All Recommendations

The complete set of PPA Recommendations have been posted to this page. Use the following menu of Committee names to jump to a Committee's Recommendations or scroll down the page to view all Committee Recommendations. The 21 page printer friendly version of Recommendation Summaries can also be downloaded here.

In addition to the Recommendation Summaries, this page provides links to the full Recommendation Worksheets that correspond to each Summary. These worksheets can be viewed by clicking on the "Read More..." link at the end of each Recommendation summary. You can also download a Committee's complete set of Recommendation Worksheets by using the "Print Version of All Recommendations" link at the top of each Committee Section.


Building A Diverse Economy

  • Economic Development
    [ Print Version of All Economic Development Recommendations ]

    1. Athens-Clarke County should partner with other area counties to create a regional economic development entity responsible for proactively marketing the region to prospects interested in establishing new operations in the region. Read more...
       
    2. Develop adequate strategies and funding alternatives to encourage retention and expansion of existing businesses. Read more...

      Action steps:

      • Survey existing businesses to determine gaps in desired services and barriers (real and perceived) to expansion. Utilize the resources of SBDC and EDF for existing information.
      • Establish a council group (such as a coalition of area Chambers of Commerce) to meet regularly and work cooperatively to develop programs to nurture existing businesses. Athens Area Chamber of Commerce should take the lead in organizing this council.
      • Establish a function in Athens-Clarke County government to serve as a central resource for new businesses startups and expansions. This entity would provide information and technical assistance for issues such as permitting, licensing, process, etc.
      • Develop and execute a formal program for community leaders to make in-person visits to corporate offices of every major business or industry in ACC, inviting them to expand their operations.
      • Explore possibilities of new business capital through "bond funds" or "investors clubs."
      • Widely publicize the removal of barriers to new business expansion or creation.
      • Encourage ACC citizens to support the local economy through "buying local."
      • Enhance recognition programs for ACC businesses through the media and existing organizations.

    Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:

    1. Pursue Passenger Rail (Brain Train) between Athens and Atlanta as an economic opportunity for Athens. Read more...
       
    2. When seeking new businesses for the community, attend to the impact of the business on quality of life. Target recruitment efforts for "desirable businesses." Read more...

     

  • Entrepreneurship
    [ Print Version of All Entrepreneurship Recommendations ]

    1. To foster a culture of entrepreneurialism, Athens must support training programs for low-income adults and remove barriers to growth for start-ups and existing small businesses in Athens-Clarke County. Entrepreneurs and low-income Athenians who do not know that they could become entrepreneurs need out-reach, on-going business support/training, and access to capital. The committee recognizes that many potential entrepreneurs are not able to be successful- due to a lack of time, capital, belief-in-self, English language skills, computer training, or literacy- to access current resources. The committee recognizes that many entrepreneurs who have already begun their businesses fail due to a similar set of problems (e.g. lack of capital) that commonly affect small businesses. We understand that there are multiple ways for Athens policy to support small businesses through zoning, taxes, and permitting. The committee recognizes that there are several organizations (e.g., EADC, Goodwill Industries, SBDC) which have undertaken foundational work on these needs by providing business training, access to capital, and technical assistance. The Committee recommends:
      1. Increased funding for existing services including business development consultants, local training programs, and pools of capital.
      2. Identify and Fund gaps in services including small business incubators, Bilingual Business Development Consultants, Fast-track Engagement Program for potential entrepreneurs, a SWAT Team/Business Mentoring Program, Access to Capital/Community Investing, Small Business support through Zoning/Taxing/Permitting Changes, and acquiring the Business Friendly Designation

      Read more...
       

    2. Market small business development services and news to raise awareness about Entrepreneur resources and opportunities in Athens using the following strategies:
      1. House, at the Chamber of Commerce and on the Chamber's website, a One-stop-shop and Database of business opportunities, local products, etc. for local businesses to use to network and grow -- Could be administered through the Chamber (J House Media made Chamber website)
      2. Daily Business Section in ABH with a Q&A column
      3. "211" Information phone line for businesses -- under Community Connections, EADC or SBDC
      4. Monthly newsletter -- part of the ABH business section OR distributed in Athens (i.e. Flagpole) OR electronic (see Appalachian Community Enterprises, Inc.); Featured Business of the Month, new business listings, business tips
      5. Bi-lingual translator/consultant in association with UGA, Catholic Social Services
      6. Market services of SBDC, EADC, Goodwill Industries, and HED's Athens Growth Fund
      7. Buy Local Campaign: Flagpole currently published annual "Guide to Athens" with local restaurants and other retailers listed. A local retailers guide with such info as part of a Buy Local Campaign could support local businesses
      8. Marketing to low-to-moderate income individuals
      9. Increase social services to improve skills among low-to-moderate income individuals (computer literacy, job skills, business skills)
      10. Job Fairs -- incorporate small business marketing at job fairs
      11. Peer Network for Business Competency (sales/marketing, finance, human resources/training, management, technology)

      Read more...
       

    3. Create a program to teach entrepreneurialism and build hope at each level of the youth educational system.
      1. Build on/expand existing programs through the Chamber of Commerce, School District's Career Technical Agricultural Education Department, Georgia REAL (Paul Delargi- at Timothy Road and PLC's Jittery Joe's), Department of Labor's Workforce Investment Board, SBDC, UGA Terry College of Business (students worked on Jittery Joe's), Junior Achievement, etc.
      2. Create new programs utilizing:
        1. Certified Entrepreneurship Teachers program through the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
        2. A K-5 integrated financial literacy program- Replicate Georgia REAL Program, Use the Lemonade Stand competition (like Inc. Magazine)
        3. Hold a Business Proposal Fair like a Science Fair, offer apprenticeships with local businesses for Middle Schoolers
        4. Have High School students go through the SBDC course for class credit, continue the Business Proposal Fair
        5. Create a Super Summer Program- where youth shadow a local business person for the summer, Expand capacity of EADC's Allen Executive Youth Entrepreneurship camp (first summer 2007)

         

      Read more...
       

