Summer Care Initiative: Innovative child care, financial education for parents For the third year, the United Way’s Women’s Leadership provided $600,000 in funding to area nonprofits to provide quality summer enrichment programs for children/youth ages 5-13 years of age in low to moderately low income families throughout Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.  United Way’s Summer Care program ensures that parents have access to quality and affordable child care so they can participate in the work force. Financial Education services are also provided to the parents. ......................................................................... “I am a single parent. I could not have been able to afford this program. This will be something to remember for the rest of our lives. Thank you so very much. This was the best summer ever.”                                           —Tandy Tyler “I loved when they (financial instructors) told us to write down everything we bought. I did it, and now I know where my money is going. I am keeping track of everything I buy.” – Maribet Cazares “The financial workshops has helped me to look at money differently, create a budget (which I was scared to do), reduce my debt and think about my future.”                           – Carolyn Sperber “The (Summer Care) program provides me with a chance to have my twin girls in a safe, stimulating and enriched summer camp experience. Without this program, we could not have afforded to have the children in camp.” – Joshua Kaplan  ......................................................................... This year. United Way’s 2007 Summer Care partners: A Brighter Community, Inc. A Brighter Community will provide a summer program to serve youth in Tampa. The program will use the Pinnacle Curriculum, “A Summer of Wonder” that will include arts, community service, financial literacy, health and fitness, nutrition, safety, science, Tampa History and culture, water safety and swimming.   Beulah Baptist Institutional Church Beulah Baptist Institutional Church will provide programs at five faith based organizations: Beulah Baptist Church, Cloud of Glory, King’s Kids Academy of 34th Street Church of God; New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Operation Productive Endeavor of New Life Tabernacle Church in Hillsborough County. The programs will provide a strong emphasis on academic, cultural, and community service development through educational and enrichment activities.   Friends of Happy Worker’s Happy Worker’s Children’s Center’s Summer Peace Camp will serve children in Midtown community (St. Petersburg, Florida). The program will focus on the arts, cultural arts, diversity, literacy, peace and environmental education.   Girl’s Inc Girl’s Incorporated of Pinellas County will provide a ‘Girls Only’ summer day camp at the Pinellas Park Campus.  The program will provide a unique enrichment of creative arts, physical activities, filed trips, specialty programs and Girl’s Inc National Identity Program curricula.   Great Explorations, Inc. Great Explorations will provide programming at the Great Explorations, The Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. The program will stimulate learning through creativity, play and exploration. The program will include interactive exhibits, access to Sunken Gardens, and interest track activities based on themes (sports, theater, visual arts, and environment).   Golda Meir, Kent Jewish Center Camp O Hashemesh (Sunshine) in the Greenbriar Community, Clearwater, Florida, provides a safe, active, and exciting environment that promotes respect, teamwork, fitness and increased self esteem. The program offers indoor and outdoor activities, athletics, cultural experiences, arts and crafts, water activities, and field trips.   Kid City, The Children’s Museum of Tampa The Kid City, The Children’s Museum will offer camp ‘Amuzoo’ and collaborate with Lowery Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. The program will offer daily story time, outside play, art projects, reading activities, games, music, crafts, and writing activities. In addition, youth will attend specialized camps at Lowery Park Zoo.   Police Athletic League Police Athletic League will provide a summer program for youth in Tampa, Florida. The program will work in partnership with City of Tampa Police and City of Tampa Parks/Recreation. The program will provide crime prevention/safety activities, self improvement and conflict resolution programs, educational, recreational activities, and co-ed athletic play.   Achieve Tampa Bay-United Cerebral Palsy United Cerebral Palsy will provide summer care in an inclusionary environment, i.e. children with disabilities will participate alongside their non-disabled peers in Tampa, Florida. The program will use the Pinnacle Curriculum, “A Summer of Wonder” that will include arts, community service, financial literacy, health and fitness, nutrition, safety, science, Tampa History and culture, water safety and swimming.   Financial Education Summer Care also provides financial education services to the parents through standardized programming that takes place at all the partner sites. Areas of curriculum will be: ·         Developing a Financial Plan (Developing Financial Goals, Tracking Expenses, Developing a Budget, Evaluating Net Worth );  ·         Using Credit Wisely (Understanding Credit Terms, Evaluating Credit Options, Credit Scores, Establishing a Good Credit Record, Understanding and Managing Debt);  ·         Saving & Building Financial Stability (Planning for Future Goals, Emergency Funds, Savings Options for Different Types of Goals, Banking Options) Last year, Summer Care underwent an evaluation performed by the University South Florida. The results were affirming of the program. You can read an Evaluation Summary here.

USF Summer Care Evaluation Women's Leadership Paula Kay Manager 813-274-0936 pkay@uwtb.org