Orientación de vientos

The DeKalb County Parks and Recreation Department’s overall vision is to "Create

Recreation Department understands that parks are not only important to the quality of life, but they are also assets that increase DeKalb County's desirability as a place to live, work and play.

Statement of Need

Currently DeKalb’s parks system is in great need of continual renovation, retrofitting and growth, and aggressive financial commitments are necessary to realize the over $260 million needed for implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Plan. Multiple approaches to facilitating and financing these actions are recommended. Existing facilities must be renovated and improved, additional land must be acquired and new facilities constructed.

Improvements to the parks and recreation centers as described herein will be beneficial to the communities within the Community Development Block Grant priority neighborhoods. Recreation centers in these areas serve over 80,000 residents of DeKalb County. Improvements to these facilities will greatly assist the department in its ability to extend current service opportunities. Additionally, land acquisition adjoining existing park property will serve to expand recreational activities, provide open space, increase park system visibility and preserve County- wide green space, making these communities more desirable for residents to live, work and play.

Parks/Facilities in Low- to Moderate-Income Areas

Currently, the Parks and Recreation Departmental focus is on using funding from its 2001 and 2005 Park bond program to pay for renovations, repairs, retrofitting, master plans, etc. Specific needs for each park will be identified in the future. The Parks and Recreation Department has been focused on utilizing funding from the Bond programs to pay for the majority of its expansions, renovations, replacement of equipment, etc. We will continue to work with the Parks and Recreation Department and other community partners to provide funding and assistance for possible expansion and renovations.

The following is a list of priority park needs identified by the Parks and Recreation Department that are located in Community Development Priority Neighborhoods and serve primarily low- and moderate-income residents:

Potential Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects Scottdale/Hamilton Community Priority Area

Hamilton Recreational Center, Tobie Grant Recreation Center, Cedar Park and Oak Creek Park

Candler/McAfee Priority Area

Midway Recreation Center, Mark Trail Recreation Center, and Shoal Creek I and II

Lithonia Community Priority Area

Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, Bruce Street Center, Lithonia Park, Gregory Moseley and Southeast Athletic Complex.

There are nine municipalities in DeKalb County. For the municipalities that are part of the cooperative agreement, the County will work with them to address individual

parks and recreation needs on a case-by-case basis. 2. HUMAN SERVICES

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides limited funds to fund public/human service activities related to affordable housing, homeless supportive service, and youth programs. The maximum amount allowed each year for public service programs is 15% of the total grant award. However, in response to the growing need for human services in DeKalb County, the County created a Human Services Department in the fall of 2005 to serve as the primary resource for human service needs in DeKalb.

Overview of Human Service Needs

The Annie Casey Foundation has determined in a recent study that, in spite of the fact that today more than any other time in recent history there are more low- income parents holding down jobs and taking home paychecks, far too many of them are finding it very difficult to rise above poverty. As they go about the business of daily living, families have to deal with a world more complex than ever before, a world in which it is increasingly difficult to achieve wellness and self-sufficiency. Some find it nearly impossible to build up the savings and assets necessary for families to achieve some sort of economic security. There is a very high cost of being poor that is rarely addressed. Many low-income persons living in low-income communities pay far more than the average for many of life’s necessities such as food, shelter and transportation, credit and financial services.

The State of Georgia has done an excellent job with reducing the numbers of persons on the welfare rolls with welfare to work programs. Today there less than 10,000 families on welfare compared to 160,000 in 1994. However, many of the low-wage workers transitioning from welfare to work have no credit or poor credit. This makes them more vulnerable to lenders such as “buy here/pay here” dealers when purchasing a car. These dealers often have very excessive interest rates and often these rates are double or triple the interest rate of a prime rate loan. Another problem for low-wage workers is the “rent-to-own” retailers. The rent-to-own retailers provide merchandise such as furniture and electronics that can be purchased on credit with weekly or monthly payments that can be applied to ownership. The problem with this credit system is only one-fourth of the consumers achieve ownership of the merchandise and for those that do complete the payments in the end they eventually pay two to three times what merchandise would have cost if they could afford to pay cash.

Another issue that is not often addressed for low-wage workers is the high cost of “going to work.” All workers have expenses related to going to work; these expenses include transportation, childcare, payroll taxes and appropriate work clothing. With many of the employment centers and service industry jobs moving to the suburbs where MARTA and local public transportation does not exist, it becomes necessary for workers to own a car. In addition to paying a car note, expenses related to owning a car have to be considered in the equation, such as the cost of gasoline which is going up on a daily basis, the cost of basic maintenance and up- keep of a car, and the cost of car insurance which has been proven to be more expensive in low-income communities.

Affordable childcare is a major issue for working mothers and parents with babies and small children and who are not old enough to attend Georgia Pre-K programs. In DeKalb County the average weekly tuition for pre-school aged children is $100 per week or $4,800 per year. Families with infants and or with more than one child can face even greater expenses for child care and after school programs.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the need for senior services continues to grow. DeKalb County has taken an aggressive role in providing services to seniors by creating a world class facility with the opening of the state of the art South DeKalb Senior Multi-purpose Center. However, with the growing waiting list of seniors waiting to join that facility, it is evident that there is a need for more quality senior facilities throughout the County. Other senior issues that need to be addressed include transportation, affordable housing and health care.

