PROGRAM MISSION: To create a vibrant and enjoyable community by providing high quality recreation services for all and create a caring environment that fosters opportunities for relationship building and individual enrichment

Community Services provides specialized focus on building a better sense of community with an emphasis on inclusion among senior adults, teens, and persons with disabilities. Strategic initiatives include implementing comprehensive programs for senior adults that promote successful aging and independence; and design and implement specialized services for individuals who have or are at increased/higher risk for physical, social, cognitive/mental challenges. This unit shares the initiative to design and implement programs that reflect the "Asset-building" framework for youth and has a specific asset-building focus with youth through the Office for Teens and the Therapeutic Recreation Office. A collaborative strategy with the Community Recreation Service Areas, schools, and social service agencies helps to identify, develop, and implement prevention and intervention strategies, programs and training. Outcomes are measured by pre and post participant tests for knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior; trained observation; and self-reporting benefits of participation as part of program evaluation.

• The Office of Senior Adult Programs (OSAP) encompasses the former Department of Human Services (DHS) senior center programs, senior centers and neighborhood activity centers. OSAP achieves its goal through recreation programs and activities that have a strong influence on the prevention of premature aging and are a primary vehicle to the enhancement and promotion of successful aging. Healthy lifestyle choices supporting optimum physical and mental well being in later life describe successful aging. Research identifies successful aging with engagement with life, (socialization and meaningful involvements), stimulating physical and cognitive functioning (healthy bodies and healthy minds), and avoiding disease through healthy lifestyle choices (exercise habits, fun and good nutrition).

• The Office for Teens (OFT) strategic initiative is to design and implement programs and opportunities that reflect the "Asset-building" framework for youth. Their goal is to promote and produce positive developmental opportunities for adolescents and their families by creating options for healthy engagement and coordinating with other youth service providers, community groups and youth. Providing constructive alternatives for youth that will mitigate high risk behaviors providing services for teens that promote positive participation, decision-making, leadership and healthy leisure choices with a focus on development of social, physical, and cognitive skills.

• Therapeutic Recreation-Prevention Intervention's strategic initiative is to design and implement specialized services for individuals who have or are at increased risk for physical, social, cognitive/mental challenges. Their goal is to facilitate the acquisition, development or maintenance of a variety of functional leisure skills and to meet the recreation and leisure needs of youth, teens and adults with mental, emotional and physical disabilities.

• The Office of Volunteer Services (OVS) mission is to encourage, define and organize challenging volunteer opportunities for PRCR. Their goal is to provide opportunities for volunteers to enhance civic engagement through participating in, contributing to and benefiting from the life of the community. OVS recruits, trains, evaluates and places about 7,500 volunteers in the Department annually. This includes providing orientation and training for approximately 175 youth, ages 12 through 18, as volunteer assistants in various department summer programs. The OVS also promotes and monitors the Adopt-A-Park Program. Volunteer Services has been moved to Community Services to strengthen the alignment with other offices that support department wide initiatives (Teens, Seniors, and Therapeutic Recreation–Prevention Intervention)

SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Increase in personnel is due to normal step increases and 0.6 FTE and the body of work for Office of Volunteer Services transferred from Planning and Administration Program for better organizational alignment.

• Increase in non-personnel is primarily due to the transfer from Department of Human Services to DPRCR for the Senior Adult Center transportation ($103,383) and meals programs ($86,304), Office of Volunteer Services program transfer ($2,600), and rent for Culpepper Gardens Senior Center ($1,800).

• Increase in revenue is due to the transfer from Department of Human Services to DPRCR for the Senior Adult Center transportation ($16,000) and meals programs ($72,533).

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Office of Senior Adult Programs

Office for Teens

• According to the most recent data reported by the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families from the asset survey administered to youth in Arlington in spring of 2003. 32% of youth identified the social competency of planning and decision making; Creative activities 23% and spending time in youth programs 61%; Pro-social interpersonal competence and resistance skills 45%; and cultural competence at 51%.

Therapeutic Recreation-Prevention Intervention

• The number of individuals with special needs requesting special assistance services to participate in general recreation programs can fluctuate from year to year.

Volunteer Services

• Some measures identified above are new and no historical data is available. Data collections for these performance measures will commence in FY 2005.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• The REACH (Recreation, Education, and Access and Inclusion, Community Building, and Health) Senior Adult program at Arlington Mill is in its seventh year of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The four-day per week program serves 75 low-to-moderate income senior adults in the Columbia Heights West neighborhood strategy area. If CDBG funding ends, there will be a need for County funding.