THE LIBRARIES DIVISION RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
Approval of this item will support the Board's Value to cultivate community culture, arts, recreation and life-long learning and the Goal to provide diverse artistic, cultural, educational, and historical amenities and programs that contribute to a vibrant, multi-cultural and economically-viable community.
The State of Florida, Department of State has awarded a Library Services and Technology Act Grant (18-LSTA-B-02) to Broward County in the amount of $81,733 to fund a new program "Project Welcome". The Libraries Division embraces its role as a key community service provider that newcomers seek out upon their arrival. Project Welcome will assist newcomers and English language learners with accessing important library resources; supporting them on their path towards literacy, economic prosperity, and a sense of belonging. Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese speaking families will be targeted, as these are the largest non-English speaking communities in Broward County. Through current collaborations with partners such as Broward County Public Schools Bilingual/ESOL Department, Hispanic Unity of Florida, Department of Children and Families Refugee Services, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other community partners, Project Welcome will develop a series of information programs that identify and build key knowledge areas. By engaging teachers, lawyers, social workers, and health professionals fluent in the target languages to present these programs, newcomers will have access to essential information, even if they are not yet fluent in English.
The County's Risk Management Division has reviewed and approved the agreement as to insurance requirements. The County Attorney’s Office has approved this agreement as to form and requested that the Division disclose that the venue for any litigation is in Leon County. The grant agreement is in the State's form.
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