    4. Develop a youth leadership program, "Partners Building Leadership to Create Legacies," in order to develop strong leadership skills and to help follow-up on youth-centered PPA recommendations. The purpose of this program would be to develop a community-wide youth leadership program to help maintain youth and student involvement in the short-term and long term implementation of the PPA recommendations.

      Read more...
       

    5. Create a program that fosters entrepreneurship and small business around farming in Athens. If implemented creatively and persistently a local gardening and farming initiative could incorporate and address most of the components leading to persistent poverty that we have identified so far. Key features of this program would include:
      1. Farmer's Markets
        1. In accessible locations as determined by the results of a comprehensive food assessment such as has been proposed by the Culture of Poverty sub-committee.
        2. Able to accept Food Stamps
        3. Used as a center of community activity to increase a sense of community ownership over the market
        4. Used to create networks through the exchange of goods and ideas
        5. Have an educational component- regular programming could occur during market times educating people (of all ages and backgrounds) on how to prepare and plan meals inexpensively and that are healthier. Groups like La Leche could mentor mothers and assist them with diet and nutrition issues.

         

      2. Fostering a Culture of Entrepreneurialism via Farming:
        1. Develop programming for youth in schools like Garden-to-table projects
        2. Facilitate access to resources that allow people to process and package value-added products from their or their neighbor's produce- certified kitchens, community owned packaging facility, etc.
        3. Include programming on entrepreneurial resources and opportunities in farmer's market and community gardening activities.
        4. Incorporate youth leadership program into farming program

         

      3. Community-wide Reinforcement:
        1. Businesses, churches, and other organizations can synergistically reinforce the above objectives, thereby increasing their rate of success.
        2. Barriers to growth for start-ups and existing small businesses in Athens-Clarke County must be removed.

         

      4. Build on existing resources/strengths including:
        1. Goodwill Industries -- many graduates of their Hispanic Entrepreneurship classes are interested in farming.Many Hispanic people have some kind of horticultural experience.
        2. There are a lot of resources and institutions present in the county that can provide advice and facilitate projects (UGA, Local Food Banks, Locally Grown, Full Moon Farm Cooperative, Cooperative extension, Daily Grocery, Tim Johnson with Communities in Schools/Family Connection.)
        3. Local Food and organic farming is a growth market.
        4. ACC School District just adopted a new Food Policy.
        5. There are currently foundations seeking to fund these kinds of initiatives

        Read more...
         


  • Living Wage
    [ Print Version of All Living Wage Recommendations ]

    1. Regarding the University of Georgia, we recommend that (a) $11.55 be promoted at UGA as the minimum wage, resulting in an annual income of $24,000. We also recommend that (b) auxiliary services which maintain full time and year-round workers should not treat them as "temporary" workers, but as "regular payroll" people with full benefits. Data are needed on the number of full time workers classified as "temporary." We recommend that (c) health benefits be made affordable to the lowest paid employees in the university and that (d) those who are truly "temporary" employees be paid at a minimum of $14 per hour, so that they are able to afford health care. At the same time, (e) employees classified as temporary should receive social security benefits, not the GDCP funds which takes money from the workers, but to which the University does not contribute. This may require a change in state law. Meanwhile, when workers leave, they should routinely be notified of their right to request their GDCP funds. Finally, we propose that (f) the University avoid outsourcing any routine jobs to contracted companies. Read more...
       
    2. Regarding the Chamber of Commerce, we recommend that the Chamber a) educate its membership, large and small businesses, on the advantages of respectful wages and benefits--advantages to the business, to the family, and to the community at large; b) ask their member businesses to give preference to participants in the workforce committee's programs when respectable jobs at the blue collar level become available; c) work on training business leaders, especially small business leaders, in their styles of management regarding employee sustainability; and d) offer technical assistance in growing and streamlining a business so that it can pay living wages and put into place "Worker Friendly" policies and procedures. A key factor in worker anxiety is job security. A key factor in management relates to the various ways of expressing respect for their workers. Read more...
       
    3. Given that the State Preemption Law prohibits local governments from enacting any policy that affects wages or benefits of contracted workers, we recommend that the Clarke County Government terminate the contracts and bring the employees back into the county payroll. They could then be paid respectful wages and benefits, as are other employees in the county government. Read more...
       
    4. Additional institutions should be encouraged to raise their wages and benefits. These institutions include, but are not limited to: the local hospitals, the Board of Education, social agencies, churches, and the Regional Library. Read more...
       
    5. Regarding the state minimum wage of $5.15, we propose that the PPA conveners and steering committee add their voices to the members of the legislature who might consider raising that level. Each of the partners in the PPA can be advocates for a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or more, as proposed by Senator Brown and Rep. McKillip. Read more...
       
    6. We propose that a positive, consumer-minded assessment be made for those businesses that are willing to present themselves as Worker Friendly and Fair Wage businesses. Criteria will be established, and the higher scoring businesses will then be advertised, so that consumers and workers can be encouraged to give favor to those businesses. This will be an entirely voluntary program. Read more...
       
