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. . I . I . Dr. Ron Crates, Superintendent of the Redwood City School District, thanked the Council, City Manager and staff for forming the partnership with San Mateo County, the - Redwood City School District and many, many private businesses and agencies, to utilize tax dollars in an effective and efficient manner. Dr. Crates said it was vital that govemmental entities, non-profits and the private sector should share resources for the common good of the community. Dr. Crates said the Taft Healthy Start Project focuses on the Friendly Acre East Bayshore Neighborhood Association, and it started as a grass roots, bottom up effort. Bonnie Miller, co-chair of the Friendly Acre East Bayshore Neighborhood Association, described how in 1991 the Principal of Taft, Caroline Curry, found some students Playing with discarded hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia. Ms. Curry and some of the students and their parents came to the Neighborhood Association with their concerns. Chairperson Miller described the Association's efforts to involve all of the neighborhood residents in addressing these concerns. She read the comments of the community and what they wanted addressed, which focused on a safe and clean neighborhood with good communications between schools and social services. Chairperson Miller said this effort led to the first Healthy Start Program in Redwood City. She distributed the newsletter that is produced by the Neighborhood Association, which addresses citywide concerns and offers information on health issues. She said an upcoming issue will focus on what to do if there is an earthquake and will be printed in English and Spanish. Chairperson Miller listed some of the other successes of the Program including an award winning community garden, an emergency services trailer, a dramatic decrease in after hours crime on school - grounds, establishment of a drug free zone, a closed campus so police can evict unwanted guests, and held three festivals. She said that prospective homebuyers are told about the Healthy Start Program. Caroline Curry, described how the Healthy Start Program was the vehicle that helped the neighborhood clean up Taft School as well as help students and their families. She used overhead slides to show the initial partners, Bonnie Miller, Ed Bailey, Corinne Centeno, Beth Ross, herself and the County's Social Services department. Ms. Curry said they used the State's Healthy Start grant as seed money to begin a collaborative to provide services the first three years. She said after that it will be self-supporting. Ms. Curry said the vision statement was created at community meetings, and focuses on "a neighborhood of healthy children and families, healthy community. We want children to develop a positive vision of the future and acquire the skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to become successful, participating contributors in the changing world." Ms. Curry said the Program developed four outcomes based on what the community wanted. She said the fourth goal of an integrated and comprehensive service delivery system turned about to be the most difficult. Ms. Curry described the five areas needed to accomplish the four goals: an extensive array of family support services; recreation; educational literacy; health services and parent community partnerships. - REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MARCH 2, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 309 PAGE 15