Educational Initiatives
The City of Miami’s Education Initiatives division works closely with Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), The Children’s Trust (TCT), and other agencies identifying gaps of services/programs which will prepare children and youths for their future. Actively works with community based organizations, and private/public companies, and recruits or builds relationships for future and current programs. Promotes citizen engagement and leads innovative projects to strengthen and empower children/youths/families knowledge on educational programs available. Develops a wide variety of presentation materials, media, and resources and makes presentations to, but not limited to companies, and organizations on programs and services available to assist children/youths and their families. Maximizes resources and achieves goals for assigned program(s) by collaborating activities and efforts with public and private agencies.
The Miami Learning Zone is an after-school program funded by The Children’s Trust, that services up to 90 children in addition to 10 children with learning, mental and/or emotional disabilities ages 6-12 years old, residing in the Flagami and Allapatah neighborhoods. Most of the program participants attend nearby schools such as Henry M. Flagler Elementary, Kinloch Park Elementary, Comstock Elementary, Maya Angelou Elementary, and Santa Clara Elementary. The program offers activities for the children including literacy, physical fitness, social skills, homework assistance, art, music, and dance.
The Families First Parenting Program is a year round program funded by The Children’s Trust. The program is comprised of a 16 session, 2 cycle series workshop for parent/caregivers of children ages 3-6 years old using the Incredible Year Evidenced Based Curriculum. Since 2010, this program has been serving 100 parents/caregivers, and supportive family members of children ages 3 to 6, in Overtown, Coconut Grove, Wynwood, Little Haiti, Allapattah and Little Havana. The City of Miami partners with established childcare centers to create convenient accessible sites to promote social, emotional, and academic competence for these families. The Families First program provides materials in child development awareness; and developing positive interactions between parents and children. The program builds-up parenting competencies and encourages involvement in children’s school experiences to strengthen parenting skills and foster more tolerant communities. The program is a cooperative effort between the City of Miami’s Office of Grants Administration, City of Miami Police and Fire Department, Gymboree, and EXCEL (Exceptional Consulting for Educational Leaders, Inc.).
The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.
https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/
Switchboard counsels, connects and empowers people in need. Through our suicide prevention programs, information and referral contact center, and crisis counseling and wellness services, Switchboard serves as both a first point of assistance and a last resource for people in need. http://switchboardmiami.org/
ISProof Foundation is a non-profit corporation based in the State of Florida, which provides free tutoring/mentoring program to kids pre-k -12th grade from low income households. http://isproof.org/
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is the fourth largest school district in the United States, comprised of 392 schools, 345,000 students and over 40,000 employees. Located at the southern end of the Florida peninsula, the school district stretches over 2,000 square miles of diverse and vibrant communities ranging from rural and suburban to urban cities and municipalities. A truly global community, district students speak 56 different languages and represent 160 countries. http://dadeschools.net/