  • Culture of Poverty
    [ Print Version of All Culture of Poverty Recommendations ]

    1. Conduct systematic community food assessments, develop food policy, establish better grocery markets that are within walking distance of key low income areas, set up ability to use food stamps in farmers market, conduct cooking demonstrations at market, develop community gardens, etc. Read more...
       
    2. Cultivate entrepreneurs and subsidize them with low interest loans to build and operate neighborhood markets that serve low-income areas. Read more...
       
    3. To reduce the high drop out rate, utilize the new Graduation Coaches to encourage trend setters to serve as mentors to other kids for positive change. Read more...
       
    4. Establish a mentoring program for families in poverty. Read more...
       
    5. Have community based assistance that augments the Department of Children and Family Services, etc. Case loads for social workers need to be smaller, mental health issues need to be better identified and understood by caseworkers. Read more...
       

     


Workforce Development
[ Print Version of All Workforce Development Recommendations ]

  1. Develop a comprehensive workforce strategy to address the emerging workforce needs of Athens and the surrounding counties. ("Emerging workforce" refers to young people such as k-12 students. It is also refers to our future workforce.) Read more...
     
  2. Develop a comprehensive workforce strategy to address the current workforce needs of Athens and the surrounding communities. Read more...
     
  3. Develop a comprehensive career education policy to support current and future workforce needs. This policy has to be jointly developed and owned by the following institutions: Athens-Clarke County School System, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Athens Clarke County Unified Government, University of Georgia, Athens Technical College, and local Service Providers. Read more...
     
  4. Develop an initiative to help assure that all recommendations from PPA will be pursued and that there will be all appropriate advocacy to assure implementation of the recommendations. Read more...
     

Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:

  1. Set up trades schools to provide students with the chance to learn trades and skills. Read more...
     
  2. Have the city employ persons who have recently been released from jail to help provide community improvements. Reform for prisoners could be tied into other business opportunities. Diversion Centers could be part of this strategy. (i.e. Jobs for Life) Read more...
     
  3. Provide strategies to address the needs of those who have gone to prison. Develop strategies, including workforce strategies, to reduce the recidivism rate. Read more...
     

Education Attainment

  • Family Engagement
    [ Print Version of All Family Engagements Recommendations ]

    1. In order to promote the academic achievement and success of all students and address the holistic needs of children and families living in poverty, we recommend the establishment of Family Engagement/Comprehensive Community in Schools Models in Clarke County Schools with high poverty rates.

      This model would include a family support center with a full time coordinator in every high poverty school. These centers would support the wellbeing of parents and families as well as their participation in every facet of their child's education and development from birth to adulthood.

      We would recommend that a Community Board be developed to determine the focus and partners for Community Schools that provide Family Support. This Community Board will be made up of parents, a representative from each of the PPA Committees (to help assure comprehensive service delivery), school system representative, as well as other community groups interested in developing the Community in Schools model in Clarke County. This Board, in cooperation with Clarke County Schools, would determine the ongoing organizational structure of the schools. Read more...
       

    2. Develop a comprehensive communication strategy to share information about schools and the community that includes parents, schools, and the community. Read more...

    Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:

    1. Implement customer friendly, one-stop resource centers to coordinate services for individuals and families, allowing more resources (including staffing) to be used for direct services to the people who need them. Working with Community Connection-211, services to be coordinated and collaborative would include both public (DFCS, Department of Labor, Public Health, Advantage, School District early learning and other programs, Athens Tech, et al.) and private (Healthy Families, Athens Neighborhood Health Center, Catholic Social Services, mentoring, homeless services, et al.). Read more...
       
    2. Provide parenting opportunities that focus on providing resources and support to parents. Read more...
       
    3. Implement comprehensive Fatherhood Programs focused on promoting student achievement through:
      1. Increasing the engagement of fathers and other primary male caregivers with their children and schools;
      2. Providing ongoing professional development to staff working with families to understand how to engage fathers and male caregivers within complex and diverse family configurations.

      Read more...
       

    4. Provide a Meta-Learning Center to help families achieve life-long learning opportunities. Read more...
       
    5. Use social workers (community and school) to deal with truancy and family problems that result in truancy. Read more...
       
    6. An emphasis needs to be placed on developing strong families and providing good role models. Read more...
       
    7. Provide school based and district wide parenting opportunities that
      1. Focus on providing resources and support to parents;
      2. Are comprehensive and coordinated in nature; and that
      3. Result in higher student achievement.

      Read more...
       

  • Early Childhood
    [ Print Version of All Early Childhood Recommendations ]

    1. Early Childhood Learning Objective I: Increase access to high quality early care and learning programs for children living in poverty and near poverty. Read more...

      Recommendations for Objective I:

      1. Educate the community about the need for quality early care and learning programs for all children.
         
      2. Increase financial assistance for child care.
        1. Advocate for increased federal funding for child care.
        2. Create "Hope" Scholarships for Babies.
        3. Seek employer support for child care for their employees (collaborate with the PPA-Work Force Committee regarding employer support for child care, research ways in which employers can do this, support development of child care center at UGA for employees/faculty).
        4. Seek support from faith communities for child care for children living in poverty or near poverty and/or for children of their parishioners
           
      3. Increase number of high quality private early care and learning centers and homes
        1. Provide training followed by on-site technical assistance to improve quality.
        2. Ask UGA and Athens Tech to find faculty and graduate students willing to volunteer free professional development for child care settings serving low income children.
        3. Encourage civic clubs and faith communities to "adopt" early care and learning centers and homes and provide resources to improve the program/facility and to cover costs of seeking accreditation.
           
