BOH agenda 022416 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Goal 4: Families and neighborhoods support the healthy development of children. ZONE4 The most talked about issues in Zone 4 related to Goal 4 were Support for Families and Support for Latino Families Support for Participants recognized unique challenges faced by Latino families in Zone 4. They said that Spanish- speaking parents have a difficult time helping their Latino Families children with their homework because of the language barrier. Another reported challenge was that parents sometimes rely on their children's English skills to Community Priority Rating meet their basic needs (e.g., translate a school or medical form). One respondent Needsarenotmet described that parents are working to better support their children academically Availability /Accessibility O by taking ESL classes. Rating In addition, participants described that state and federal immigration policies Needs partially met have a negative impact on families and children. Families who are undocumented do not have access to affordable health care, mental health services, adult education, and have limitedjob opportunities. It was reported that fear of deportation prevents parents from participating in school activities, for example, for fear of law enforcement checkpoints in Zone 4. ZONE6 The most talked about issues in Zone 6 related to Goal 4 were Basic Needs, Economic Disparities and the Achievement Gap, and Family Support Basic Need s Nearly every interviewee and focus group participant discussed the challenges that families in Zone 6, who live in or at risk for poverty, face in meetingtheir basic Community Priority Rating needs, including housing, transportation, financial stability, and access to medical Needsarenotmet and mental health services. Overwhelmingly, though, lack of affordable housing Availability /Accessibility 0 O was cited as a problem in the zone that affects the wellbeing of children and Rating families. Closer to downtown, development and high numbers of rentals by Needsarenotmet university students, 'brings a sense of disconnection, because there are no long lasting, caring neighbors. Disconnection is damaging for kids. Young kids feel like they are living in this vacuum, nobody is aware of who they are or what they are doing." (Zone 6 Respondent). Several mothers from Carrboro described needing to move farther from downtown due to housing costs, which in turn makes transportation more challenging. Parents and service providers outlined the ways that differences in income hinder children's academic success. One example is that schools make assignments that require computers and Internet, which not all children have access to at home. Many participants also called for more affordable afterschool options, summer enrichment, and community recreational activities for children and youth. 0 1_ 9