Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #366FY0102

Manatee County Citizens Review, Inc.

Requester:

Karl Young

Organization:

Manatee County Citizens Review, Inc.lerk of Circuit Court

Project Title:

Manatee County Citizens Review, Inc.

Date Submitted:

1/12/2002 3:12:19 PM

Sponsors:

Lesley Miller

Statewide Interest:

OPPGA Report No. 01-14, published in March 2001, found that the "The Child Protection Program has not met its legislative goals for keeping children safe from abuse and neglect and for finding children permanent homes and must take additional steps to implement more effective child protection strategies."� One such strategy provided by Florida law is the use of volunteer citizens review panels.� Five of the 9 existing Citizens Review Programs in the state currently receive state funding.� DCF and the Legisalture have focues on building local, community-based partnerships to meet the needs of children and help to respond more positively with long lasting outcomes.

Recipient:

Manatee County Citizens, Review, Inc.

Contact:

Karl Young

1115 Manatee Ave West

Contact Phone:

(941) 741-4005

Bradenton, FL 34205

Counties:

Manatee

Gov't Entity:

Yes

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Project Description:

Manatee County Citizens Review (MCCR) Panels act as a watch-dog over public and private entities charged with providing for the safety and care of Manatee County's abused, neglected and abandoned children placed in foster care or under protective supervision (currently 842 children).� The children benefit from the close scrutiny of their well-being and safety provided by community volunteers who are not a part of the juvenile dependency system.� The Judge's crowded calendar does not allow for as detailed a review as is performed in Citizens Review hearings, which typically take 45 minutes.� Juvenile Judge Peter A. Dubensky, has stated that the program is "not only invaluable but essential if the Court is to searve the county's abused and neglected children."� MCCR has served over 1500 children since it began its quasi-judicial panel hearing in May 1997.� Thirty-five volunteer panel members from professions ranging from Child Psychologist to Retired business executive sit on seven panels, which conduct weekly hearings.� All parties, including the chidlren, are afforded the opportunity, in this open atmosphere, to give testimony and input as to the progress and well-being of the children.� This program is one of five programs receiving state funding at a cost below that which would be required to provide either a judge or hearing officer to perform these hearings.

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

The project provides in-depth reviews by trained panel members of every child in Foster Care or Protective Services reffered by the Juvenile Court Judge- a minimum of 540 of Manatee County's neglected or abandond children-in the project year.� Aslo, see attached Program Outcomes and results of trial run survey of Citizens Review participants.

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$126,351

Total cost of the project:

$181,367

Request has been made to fund:

Operations

What type of match exists for this project?

Private

Cash Amount:

$12,075

Was this project previously funded by the State?

Yes

Fiscal Year:

2001-200

Amount:

$121,796

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

Unknown

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

Yes

Agency:

Administration, Department Of

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

Yes

Is there a documented need for this project?

Yes

Documentation:

Letter from Circuit Judge Dubensky, OPPGA Report, 1999 Study Dependency Court Improvement Program of

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Yes

Hearing Body:

Manatee County Legisaltive Delegation

Meeting Date:

12/12/2001