kindergarten classroom. In 2008-09, a national evaluation found that more than 80% of 1 Migration Policy Institute,2010 2 2008 National Survey of Latinos,Pew Hispanic Center 3 2011 Orange County Health Assessment 'Annie E. Casey Foundation 2005 5 Action for Children NC,2010 6 Ibid. SCHS,2010 8 Action for Children NC,2010 Main Application 5/24/2016 4:41:23 PM P , 2 of