The Children's Trust is investing in programs that will improve the lives of families and young people in Miami-Dade County.
The group committed $1.6 million to an Innovation Fund that will help 21 organizations pilot and test their ideas. The selected providers will focus on a variety of critical issues, including improving literacy rates, health outcomes and encouraging environmental conservation.
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"The Children's Trust remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting creative solutions that directly improve the well-being of Miami-Dade's children and families," President and CEO James R. Haj said in a statement.
Established by voter referendum in 2002, The Children’s Trust is dedicated to advocating for children and families. It is funded by local property taxes.
One of the selected ventures, Branches Inc., will pilot a 12-month direct cash transfer program that will provide financial support and coaching to 50 local families. A handful of states and cities across the U.S. are testing guaranteed income programs, which provide regular cash payments to individuals and households over a set period of time in an effort to reduce poverty.
The other Innovation Fund recipients are:
- NABU Global, a publisher of multilingual children's storybooks in Haitian Creole and English. NABU is publishing the content on its mobile app to make it accessible to young readers.
- Adrienne Arsht Center Inc. will develop a program for musical theater high school students.
- The City of Miami Gardens will fund a Health Corner Store Project that will increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Create Kids Inc. will provide stress reduction and mindfulness techniques to children undergoing negative medical experiences.
- Friends of the Children-National Inc. will fund early intervention services focused on addressing and preventing adverse childhood experiences and other factors that put children at risk for negative long-term outcomes.
- The Friendship Circle of Miami Beach and North Dade Inc. will create a community orchestra that will be the first disability-centric, integrative youth orchestra program in Miami-Dade County.
- Miami Lighthouse for the Blind & Visually Impaired Inc. will design and pilot a Comprehensive Blind Soccer Initiative.
- Skate Bud Program Inc. will provide skateboarding lessons, job training, career mentorship and more to young people.
- The Everglades Foundation will pilot the world’s first place-based Everglades climate curriculum in Miami-Dade County schools.
- The Lucy Project Inc. will engage in a feasibility study to determine the most effective and sustainable model for a "new learning academy."
- The Rising Start Foundation will create The Rising Start Incubator for Neurodiverse Innovation & Entrepreneurship to provide life and workforce skills preparation for middle school students, high school students and young adults up to age 22 who are on the autism spectrum.
- The Sundari Foundation will fund the opening of a children's resource center in Overtown.
- The Young Women's Christian Association of Greater Miami and Dade County aims to support economic opportunities for women head of households.
- Trinity Church will establish the Miami-Dade County Youth Biodiversity Network pilot project. The group will recruit, train and empower youth to become community biodiversity researchers and advocates.
- The University of Miami's For the Future You program will write and publish three 3D science board books that are culturally and contextually relevant for families living in high poverty census tracts of the county.
- The University of Miami's Linda Ray Center will study language development in children.
- The University of Miami will fund a pilot project focused on applied behavior analysis intervention using alternative communication with minimally verbal children on the autism spectrum.
- Voices for Children/Guardian Ad Litem will form The Collective to improve quality of life and support services for children in the foster care system.
- Women's Fund of Miami-Dade Inc. will analyze the early childhood learning and child care landscape within the county's business community.
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