KidSafe Community Partner
RFP - Grandview School KidSafe Program Community Partner
KidSafe operates specialized day-long programs at inner-city school sites for up to 60 vulnerable K-7 children during school winter break, spring break and summer vacation.
Beginning in December 2007, our new community partner would be responsible for the staffing and operation of KidSafe programs at Grandview school, located at 2055 Woodland Drive, working with KidSafe learning specialists, food staff and child care workers.
Overview:
Mission
KidSafe's mission is to provide nurturing safe havens for vulnerable inner-city elementary school students when schools are traditionally closed.
School is where children learn, play, eat, make friends, discover role models, develop life-long skills and find help in a crisis. KidSafe keeps schools open after school and during winter, spring and summer breaks for up to 375 of Vancouver's inner-city elementary students. KidSafe keeps them safe, and provides healthy meals and learning and recreation activities free of charge, in a caring, fun environment that's geared to make these children shine.
Background
The KidSafe Project Society was created in 1993 in response to the tragic beating of an eight-year-old boy who was left abandoned and severely injured in a vacant East Vancouver apartment. Inner city school principals, concerned citizens and the Vancouver Sun collaborated to provide safe havens during school breaks for the most vulnerable students who lived along the East Broadway corridor.
KidSafe was turned over to a community-based board of directors in 1995. Working closely with our community partners, including the Vancouver School Board, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and others, we now serve children in five inner city schools: Florence Nightingale, Grandview/Uuqinak'uuh, Macdonald, Mount Pleasant and Queen Alexandra elementary schools in East Vancouver. School principals and support workers choose the children who attend KidSafe based on the children's need for stability, safety and opportunities for development during school breaks. Any child needing an adult can self refer into the program.
The KidSafe children come from the poorest family neighbourhoods in Vancouver. In terms of environmental factors that negatively affect a child's development, Dr. Clyde Hertzman of the University of British Columbia has found that children in KidSafe neighbourhoods are the most vulnerable children living in Vancouver.
KidSafe has four goals:
1. We provide a safe, nurturing place for children to spend their winter, spring and summer school breaks;
2. We develop recreational and educational programs for the KidSafe children;
3. We offer nutritious meals and snacks;
4. We provide a chance for the children to strengthen their self-esteem and social development.
Responsibilities:
# Project Scope and Schedule:
# Located in the school at 2055 Woodland Drive, the Grandview KidSafe program operates during the school's summer, winter and spring breaks from 8:30 to 4:00 Monday to Friday beginning December 2007.
# Children range in age from 5 to 13 years old.
# Program dates are: December 22 to January 5, 2008, March 17 to 21, 2008, and June 29 to August 22, 2008.
# Programs are offered for up to 60 elementary aged students living in the Grandview catchment.
# The operational space includes a lunchroom, kitchen, stage, gym and soccer field.
# The program provides children with a wide variety of activity choices, based on interest and the child's level of development, incorporating activity centres and thematic programming.
# The program includes a balance of child friendly and developmentally sound recreational and educational activities, as well as field trips and skill development opportunities.
# The program ratio is one activity leader to each ten children. The community partner works alongside KidSafe literacy, science and horticulture teachers and facilitators, as well as child support and food workers.
# The community partner works with the KidSafe Project Society to deliver and support the operational requirements as set out in the KidSafe manual.
# The community partner works with the school community in a respectful and supportive way ensuring the Vancouver School Board's health and safety standards are fulfilled on site.
# Program stages involve program scheduling, registration, supply acquisition, site setup, program delivery, and program completion as well as related activities.Qualifications:
# The community partner has a solid track record of delivering quality child centred programs.
# The community partner has liability insurance between two and five million.
# The community partner is able to supervise and support activity staff.
# The community partner has written risk management policies and is familiar with the Vancouver Parks standards for public activities such as swimming and skating.
# The partner's staff should be skilled in a wide variety of activity specialties, including music, art, drama, sports and leisure pursuits.
# The partner's staff have ongoing training including behaviour management and are familiar with children who have learning disabilities or developmental and cognitive deficits, or who may be on medication.
# The partner's staff have a demonstrated understanding of the economic and social challenges facing the students and families registered in KidSafe.
# The partner's staff are positive role models, experienced with children and are able to use sound judgment.
# The community partner has a willingness to work collaboratively with other agencies and organizations.
# The community partner is familiar with Service Canada's summer student provisions.
# The community partner has well established payroll and accounting practices.Proposal Submission Format:
A description of the partner organization including mission statement and the names of Board Members.
A sample resume of staff.
A work plan including timelines and steps necessary to deliver the program.
A sample program schedule including activities and their duration.
A budget including costs for staffing, transportation, supplies and admissions.
A copy of the organization's policies and procedures manual including risk management procedures.
A sample of payroll accounting.
Proposal Schedule
The deadline is November 30 2007. Questions about the proposal can be mailed until the 10th of November