      4. Preserve and expand government-funded programs (Early Head Start, Head Start, pre-K) to serve all eligible children in the community.
         
      5. Provide Head Start for 3-year olds
         
      6. Develop an annual agenda for early childhood development in the Athens area. This agenda could include:
        1. Legislation and/or school policies that need to be addressed
        2. Funding needs and where the funding can come from
        3. Invite elected officials to events at early childhood sites and share our agenda with them and ask for their support
        4. Maintain ongoing contact with our elected officials to help assure their ongoing support
           
    2. Early Childhood Learning Objective II: Increase the supply of programs that are effective in developing parenting skills and behaviors that promote healthy early child development in all developmental areas to facilitate children's success in school and life. Read more...

      Recommendations for Objective II:
       

      1. Educate the community about the need for opportunities for parents to enhance their parenting skills and for adult education.
         
      2. Support the continuation and expansion of comprehensive family literacy programs such as Even Start. (See note below for a description of Even Start.)
         
      3. Increase accessibility of effective parent education programs; preserve the best practices of Even Start within these programs
        1. Expand the adult education, family literacy, and parenting skills components of Early Head Start, Head Start, and other early care and learning programs.
        2. Write a grant for the new federal Reading First Program and supplement the best practices it excludes by partnering with others in the community to offer adult education and family engagement.
        3. Build a core of advocates who will work to secure funding for adult education and parenting skills programs.
           
      4. Increase supply of effective programs for addressing challenges to parenting such as lack of education and job skills, homelessness, chemical dependency, teen parenthood, mental illness and domestic violence.
      5. Develop a Family Mentoring Program with emphasis on supporting parents from birth.
      6. Develop a nurturing environment in Clarke County for young children and their families through provision of mentoring and faith-based initiatives.

       

    3. Ask UGA and Athens Tech to find faculty and graduate students willing to volunteer free professional development for child care settings serving low income children. This could be assistance with the development of family literacy programs or in professional development of the staff. Read more...
       
    4. Develop a Family Mentoring Program with an emphasis on supporting parents, with and without disabilities, and their children, with and without disabilities, from birth on. Read more...

     

  • New Models
    [ Print Version of All New Models Recommendations ]

    1. Athens Clarke County School System develop a K-8 Neighborhood School Model. Read more...
       
    2. Create a K-8 Neighborhood School at Chase Street School to promote educational cohesion, increase student achievement, encourage neighborhood engagement and build a strong community of life long learners. Read more...
       
    3. Develop a Bio-Science K-8 magnet or charter school. Read more...
       
    4. Organize a meeting with Athens Clarke County School System, Athens Technical College, and the University of Georgia to develop the most effective means of incorporating a strong area of focus in the biosciences within the existing Career Academy. This could also involve hosting the facility at a location other than the Athens-Clarke County High School campus. Read more...
       
    5. Athens Clarke County School System and the University of Georgia pursue an Early College Program. Read more...
       
    6. Explore an Early College Program beginning at 7th grade. Read more...
       
    7. Implement a Charter School Forum to introduce the charter school concept and investigate charter schools as a possible tool for improving public education in Athens. Read more...
       
    8. Implement a Charter Montessori School. Read more...
       
    9. Explore the possibility of a Bi-Lingual charter school. Read more...
       
    10. Create a 3 yrs. to first grade community school that would grow through fifth grade. The school would focus on developing language and would be operated as a community charter school. Read more...
       
    11. Look at Magnet Schools, with a focus on parental involvement, as an option as we seek new public education solutions. Read more...
       
    12. Implement a comprehensive remedial reading program, with comprehensive teacher training, for all students beginning in fourth grade who do not meet CRCT expectations. Recommended comprehensive programs include Corrective Reading, Wilson, and Language!. Read more...
       
    13. Implement a comprehensive (elementary through high school) Junior Achievement Program in Clarke County. Read more...
       
    14. Seek web-focused entrepreneurship opportunities in order to introduce students to tap into the global economy. Read more...
       
    15. Explore opportunities to improve the Juvenile Justice System and Criminal Justice System as they relate to education and poverty. Read more...
       
    16. Study the reasons why UGA education graduates choose to stay in Athens or go elsewhere. Read more...
       
    17. Explore Teach For America as a possible source for teachers in Clarke County. Read more...
       
    18. Develop incentives to recruit and retain high quality teachers in Athens Clarke County. Read more...
       
    19. Explore the merits of using the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education's strategic planning process for school improvement (www.GPEE.org) as a possible tool to guide our strategic planning efforts, incorporating the education /workforce development recommendations derived through the PPA initiative. Read more...
       
    20. In career development programs, use GACollege411.org as a career development/ management tool, beginning no later than the middle school grades. Note that plans to further expand the scope of GACollege411.org are being considered, and, eventually, this could be used to by all students as soon as they enter school and maintained indefinitely, facilitating a life-long learning process. Read more...
       
    21. Develop a Boarding School to serve students who are at-risk of dropping out of school. Read more...
       
    22. Explore vouchers as a means of reallocating public education dollars. Read more...
       
    23. Have an open enrollment policy in public universities for Georgia high school graduates. Read more...
       
    24. Provide education programs and counseling to prison/jail inmates. Read more...
       
    25. Incorporate Green Principles as new schools are built in Athens. Read more...
       

    Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:

    1. To aggressively confront negative/destructive icons, images and life-style choices that lead to the adoption of behaviors and mindsets that discourage personal responsibility, perseverance, self-discipline, good citizenship, respect for self and others, and a recognition of the importance of education. This recommendation would include an education program focusing on the advantages of working hard in school, waiting to have children after marriage, staying away from drugs, etc. In comparison, statistical material focusing on the results of poor life choices including the effects of father absent homes would also be made available. Churches, schools, community groups, and individual role models could work together to develop programs and strategies to implement this recommendation. Read more...
       
