Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: December 6, 2024
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
FROM: Carrie Mathes, CFCM, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., Manager II, Procurement Division
CONTACT: Angela Chestang, Manager, Citizens’ Commission for Children Division
PHONE: 407-836-6541
SUBJECT: Approval of Contract Y25-2050, Provision of Community Services
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approval of Contract Y25-2050, Provision of Community Services, with The Gift of Swimming, Inc., in the total contract amount of $450,000 for a three-year term. ([Community and Family Services Department Citizens’ Commission for Children Division] Procurement Division)
PROCUREMENT:
This contract will provide funds for infant/child mortality prevention (water safety) programming - Countywide, to provide comprehensive water safety and drowning prevention services to Orange County infants and children and their families. Programming will include age and developmentally appropriate water survival and basic swimming skills to vulnerable children, including lessons on water safety and risk awareness. The performance period is January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027.
FUNDING:
Funding is available in account number 0001-062-2556-8610.
APPROVALS:
The Citizens’ Review Panel for Human Services recommended The Gift of Swimming, Inc. to receive funding to provide these services. The Citizens’ Commission for Children Division (CCC) concurs with the funding recommendation. The Gift of Swimming, Inc. was previously awarded funding from the CCC, for water safety and basic swimming skills programming, in September 2021.
REMARKS:
In accordance with the Code of Ordinances, Part 1, Chapter 17, Article III, Section 17-286 - Application and Exclusions, agreements between the Board and nonprofit organizations are excluded from competitive procurement requirements.
Drowning is a serious public health problem, especially in Florida where there is an abundance of various bodies of water including oceans, lakes, springs, ponds, rivers, and pools. Water safety and basic swimming skills programming for youth is crucial in preventing drowning incidents and ensuring the well-being of children around aquatic environments. These programs not only teach children essential survival skills in water, but also foster a sense of confidence and independence. By providing young individuals with the opportunity to learn how to swim, they gain the necessary tools to navigate potentially dangerous situations and react appropriately in emergencies. Moreover, investing in such programming can have long-lasting effects on a child's physical health by promoting an active lifestyle through engaging water-based activities.
The Gift of Swimming's “Healthy Kids Through Swimming” program will provide survival swim lessons to Orange County children who, in most scenarios, would not have the access or ability to afford effective swim lessons. Infants and children are taught, through one-on-one instruction, essential survival and swimming fundamentals. The program estimates serving 200 unduplicated residents annually and providing approximately 4,500 hours of direct service per contract year.
Services can be accessed by contacting the agency directly to register for programming, or by contacting the CCC for referral. The Gift of Swimming works in partnership with Orange County Head Start to identify the number of centers that will participate in the program prior to the start of each school year. Additionally, recruitment and outreach is conducted in collaboration with Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C) licensed childcare centers throughout Orange County and through social media and mass marketing throughout the pediatric health care community.
In addition to marketing strategies employed by The Gift of Swimming, Inc., the CCC offers a comprehensive resource directory of all funded programming published on the CCC web page, located at www.ocfl.net/ccc <http://www.ocfl.net/ccc>. Through this directory, constituents may search for funded services within a specific distance of their home, place of work, or other address of significance.
Additionally, the CCC has contracted community engagement specialists, located primarily in east and west Orange County, for service delivery to benefit citizens with an emphasis on maintaining contact with community groups, parents, and other caregivers, providing support to residents, as well as evaluating and responding to community needs concerning children. The CCC also employs a part-time community ambassador, whose role is primarily to engage with civic, law enforcement, and community groups to market services and to stay connected with the various community groups throughout Orange County.
Finally, the CCC maintains an electronic e-mail distribution database, and distributes shared resources and information submitted by community non-profits monthly. This method allows funded and non-funded service providers the opportunity to learn about services, events, or special projects that may benefit the community at large.
Services will primarily be provided at the following locations:
• 205 Windermere Rd., Winter Garden, FL 34787, in Commission District 1
• 311 N. Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787, in Commission District 1
• 6408 Jennings Rd., Orlando, FL 32818, in Commission District 6
• 3933 W D Judge Drive Orlando, FL 32808, in Commission District 6
• 1723 Bruton Blvd., Orlando, FL 32805, in Commission District 6
Infant/child mortality prevention (water safety) is a unique scope of service that is not currently funded through the CCC. While services may be provided in a specific location, it is not limited to residents in the district/area of the service location. The agency’s transportation plan and collaborative partnerships with Orange County Head Start and licensed childcare centers throughout the county ensures that all Orange County residents have access to funded programs/services. Additionally, the agency is in the process of developing Memorandums of Understanding for additional swim instruction locations throughout the County.