The need and demand for services have increased dramatically over the years while the supply has stayed essentially the same.

Human Services Department

The mission of the Human Services Department is to strengthen families and individuals so that they can achieve self-sufficiency and attain the highest feasible quality of life; and to develop viable urban communities, principally benefiting low- to-moderate income persons, through collaboration with nonprofit agencies, governmental entities at all levels, the business and faith communities, schools and residents. There are three divisions to carry out the mission through three primary focus areas: Senior Affairs; Human Services Grants and Facilities Management; and Youth Services.

The Humans Services Grants and Facilities Management Division helps to promote and support County and nonprofit agencies in the planning and delivery of services to ensure coordination, maximize resources, and eliminate duplication. The section analyzes issues, prepares planning and implementation reports, and participates in various planning initiatives for human services. It also administers the County's Human/Community Services Grants, funded primarily by the General Fund, to nonprofit agencies providing programs and services that have a prevention or early intervention focus and meet an urgent community need. Administering grants allows for coordination of resources, avoidance of service duplication, partnerships between the County and community agencies, and collection of information to support County's planning and policy-making process. In addition, the Human Services Facilities component manages the County's network of eight Human Service Centers to help ensure efficiency of operation and maximum feasible use by the tenants and community.

DeKalb County Office of Senior Affairs functions as the information and referral resource for seniors and the community. The office also maintains up-to-date information pertaining to aging trends, service needs, and resources. The DeKalb County Office of Senior Affairs is the County-Based Agency (CBA) for aging services and is responsible for maintaining a coordinated aging service delivery system. This includes developing the local aging plan, monitoring the accountability of subcontracting service providers, and planning and coordinating programs and services for all of DeKalb County’s diverse senior population.

The Human Services Division is committed to serving DeKalb's youth and their families. Through the Teenage Pregnancy Task Force, the Division works to reduce teenage pregnancy in DeKalb County through a coordinated community approach. In

cases where young people do become premature parents, emphasis is placed on completing education and leading a successful life. The Division also maintains and provides statistical data on the consequences of teenage pregnancy, the cost of teenage pregnancies to the community, and other statistics relating to the issue.

Senior Citizens

DeKalb County, like the nation, is following the trend that demonstrates that older Americans are living longer. According to the Atlanta Region Area Plan on Aging, DeKalb County has the second largest population of senior 60 years of age and older within the 10-county metro Atlanta area, with 72,708 seniors in 2000. That number represents a 22% increase since the 1990 census. Seniors 60 years old or older account for 11% of DeKalb’s County’s total population. Active seniors between the ages of 60 to 74 are the largest group of DeKalb’s seniors, comprising of 66% of the senior population. 25% of the senior population falls between the ages of 74 to 84 and frail seniors 85 and older make up 9% of the total senior population.

The highest concentration of seniors is in the north and northeast of Decatur. This is primarily because that is where the majority of the senior housing communities are located. DeKalb County has an increasing diverse senior population because DeKalb is the home to the greatest number of immigrants and refugees in the Atlanta region. Unfortunately, DeKalb County has the second largest number of elderly living in poverty; approximately 15.7% of the total senior population 65 years of age and older are living in poverty, according to the 2000 Census. The area of concentration of seniors that are living below the poverty level is primarily south DeKalb and areas around the cities of Atlanta, Decatur and Lithonia. Additionally, pockets of poverty can be found around the Gallery Mall at South DeKalb and along I-20 between Lithonia and I-285.

Although the majority of seniors in DeKalb are active, there are 6,346 seniors age 85 years old and older that are considered frail. According to the 2000 census, 21,211 of persons 65 years old and older are considered to have disabilities. These elderly may have mobility and self-care limitations. The greatest barrier to independent aging is the inability for elderly persons to get around on their own. Studies show that most seniors “age in place”; in other words, they stay in their own homes or move in with family members. Many communities are not adequately designed for the elderly to easily navigate and get around. Many subdivisions do not have sidewalk access or are too far from the closest bus stop. Roads are built and bus transit routes are scheduled to accommodate the heavy morning and evening rush hour commutes. However, seniors who do not have the support they need to get around become more and more isolated because they are unable to drive themselves or navigate the bus or train routes alone anymore.

As DeKalb County’s senior population grows, the issue of transportation for essential services will become more prevalent. Studies show that access to transportation is a number one concern for seniors in DeKalb County. According to the DeKalb County Senior Transportation Plan, there is a major gap in transportation services in DeKalb County due to the lack coordination and communication among agencies and providers. The plan also identified the gaps as follows:

• A mix of various different services being offered through a multitude of agencies that were funded through various resources and had a variety of different eligibility criteria and application processes.

