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Special Programs
Our Children Now!
Our Children Now! is the umbrella under which all of children and family initiatives of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) are included. Our Children Now! funds projects that provide long-term solutions to the challenges faced by children, youth and families in the Virgin Islands. The project sets goals for the improvement of child well being, and brings parents and low-income members of the community together as full partners in problem solving and decision making.
KIDS COUNT
Under the leadership of CFVI, the U.S. Virgin Islands became the first territory to participate in KIDS COUNT, a national effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to measure the well being of children in the U.S. KIDS COUNT state participants and the USVI provide annual reports which document the status and trends to children in key areas such as child poverty levels, teen birth rates, dropout and unemployment rates, juvenile violent crime, child abuse and neglect, and infant mortality.
In October 2000, CFVI produced the first KIDS COUNT Data Book for the Virgin Islands, which revealed alarming trends in the numbers of children reared in single parent families, an increasing infant mortality rate, and the high poverty rate among children. The 2003 KIDS COUNT data book was released in December in conjunction with Kids Count Week and a series of activities designed to generate community-wide discussion on how to improve the status of Virgin Islands youth. Community briefings and forums were held on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
The Virgin Islands KIDS COUNT Data Book is published by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands in partnership with the Eastern Caribbean Center of the University of the Virgin Islands, and the Virgin Islands government departments of education, human services, and police.
Fatherhood Collaborative
Each June, hundreds of men throughout the community gather together in private homes, business offices, restaurants and other locations to talk about the importance of fathers in the lives of children. Known as "Fathers Night Out," these meetings are a key part of CFVI's Fatherhood Collaborative.
CFVI began the Fatherhood Collaborative in 1998 to foster community conversation about responsible fatherhood and the crucial role fathers play in the lives of Virgin Islands children. The men-fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, godfathers-engage in frank and honest discussions about the challenges of fatherhood and probe strategies for more effective parenting.
CFVI started the initiative as a result of troubling figures showing an increase in the numbers of single parent families headed by women.
Along with discussion and support groups, the Fatherhood Collaborative sponsors recreational outing for dads and their children, media programs and visits by national figures in the fatherhood movement. CFVI hosted visits by Ronald Mincy of Columbia University, one of the founders of the national fatherhood movement, and by nationally syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts, author of the book Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood.
CFVI Mini-Grant
CFVI mini-grants are in keeping with the foundation's mission to support innovative programs that enhance the educational, physical, social, cultural and environmental well being of children, youth and families in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each year the Foundation solicits applications for mini-grant funding from schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Funding priority is given to proposals where a caring/mentoring relationship between a young person and an adult is inherent in the execution of the project.
Mini-grants range from $1,000 to $250, and fund a wide variety of programs and projects. In most instances the grants will help to purchase tools, books, materials and supplies to enable committed volunteers to provide meaningful activities for our youth.
Rapid Response Fund
A generous donation from the West Indian Company established the Rapid Response Fund at the Community Foundation. In 2003, 68 grants had been distributed to families faced with financial emergencies. Money has been granted to families for the purchase of medical prescriptions, for emergency travel, for appliances such as refrigerators and stoves, to repair vehicles, to assist with rental payments and other needs.
Technical Assistance Program
Helping local nonprofit organizations increase their effectiveness in serving children, youth and families is a key part of the CFVI mission. In light of that, CFVI has developed a Community Technical Assistance Program (TAP), to provide providing a training and support to service providers in the Virgin Islands. Forums sponsored by TAP have featured national experts in such areas as education reform, violence prevention, economic development, community organization, parenting, personal finance, and message development for non-profit organizations.
Laws of Life
Laws of Life is funded though the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI). The program is a national initiative created by The John Templeton Foundation and based on the core values and ideals by which people live - the universal "laws" that transcend religions, cultures, and national borders. The "Laws of Life" Essay Contest is conducted in high schools throughout the country.
As students begin the process of writing their essays, they must identify the "laws of life" that mean the most to them, and explain their choices through the experiences they have had, the lessons they have learned, and the people who have served as examples to them.
Directory of Community Services
Each year CFVI publishes the Community Services Directory to assist the public in locating social service providers. The directory lists names, addresses, and phone numbers for community agencies in the Virgin Islands. CFVI distributes the directory to nonprofit organizations and to the general public via publication in the Innovative Telephone Book.
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