  • Career Development
    [ Print Version of All Career Development Recommendations ]

    1. Provide ACC students with broader exposure to career and college choices at an earlier (i.e. elementary school) age. Read more...

    Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:

    1. Ensure all ACC students have access to post secondary education. Read more...
       
    2. Develop a comprehensive vo-tech, life skills, career development program for all students starting at an early age. An emphasis would be placed on the Chamber playing a proactive role and empowering employers to develop programs to address real workforce needs. Read more...
       
    3. Provide more workforce planning for students with employers coming into the classrooms as well as providing real work internships. Read more...
       
    4. Provide a comprehensive Career Pathways program in our schools which would include collaboration with employers to provide apprenticeship opportunities for students. Read more...
       
  • K - 12
    [ Print Version of All K - 12 Recommendations ]

    1. Provide professional learning that promotes reflective practice and cultural proficiency to help educators connect diverse students and families to learning. Read more...
       
    2. Implement a Teacher/Mentoring Program. Read more...
       
    3. Provide professional learning that would encourage teachers getting advanced degrees as well as support with behavior management strategies. Read more...
       
    4. The faculty of Athens Clarke County Schools be solicited for a wide-ranging list of the critical needs as to what these teachers need to do their teaching jobs better. Read more...
       
    5. Develop a supportive administration to help increase the longevity of teachers in Athens. Read more...
       
    6. Develop a nurturing environment in Clarke County for young children and their families. Read more...
       
    7. (1) Increase assistance for students under the current Five Graduation Test Requirement, and (2) Work to level the playing field between Georgia and other states. Read more...
       
    8. Lobby the legislature to reduce the number of graduation tests. Read more...
       
    9. Secure permanent funding to support after-school and summer programs so parents don't have to pay the $6/per day/per child fee, which prohibits many struggling students from getting the extra instructional time they need. Read more...
       
    10. Secure permanent funding to support community based and other after-school and summer programs such as The Athens Tutorial Program so parents don't have to pay the $6/per day/per child fee, which prohibits many struggling students from getting the extra instructional time they need. The Athens Tutorial Program has provided free after-school community-based tutorial services for low-income at-risk students for the past twenty-five years. Read more...
       
    11. Develop a partnership between the Clarke County School District, Athens Clarke County Regional Library, and UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication to create "catch-up and keep-up" curricula that will bridge one school year with the next. These video programs will be shown on Channel 16 during summers. Read more...
       
    12. All school students of Athens Clarke County School System wear uniforms consisting of khaki slacks or skirts and knit shirts with collars in white or yellow or blue. Read more...
       
    13. Develop K-12 reading intervention strategies that work. Read more...
       
    14. Every student in Athens/Clarke County schools should participate in high quality service-learning each year as an integral part of his/her education experience. The Clarke County Community should partner with the Clarke county schools in identifying topics and issues that students can work on while using their academic learning to help make improvements in our town. To do this well, service learning must be incorporated into the curriculum via school board policy, financial and instructional support, ongoing professional development, and partnerships with community agencies. Read more...
       
    15. Provide Peer-Tutoring as a component of service learning. Read more...
       
    16. Work with the Public Library System to expand its role in providing support for public education. Read more...
       
    17. Survey counselors and school personnel to determine what type of kid drops out of school; also survey graduates to find out what motivated them to finish. Read more...
       
    18. UGA College of Education analyze the dropout rate/pattern in Athens Clarke County schools. Read more...
       
    19. Rethink and Revamp retained classes. Read more...
       
    20. Provide on-going communication with families on how they can help their children with schooling. Read more...
       
    21. Involve students in "grassroots" efforts to develop/implement recommendations -- give them a venue to use their schooling (i.e. applied learning). Read more...
       
    22. Implement a Big Sister/Big Brother Program in High School. Read more...
       
    23. Develop a broader scope of positive leisure activities for children (i.e. chess, checkers, tennis, golf, photography, bee-keeping, woodworking, cooking, shop, etc.) Read more...
       
    24. Encourage perfect attendance by providing a car (by lottery) to a student who achieves this goal. Read more...
       

    Related recommendation from other working sessions/website:

    1. Partners for a Prosperous Athens consider setting up Plaza Comunitaria's in several locations in Athens, in addition to the one now functioning in Pinewood. Read more...
       
    2. Support efforts by the Clarke County Parent Advisory Board to pursue cost effective efforts to provide Drivers Education for eligible (16 years old and above) students in Clarke County. Read more...
       
    3. Offer the option of participation in the Teacher Retirement System to classified plant services and other staff. Read more...
       
    4. Utilize the PPA Education Committee to assist and work collaboratively with the co-conveners, PPA committees and other participating community members and organizations in the development of implementation and evaluation strategies for adopted recommendations. Read more...
       
    5. Align PPA recommendations, implementation and evaluation strategies with the District Continuous Improvement Plan, CCSD Improvement Plan, CCSD Multicultural Task Force Recommendations, and other organizational evaluations. Read more...
       
