It's Our Money

Name of Your Organization:

Little Sprouts Preschool

Overview of the Project - Please provide a brief description of the project.

Little Sprouts Preschool is proposing to create \"An Opportunity For ALL\" to meet the needs and demands of youth in the Flatbush/Midwood neighborhood. With a pandemic occurring, mental health for children has become a \"taboo\". Reading the ideas of youth, many feel they are not being heard or given the support needed to help them deal with the emotions and stress they are experiencing during this time. \"An Opportunity for ALL\" will be a program offering different outlets for youth, ages 10-18, to express themselves, have fun while connecting with others of the same age, feel safe and express their mental health issues/problems so we can all share our opinions on how to deal with it. Youth will meet 3 times a week for 2 hours with Licensed Clinical Social Workers and have a place outside of their home they can come to, unwind, speak about what is bothering them and find support in others who can empathize and sympathize. It will be a support program in where students from the whole community join together and help one another while becoming stronger by sharing their own experiences. Youth will break into groups so they are given the opportunity to socialize, enhance their emotional needs and feel that their opinions are being valued and appreciated. 

Which of the following issues does your project address?

1. Issue 1 - Addressing Mental Health
2. Issue 2 - Preparation for College and/or Career
3. Issue 3 - Youth Advocacy Promotion

The project will address Issue 1- Addressing Mental Health.

Youth Engagement - Please explain how you will engage youth in the planning and implementation of the project.

We will engage youth in the planning and implementation of our project by hearing their voices. We will survey and ask questions so we can create a vision together. Using their input, we will be able to advocate and create a strong program showing we are here every step of the way to help them figure out a solution.

Budget - Your total project budget must equal $20,000 to be placed on the ballot for a youth vote. Please provide a brief description of what the funds would be used for to successfully implement your project. You will also need to download, fill in, and attach a full budget using this template.

Our funds will be allocated towards hiring 2 Licensed Clinical Social Workers and 1 program manager to run the program 3 times a week. Materials and supplies purchased will align to the program's goals. Every youth that attends the program will be receiving $100.00 at the end of the program as an incentive. They will also receive tote bags filled with resources such as stress balls, customized shirts (they will be creating as a team), and food.

Timeline- Please describe the timeline for the implementation and completion of the project. All work for this project must be completed by June 30, 2021, which is the end of the city’s fiscal year and the deadline for the funds to be spent.

The LCSW will be hired in February and we will begin enrolling participants by March.  All supplies and materials will be purchased in the beginning weeks of March.

Project Activity Alignment - How does your project align with at least one of the following topics:

1. Leadership skills development: organizing & advocacy trainings
2. Stewardship of public spaces: public parks, transportation, etc.
3. Youth and student engagement
4. Civic education and advocacy
5. Community outreach involving residents that have been historically underrepresented in or underserved by city government and its processes

Our project aligns with youth and student engagement because they will be working with one another in small and large groups. They will be engaging in hands-on-hands activities, building skills, helping one another and building a strong circle of support, trust and engagement.

What is your organization's area of focus?

1. Children and youth related
2. Advocacy and organizing
3. Arts and culture
4. Civic engagement
5. Education and literacy
6. Emergency management and disaster response
7. Employment and workforce development
8. Environment and sustainability
9. Faith-based
10. Food access
11. Health and medicine
12. Homelessness and/or affordable housing
13. Human rights
14. Human services
15. Immigrants and/or refugees
16. Justice related
17. Legal services
18. People with disabilities
19. Senior services
20. Women's issues

Our organization’s area of focus is (1) children and youth related.

Affirmations - Type \"YES\" below each statement to affirm that you are eligible to appear on the ballot for this process.

I confirm that my organization will be registered in the NYC Payee Information Portal and in PassPort, NYC’s online procurement system, in order to receive funding from the City of New York.

YES

I confirm that my organization is able to front the costs of implementing this project. Organizations will be paid based on deliverables. 

YES

Completion of Deliverables: I understand all deliverables must be completed by June 30th, 2021.

YES

I understand a condition of funding includes submission of a final report upon project completion, and participating in a debrief session with the CEC.

YES