Orange County NC Website
“That’s probably why (parents are) not that involved,” she said. “Not that they don’t care. They just don’t know how.” <br />Once the data had been presented, McMonigle asked the crowd gathered to help prioritize the tren ding problems <br />that had been drawn from the survey responses. <br />The themes listed were: transportation, support for Latino families, college and career preparation, readiness for <br />kindergarten, mentoring, childcare, out of school time, family support and academic support. <br />Those in the audience were allowed to vote for what they felt were the most pressing needs for their community. <br />Each person was allotted 10 votes and could not use more than four votes for any single topic. <br />Once all the votes had been cast, four needs came out on top: transportation, childcare, readiness for kindergarten <br />and support for Latino families. <br />Individuals were then voted to cast votes for suggested strategies to meet these needs — or to suggest their own <br />strategies. <br />The crowd voted for the following strategies or solutions: <br />— Transportation: Expand existing bus services, allow more transportation for after-school or summer programs <br />— Child care: Increase child care subsidies <br />— Readiness for kindergarten: Expand Pre-K enrollment <br />— Support for Latino families: Provide more opportunities for Latino parents to learn English. <br />McMonigle said the votes and the written suggestions would be taken into account as the Family Success Alliance <br />continues to compile data. <br />Surveys will still be received for another two weeks, and McMonigle said the alliance plans to continue surveying in <br />future years as time passes and needs shift. <br />“We’re here. We’re staying. We’re committed,” she said of the relatively new initiative. <br />A similar meeting — with a different set of data that reflects the needs of Zone 6, or Chapel Hill and Carrboro — will <br />be held Thursday, April 9 at Carrboro Elementary School from 5 to 7 p.m. Child care and a light meal will be <br />provided. <br />The priorities chosen from both zones will be presented at a meeting of the Family Success Alliance Advisory <br />Council on April 20 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Carrboro Century Center, and it is open to <br />the public. <br />