• No one organization in DeKalb County truly knows the needs and demands for senior transportation services.

• There are thousands of seniors living below the poverty level without access to vehicles in their households.

• There is an urgent need to address the replacement and maintenance of vehicles used by existing service providers.

• Service providers do not maintain a list of requests for services when a particular service can not be provided and why it was not provided.

• There is not likely to be an increase in funding for senior transportation from the state or federal levels.

• There is a need for a central coordination mechanism to increase awareness of existing senior services available.

• There is a need for more volunteerism throughout the County to assist in providing services.

In 2002, under the leadership of CEO Vernon Jones a diverse group of individuals from DeKalb County that had a genuine concern and interest for the improved quality of life for seniors were appointed to serve as members of the Bridge Builders group. The charge for the Bridge Builders group was to develop a plan that would guide the County’s efforts to improve the quality of life for senior citizens of DeKalb County. As a result, a Community Action Plan for Senior Services 2003-2007 was developed. The Community Action Plan for Senior Services provided recommendations around ten topics listed below:

1. Community Education & Information – Increasing awareness of aging

issues; improving access to Information & Assistance; conducting public information campaigns; ensuring that information reflects diversity; and promoting DeKalb as a “senior friendly” community.

2. Coordination & Implementation- Recommendations include establishing a Senior Roundtable, and initiating collaborations.

3. Health- Promote physical activity, increase awareness of physical and mental health, disease prevention and management, and increase flu vaccines to seniors.

4. Housing- Conduct a feasibility study; facilitate communication among

housing developers, managers and equity partners; and increase the supply of housing and activities to enable seniors to remain in their own homes.

5. Resource Development- Partner with colleges and universities, conduct

capital and leadership campaigns, and diversify funding sources.

6. Safety & Fraud/Abuse Prevention- Reduce and prevent crimes, injury and fraudulent activities against seniors.

7. Senior Facilities & Enrichment Activities- Promote diversity, create multipurpose facilities with an array of affordable senior programs, and address needs for more adult day health programs.

8. Supportive Services - Increase supportive services, develop a Caregiver Support Council, and identify business opportunities to expand services.

9. Transportation - Improve efficiency and effectiveness of transportation services, increase use of MARTA, and implement a One-Stop Call and Brokerage Center.

10. Volunteerism - Mobilize, train and recognize volunteers.

As outlined in the Five-Year Community Action Plan for Senior Services, the County government alone cannot implement the many recommendations contained in the plan. All segments of the DeKalb County community must take responsibility for helping to improve conditions for seniors in DeKalb.

Senior Facilities in DeKalb

There are six senior facilities in DeKalb County: Senior

Center Location Services Capacity Size

DeKalb- Atlanta Senior Citizens Center 30 Warren St., Atlanta, GA 30317

Congregate meals and drop off location for home-

delivered meals, arts & crafts classes,

transportation, counseling, and social enhancing activities. 77 persons 9,900 sq. ft. South DeKalb Senior Citizen Center 1931 Candler Rd. , Decatur, GA 30032

Congregate meals and drop off for home delivered meals, transportation, counseling, health-related services, recreational & educational services shopping assistance and travel club. 95 persons 7,000 sq. ft. Lithonia Senior Center 2484 Bruce Street, Lithonia, GA 30035

Congregate meals and drop off for home delivered meals, transportation, counseling, health-related services, recreational & educational services shopping assistance and travel club. 100 persons 11,500sq. ft. Scottdale- Hamilton Senior Center 3262 Chapel St. Scottdale, GA 30079

Same as others but on a more limited scale.

65 persons 6,614 sq. ft. North DeKalb Senior Center 2248 Johnson Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA

Congregate meals and drop off for home delivered meals, transportation, counseling, health-related services, recreational & educational services shopping assistance and travel club. 72 persons Unknown Lou Walker Senior Center 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, GA 30058

This state-of-the-art, world class facility provides comprehensive social, health, nutritional, educational, and

therapeutic services for seniors.

1,427

Children and Families in DeKalb County

Each year the Annie E. Casey Foundation publishes the Kids Count Fact Book. The purpose of the Kids Count initiative is to track the well being of children in this country at the state and local levels of government using specific statistical indicators. This data is then used to help policy makers, government officials and citizens make policy and program decisions affecting the lives of children and families. In past editions of the Kids Count Fact Book the State of Georgia has consistently ranked low in terms of the overall well being for children, and currently rates 44th _{on 10 national indicators out of all 50 states. In some areas Georgia}

ranked favorably with other states; however, on the indicators of low birth weight babies, percentage of children in poverty, percentage of families headed by single parents, and families where no parent has full-time employment, the situation for Georgia actually has worsened.

Unfortunately, DeKalb County also ranks low along with the state in some areas. For example, according to the 2006 edition of the Kids Count Fact Book, 21% of all children in the State of Georgia are living in poverty. In DeKalb County, 19% of all children are living in poverty. The percentage of high school dropouts in the U.S. is 8%, in the State of Georgia 12% and in DeKalb County, the high school drop out