Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1001 PACE Program Relocation and Expansion Project
Requester:	Agatha Pappas		Organization:		PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
Project Title:	PACE Program Relocation and Expansion Project		Date Submitted:		01/26/2000 1:22:25 PM
District Member:	Walter Campbell		Service Area:		County
Counties Affected:	Broward
Recipient:	PACE Center for Girls, Inc.		Contact:		Agatha Pappas
	3115 nW 10th Terrace, Suite 104		Contact Phone:		(954) 561-6939
	Ft. Lauderdale 33309
Project Description:
PACE Center for Girls of Broward is requesting a one-time, non-recurring, fixed capital outlay to build a freestanding campus that will provide prevention/diversionary service to at-risk girls between the ages of 8 - 17. Currently, PACE Broward is serving 50 girls a day between the ages of 13 - 17 in a leased storefront office complex which cannot accommodate any future increase of student population or staff, and does not provide any means for outdoor recreation or program service expansions. Likewise, despite an increase in the number of younger (pre-adolescent girls between 8-12) being referred to PACE for services, the current facility prohibits the expansion of services to this much younger, vulnerable and overlooked population. With the assistance of the private community, PACE Broward has acquired 2 acres of land in Central Broard (City of Wilton Manors). The construction of this campus will allow for the expansion of PACE services to its current population, a doubling of that student population while reducing building operating expenses by more than 50% and introduces the first PACE Pre-Teen program for girls beginning at age 8. Although maintained in two separate buildings, the PACE Pre-Teen program will encompass the same principles, philosophy and structure of the current PACE programming, thus bringing effective services to younger at-risk girls. This pilot program will assist in the intervention and diversion of long-term delinquent behavior andthet need for intense intervention by the Department of Juvenile Justice. It is the intenion of the PACE Center for Girls of Broward's Building and Development Committee to secure funds to match State funding. This cost-effective project will sizably reduce the Center's annual building operating costs (from approximately $1,800 to $750 per student) while doubling the student population served.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
PACE is extremely cost effective -- providng services at half the cost of DJJ incarceration expenses (as reported by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice). Direct benefits to the State will include decreased juvenile crime among teenage girls, decreased recidivism rates into the juvenile justice system, decreased truancy rates, and improved educational performance among at-risk girls. Introduction of the Pilot Pre-Teen program will address the urgent needs of a growing and underserved (8 - 12 year olds) population. PACE Center for Girls is a nationally known, highly successful prevention program serving Florida residents thorugh 17 statewide locations. The Broward County location has spent the past 7 years serving the academic and counseling needs of at-risk girls. Students are typically referred from the lcoal Juvenile Justices, or other social service organizations, because of their inability to function in the traditional school system due to: domestic issues including physical or sexual abuse, or their own abusive behaviors, drug or alcohol abuse, criminal experiences, truancy recrods or for being at-risk of dropping out. Our program includes standard high school and middle school education and graduation requirements, but also offers therapeutic services, career counseling (Life Launch), social skills (SMARTGIRLS!) and the pregnancy prevention services (Baby Can Wait) necessary within a county with the highest truancy rate and second highest teen pregnancy rate in the State.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
With a debt-free facilty, ever escalating rents paid by PACE with funding from our current contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice will be spent on direct care services for the girls. The anticipated saving for annual building operational expenses should reduce the current cost of approximately $16 per square foot to a mere $3.60 per square foot, while serving twice the student population at the current leased location. The larger, customized floor plan will allow for an increse in current services and introduction of new learning opportunities with an additional computer lab, counseling areas, library, science facility and recreational grounds. Introduction of the first PACE Pre-Teen (8 - 12 year olds) program, and its replication statewide, will decrease the influx of this growing and underserved population. Addressing the habitual truancy, delinquency referrals and issues specific to the Pre-Teen population is expected to complement the current program success rate of 90%, creating positive change at an earlier and often more influential age. Increasing the total population of girls served by 100%. The campus will provide an improved image of stability which, in turn, improves community involvement and support, but more importantly will improve the students' sense of belonging and pride in their school, their community and themselves.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$2,000,000
Total cost of the project:		$3,700,000

Request has been made to fund:			Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?						Yes
	Cash Amount:	$1,450,000		In-Kind Amount:		$250,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?						No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?						Yes
	Amount:	$337,500
	Purpose for future year funding:				YesOperational Funding for Pilot Pre-Teen Program
	Will this be an annual request?					Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?						No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?						No
Is there a documented need for this project?						Yes
	Documentation:	Juvenile Justice Accountability Board's 1999 Prevention Outcome Evaluation Report
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?						Yes
	Hearing Body:	Department of Juvenile Justice District 10 Juvenile Justice Board
	Meeting Date:	09/30/1999