  • Adult Education/Cont. Ed.
    [ Print Version of All Adult Education/Cont. Ed. Recommendations ]

    1. Conduct a community-wide needs assessment to determine the educational needs of adults and out of school youth in Athens Clarke County. Read more...
       
    2. Conduct a survey of agencies and services currently being provided to address the educational needs of adults in Athens Clarke County. Read more...
       
    3. Create a community literacy organization, staffed by a paid coordinator, that brings together civic, government, educational, faith-based, and business leadership for the purpose of improving the community's adult literacy and education attainment levels. Read more...
       
    4. Align Adult Education goals with Workforce goals, guided by the Career Pathway model of creating avenues to better jobs. Read more...
       

    Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:
     

    1. PPA would support the Adult Literacy Council in its efforts to have Athens become a Certified Literate Community. Read more...
       
    2. PPA would support efforts to coordinate adult education programs in Athens and encourage a coordinated strategy which would include collaboration with Athens Tech, the Adult Literacy Council, Clarke County School System, Athens Clarke County Government, University of Georgia, and the Department of Labor. This strategy would include clearly defined goals. Read more...
       
  • Mentoring
    [ Print Version of All Mentoring Recommendations ]

    1. Pursue a Family Mentoring Program to Address the Holistic Needs of a Family. Read more...
       
    2. Develop a Volunteer Center to provide support for quality training, coordination, recruitment, and communication for mentoring and other volunteer agencies in Athens and surrounding areas. Read more...
       
    3. Involve businesses in mentoring students. Read more...
       
  • Community/Capacity Building Recommendations
    [ Print Version of All Community/Capacity Building Recommendations ]

    1. Develop leadership programs at the grassroots level to build leadership among parents and communities. Work with existing organizations such as the YMCA, Chamber, Community Centers, etc. This leadership focus would be to achieve a shared vision among all community stakeholders. Read more...
       
    2. Develop programs that focus on cultural awareness and understanding of our different cultures in Athens. Read more...
       
    3. Register 18 year olds to vote when they register for Selective Service. Read more...

     


Physical & Mental Health
[ Print Version of All Physical & Mental Health ]

  1. Increase funding for existing primary and specialty medical services through:
    1. Seeking alternative funding and grants with the help of MPA students, nonprofit resource center, Grant Station, etc.
    2. Working to increase State funding for mental health services
    3. Moving hospital dollars towards local clinics to support wellness visits and other care to limit unnecessary emergency room care (Mercy Clinic, Nurses' Clinic Neighborhood Health Clinic, Palm Housing Recovery Center, and Others)
    4. Supporting Neighborhood Health Center's Federally Qualified Health Center grant
    5. Creating a local pooled health insurance policy for small businesses to offer their employees
    6. Addressing the disparity in public health nurse salaries through scholarships, loan forgiveness and other incentives

    Read more...
     

  2. Address gaps in primary and specialty health medical services by:
    1. Establishing a one-stop clinic providing primary care, dental care, mental health, pharmacy and physical/occupation therapy services, including case management, that is open generous hours and convenient to public transit
    2. Creating a community outreach and education program and a Mobile Health Clinic for the uninsured and underinsured
    3. Utilizing a "Health SPLOST" for capital investments
    4. Seeking volunteers to assist in local clinics (the use of volunteers can help extend limited funding)

    Read more...
     

  3. Establish an Internet referral/resource center including information gathered by L.E.A.D. Athens survey.
    1. include information gathered by Lead Athens survey

    Read more...
     

  4. Reduce incidence of Teen Pregnancy and improve outcomes through:
    1. Gain commitment of PPA Co-Conveners to 1) research to understand the problem and scope of teen pregnancy in Clarke County, 2) evaluate, research, and develop effective sex education for teens in grades 6 through 12, and 3) Develop and implement methods to aid in the prevention of repeat teen pregnancy
    2. Establish educational activities that 1) develop self-esteem, self-respect, dignity, and leadership, 2) train parents on sex education for children, and 3) inform the community about the number of teen pregnancies in Clarke County relative to the district, Georgia, US and Europe by the use of a diagram. Plus a call for community participation to address the problem.
    3. Allow teen's greater access to pregnancy prevention services by 1) setting up and operating teen health clinics adjacent to high schools, 2) granting access to family planning clinics during school hours, and 3) providing public health educators in each of the county's schools.
    4. Provide access to currently available resources by 1) establishing a protocol to identify pregnant and parenting teens in schools, 2) setting up a process to provide students the needed information on school policies and schedule referrals, 3) allowing students to access these resources during school hours when necessary, and 4) Attaching Early Learning Centers to all public high schools.

    Read more...


Housing & Transportation

  • Affordable Housing
    [ Print Version of All Affordable Housing Recommendations ]

    1. Affordable housing should be dispersed throughout the community, not concentrated in a few areas. Neighborhoods should be integrated with different house and unit sizes, types, and prices (to rent and buy), to provide opportunities for housing choice throughout the community. At the same time, to be truly affordable for those at the lowest income levels, housing must be accessible by public transportation. Read more...

