A Baltimore campaign to compete for money to make the city safer and healthier for children has won some early praise from the national foundation that will award the funding.
"We've gotten a lot of encouragement from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and its consultants because of our citywide process," said Hathaway C. Ferebee, project director of Safe and Sound. That is the name of the local program preparing a proposal to apply for the grant.
"The Johnson people like our listening to the community, building on what's already here and making it work better. They like our youth leadership and our trying to develop practical solutions to problems," Ferebee said.
In the past year, she and others have overseen the development of 23 "indicators" of health and safety during hundreds of meetings of city residents and representatives of 150 local groups.
Eight cities are competing for five awards to be presented in December for the programs considered most effective and practical in helping children.
The prizes depend on the quality and complexity of winning proposals, said Paul A. Tarini, the foundation's communications officer. The Princeton, N.J., foundation has given each of the eight cities two planning grants of $200,000 a year, or $400,000 over two years.
The philanthropy's board has authorized the next step, starting in December: $1 million to $1.5 million a year for four years to implement programs in each of five winning cities, a total of $4 million to $6 million for each city. More funds may follow.
The seven other competing cities are Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Oakland, Calif., Philadelphia, Richmond, Va., and Sacramento, Calif.
The Baltimore Community Foundation and Associated Black Charities are guiding Safe and Sound, Baltimore's mostly volunteer effort to prepare a proposal based on information gathered during meetings in public places and homes, "speak-outs" on street corners, workshops and trips to other cities and surveys. The Charles Crane Family Foundation helped finance the local drive.
Dr. Peter Beilenson, the city health commissioner, and Katrina M. Scott, a junior at City College, are co-chairmen of the effort to enlist opinions and ideas.
Hundreds of volunteers and community leaders will vote on Baltimore's proposal at a late summer "summit," at a time and place to be announced. The plan will be described in an application to be sent to Johnson by Sept. 15.
"It would be great to win the grant, be part of a national movement, receive the foundation's technical assistance," Ferebee said. "But our real goal is to give Baltimore a continuing plan of action that has measurable goals, strategies that are realistic for its children."
Ferebee said Safe and Sound is a long-term effort to refocus money and efforts on programs that have shown they work and && can be measured.
The 23 indicators of a healthy city are a wish list of desired conditions for children. They are to be accompanied by suggested solutions in these general areas:
* Nurturing families -- homes with caring adults and homes free of child and spousal abuse.
* Readiness of children to succeed in school -- parents or guardians with at least a high school education; high-quality child care or stimulating homes when parents don't work; encouragement of children's curiosity and understanding of the
stages of child development; and children born to drug-free mothers and fathers.
* Educated children and adults -- children encouraged to succeed in school; children reading when entering fourth grade; children attending school regularly and graduating from high school on time.
* Healthy children and adults -- access to health services; safe and age-appropriate sexual relations; homes and neighborhoods free of environmental hazards, allergens and pests; freedom from accidental injury and death; management of chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes and sickle cell anemia; and babies born at a healthy weight.
* Safe communities and neighborhoods -- children's belief that adults value and appreciate them; public facilities to support child development, such as recreation centers, libraries and playgrounds; children's participation in three or more hours a week of sports, clubs or community groups and in the arts; young adults being in school, alternative learning environments or working; keeping children from being perpetrators or victims of violent crime; and community rejection of illegal drug markets and support for drug-free children.
* Economic self-sufficiency -- families having adequate financial resources to meet basic needs; and household heads pursuing job training and educational opportunities if unemployed.
For more information, call Baltimore Community Foundation at 410-625-7976.
Pub Date: 7/07/97