      Strategies:
       

      • Athens-Clarke County Comprehensive Land Use Plan should place an emphasis on housing choice and opportunity for all residents of Athens.
      • ACC should encourage the development of mixed-income and mixed-use neighborhoods through all available means, including zoning, development standards, tax policies and planning policies.
      • Use inclusionary zoning and density bonuses to entice developers to build affordable rental and homeownership units.
      • Allow for accessory uses, granny flats, in-law suites, mixed-use, mixed-income housing to create more appropriate housing choices.
      • Develop a fast track planning approval process for developments creating housing that is affordable for low to moderate income residents.
      • Place limitations on construction of new high-end apartment complexes to help keep existing apartment complexes from falling into disrepair. Increase the number of units reserved for income-eligible families and individuals within existing and new apartment buildings.
      • Encourage the redevelopment of existing apartment complexes by providing incentives.
      • Re-examine the Definition of Family Ordinance.
      • Protect existing lower-income, elderly homeowners from losing their homes by providing a targeted property-tax freeze or other means to slow gentrification.
    2. Our community should provide adequate funds to ensure that our Affordable Housing needs are met for the entire housing continuum from rental to homeownership. ACC should create a flexible, dedicated Affordable Housing Fund that will be funded locally through appropriations from the general budget. This fund could be supplemented by a variety of methods including voluntary citizen donations, initiatives such as a check-off donation on utility bills, interest on real estate related escrow accounts, etc. Read more...
       
    3. ACC and local nonprofit housing providers should develop a comprehensive housing strategy to increase homeownership among families with low to moderate incomes. A comprehensive strategy must take into account that different families are starting at different points on the housing spectrum, and a wide variety of programs is needed to help them progress while allowing them to live in safe, decent affordable housing now. These include affordable rentals; limited-equity, permanently affordable home ownership opportunities; affordable open-market home ownership opportunities; and programs to help families with low to moderate incomes who already own homes retain them. Access to public transportation must be considered as part of the affordability equation. Read more...

      Strategies:
       

      • ACC and local nonprofit housing providers should ensure an adequate supply of affordable rental housing for those for whom homeownership is not yet a viable option.
      • ACC should protect existing affordable housing stock by supporting a rehab program for elderly and low-income homeowners.
      • Use the Community Land Trust Model to develop a significant percentage new affordable housing that remains permanently affordable.
      • ACC should create a Land Bank for future affordable housing. County surplus property should be used for affordable housing when appropriate.
      • Large employers should help increase homeownership by providing down payment assistance or matching funds for their employees.
      • Residents of Athens-Clarke County must make the commitment to accept their neighbors.
      • Bankers and lenders must make a commitment to support the underserved by utilizing available loan programs to assist lower income, first-time homebuyers.
         
    4. ACC, local nonprofit service providers, and the other PPA conveners should develop a comprehensive affordable housing marketing and education plan. The goals of this program should include informing residents about affordable housing opportunities and services and informing the community at large about affordable housing issues. Read more...
       
    5. Our county government, the other PPA partners, and the general public should take active steps to support the creation and retention of affordable housing. Read more...
       
  • Transportation
    [ Print Version of All Transporation Recommendations ]

    1. Increase the capacity of Athens Transit within Athens-Clarke County. Athens Transit does a good job of providing public transportation with the resources it has, but those resources are not sufficient to allow it to fully meet the needs of those who depend upon it as their sole means of transportation. Athens Transit needs additional resources to allow it to:
      • Increase hours, extent, and frequency of The Bus (general fixed-route service) to 24 hour per day, 7 days per week.
      • Increase the number of available vans and drivers for The Lift (on-demand service for people with disabilities) and expand coverage times and area.
      • Expand county-wide routes (The Link).
      • Increase marketing and advertising of routes, services, etc. Create, post at bus stops, and distribute comprehensive route map and schedule.
      • Make the Multi-Modal center more accessible to downtown. It is currently difficult for elderly people and those with disabilities to get to downtown locations from the Multi-Modal Center.
      • Be affordable to those with low incomes.

      Read more...
       

    2. Establish a regional public transportation system. Expanding the geographical scope of public transportation to include our neighboring counties, as well as access to the Atlanta area, would expand the economic opportunities of those who rely on public transportation to get to work, shopping, and services. Read more...
       
    3. Increase safety and infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. For some low-income Athenians, walking or biking are their only means of transportation. Read more...
       
    4. Explore ways to make local taxi service more affordable to low income families. Read more...
       
    5. Explore other innovative alternatives to individual automobile ownership (i.e. car-sharing, van pools, low-cost ownership programs, etc.). Read more...
       
    6. UGA should establish a graduate-level interdisciplinary service learning course to provide support for PPA committees as they continue to explore solutions to Athens-Clarke County's poverty problem. Read more...
       
  • Special Populations
    [ Print Version of All Special Populations Recommendations ]

    1. Create a Housemate Match Service for older adults and people with disabilities. Read more...
       
    2. Support the conversion of local manufactured housing parks into resident controlled parks, including support for the People of Hope, Inc. program. Read more...
       
    3. Create a Small Houses program to support transitioning the Homeless into permanent housing. An organization, akin to Habitat for Humanity and Hands on Athens, will identify projects, perform new construction and rehabs, and coordinate volunteers and sponsorship to provide shelter for the immediate needs of homeless families and individuals in Athens and to provide services for their transition into a safe and stable place to live. The families and individuals will be connected to the web of existing service providers. This program will include the creation of a matching list web site to provide a connection point between people who have things to give, i.e. volunteer hours, donations, mentoring / training, and household items, with those who have specific needs. Read more...
       
    4. Create one-stop-shop for immigrant and ESL translated information on rights when buying a site-built house or manufactured home, borrowing money, seeking a mortgage, opening a bank account, getting an ITIN, or accessing the building permit process for rehabbing manufactured homes and dilapidated structures.Read more...
       
    5. Expand a home repair program for older adults and people with disabilities. Youth Build should be explored for the Athens community. Read more...
       
    6. Create a housing program with support services for formerly incarcerated individuals. Read more...
       
    7. Have UGA create a Community Housing Resource Assistance Center (both a website and physical location) for information including an:
      1. Inventory of Affordable Rental and Homeownership opportunities
      2. Inventory of Special Assistance programs
      3. Inventory of Accessible dwellings for people with disabilities
         

      Read more...
       

    8. Promote the construction and retro-fitting of homes to be accessible and visitable for people with disabilities. Create incentive for contractors, re-modelers, or builders to build accessibility features as they build or re-model. Read more...
       
    9. If the Navy School is used for residential development, require that a percentage be set aside as affordable, accessible, and visitable housing. Read more...

     


Dependent Care
[ Print Version of All Dependent Care Recommendations ]

  1. In order to meet the growing needs of caregivers for elderly and developmentally disabled adults, the dependent care committee recommends that an outreach and education program be implemented to train individuals living in Athens Clarke County with an income of no more than 150% of the federal poverty line to become Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA). Read more...
    1. This recommendation seeks to address the needs of the ACC community in three ways and help break the cycle of poverty in three ways.
      1. This program provides a marketable skill for people living at or near poverty.
      2. This program provides increased availability of skilled caregivers who can provide respite for persons providing dependent care to elders or disabled adults.
      3. This program decreases the likelihood that the dependent caregiver will need to reduce her or his own work hours (a pattern that can place the caregiver at increased risk for impoverishment).
         
    2. This recommendation will allow dependent caregivers to receive emergency care and regularly scheduled respite care because it provides training specifically for elders and adults with disabilities.
       
  2. There are needs in our adult dependent care community such as lawn care, home repair, transportation, and meal preparation that can not be fulfilled using traditional methods. Hence, there needs to be a system by which these everyday needs can be filled without overlapping with already existing services. We propose the development and implementation of a time/service barter system to meet these needs. Read more...


Learning Community Recommendations

Service Providers
[ Print Version of All Service Provider Recommendations ]

  1. Develop and implement a community wide strategic planning, funding, implementation, and evaluation process to assure all community members have access to resources and opportunities for success. Read more...
     
  2. All funding and service delivery organizations prioritize their funding (including HED, United Way, foundation support, private charities, government funding, etc.) to implement this strategic plan and service delivery systems will focus their resources to support implementation of this strategic plan. Read more...
     
  3. To organize a Community Foundation in Athens to provide donors with the opportunity to achieve their charitable goals while facilitating strategic community growth. This Community Foundation would initially target the top two priorities as indicated from the Partners For A Prosperous Athens. Read more...
     
  4. To develop a comprehensive communication strategy among service providers, their clients, and the community through shared information, infrastructure, and other resources. Read more...

    Initial Priorities being:
     

    • support creation of comprehensive Volunteer Center,
    • have a "pink" section in the phone book for service providers divided by service type,
    • have a single location for information,
    • create a common intake form,
    • have an easily searchable database whose site could become a common homepage for local service providers,
    • tie this with a Community Foundation to ensure broad participation from service providers.
       
  5. We recommend that service providers develop an organized grassroots and political advocacy agenda in order to help assure community support and adequate funding. Read more...
     
  6. A culture of competitiveness, duplication, inefficiency, donor fatigue and political wrangling has been created by the way service providers have to compete to raise funds locally. One entity needs to be created to build the capacity of all local service providers; help service providers seek funding collectively; coordinate joint planning for CDBG, HOME, and United Way funds; and give service providers a voice in local funding decisions. Read more...

Related recommendations from other working sessions/website:

  1. Develop a comprehensive volunteer program to strategically use volunteers throughout the community. To effectively implement this recommendation the appropriate infrastructure would be developed to help assure quality volunteer support. Read more...
     
  2. Implement a summit for service clubs (i.e. Kiwanis, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.). Read more...
     
  3. Implement customer friendly, one-stop resource centers to coordinate services for individuals and families, allowing more resources (including staffing) to be used for direct services to the people who need them. Working with Community Connection-211, services to be coordinated and collaborative would include both public (DFCS, Department of Labor, Public Health, Advantage, School District early learning and other programs, Athens Tech, et al.) and private (Healthy Families, Athens Neighborhood Health Center, Catholic Social Services, mentoring, homeless services, et al.). Read more...

GOING FORWARD: Advice from PPA to the Steering Committee
[ Print Version of PPA Advice ]

These recommendations were made during the December 4th PPA closing forum, moderated by Judge Jones.

  1. Co-Conveners, and other community groups and individuals must work together if recommendations will be implemented successfully. Read more...
     
  2. Help to assure that recommendations are developed and pursued in a timely manner and that we pursue 1, 3, and 5 year goals. Read more...
     
  3. Need to make sure there is a process for evaluating the implementation of recommendations. (We need to keep track of what gets done and modify them as we find out what works and what doesn't work.) Read more...
     
  4. We need to make sure that the recommendations check out with the perceptions and actual needs of people in poverty. We need to check to see if it works or meet their needs. (Community Conversations in March) Read more...
     
  5. Make sure we look at comprehensive reform. We want persons in poverty to "graduate" from poverty and then become mentors to others. We cannot simply look at "health" solutions, but comprehensive solutions. Read more...
     
  6. Study the impact of race, gender, ability, class, and sexuality as they relate to poverty and our community. Read more...
     
  7. Look at the HED web-site as a tool to help with strategic planning of recommendations. Read more...
     
  8. Develop a procedure for allowing groups to present their recommendations to the Steering Committee. Read more...