CSC Broward Reauthorization Basics

What is reauthorization?
A 2010 state law requires all Childrens Services Councils to go before the voters for reauthorization. Reauthorization
simply allows the Childrens Services Council of Broward County to continue operating as it has since being created
by the voters, in 2000.
When will the reauthorization vote take place?
Reauthorization will be on the general election ballot on Nov. 4, 2014.
Who will vote on the reauthorization?
All registered voters in Broward County are eligible to vote on reauthorization.
What is the ballot language?
"Shall the Childrens Services Council of Broward County, which provides early learning and reading skills, after school
programs, developmental health, preventive, and other childrens support services in Broward County, be reauthorized
to continue in existence as a district with voter-approved taxing authority, with independent oversight and
accountability as required by law, and shall not subsequently be subject to reauthorization by referendum.
What is the Childrens Services Council of Broward County doing to get the voters approval?
State law prohibits the Childrens Services Council of Broward County and its staff from spending public funds on
political advertising to advocate for the reauthorization. Therefore, the Childrens Services Council of Broward County
and its staff will not be involved on work time, nor will its resources be used, to gain voters approval. We will continue
our ongoing education and awareness campaigns and community outreach efforts about our services. We also will
continue to serve as a source of information for residents who need to know more about the work, worth and impact of
the Childrens Services Council of Broward County.
How will the campaign for reauthorization be organized?
Residents of Broward County who support our work have organized a private campaign to advocate for
reauthorization.
What does Childrens Services Council of Broward County do?
The Childrens Services Council of Broward County provides the leadership, advocacy and resources necessary to
enhance childrens lives and empower them to become responsible, productive adults through collaborative planning
and a continuum of quality care. About 150,000 children annually receive service funded by the Childrens Services
Council of Broward County and delivered by over 100 proven non-proft agencies and organizations.
What is the Childrens Services Councils tax rate?
The property tax rate for the Childrens Services Council of Broward County is set at .4882 per $1,000 of tax
valuation for the 2014-2015 fscal year. The maximum rate allowed is .5 mill, but the Childrens Services Council of
Broward County has never set the rate that high. The reauthorization vote is not a new tax.
Has the Childrens Services Council of Broward County been on the ballot before?
The Childrens Services Council of Broward County was created by Broward County voters in September 2000, and
began operating in October 2001.
What will happen if Childrens Services Council of Broward County isnt reauthorized?
More than $65 million in funding to approximately 150 programs delivered by over 100 agencies will be cut off in 2015,
with no other discernible source of funding to replace it, if the voters of Broward do not reauthorize the existence of the
Childrens Services Council of Broward County.
The loss of Childrens Services Council of Broward County would eliminate at least 2,300 jobs fully funded by the
Childrens Services Council of Broward County. Hundredspotentially thousandsof other jobs could be affected
indirectly if working parents of thousands of children and youth currently receiving Childrens Services Council of
Broward County support for pre-school and afterschool programs lose access to those programs.
Are there other Childrens Services Councils in the state?
There are seven other independent Childrens Services Councils, though some have different names. They exist in
Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Are the other Childrens Services Councils also on the ballot?
Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties are required to be on the ballot for reauthorization in 2014. Palm Beach
County has also placed reauthorization on its ballot for 2014. Hillsborough and Pinellas will be on the ballot in 2016.
Miami-Dade County, where the organization is named The Childrens Trust, has until 2020 for reauthorization.
If I have questions or concerns
not addressed here, what should I do?
Questions about the Childrens Services Council of
Broward County, what we do, why and how we do it,
and the value it brings to the community should be
addressed to Chief Communications Offcer,
Sandra Bernard-Bastien,
sbernard@cscbroward.org, 954-377-1000.
The Childrens Services Council of Broward County
cannot respond to questions about the campaign.
A private group supporting reauthorization, called
Citizens for Browards Children, can be reached at
info@citizensforbrowardschildren.com, 6805 W.
Commercial Blvd, Box 291, Tamarac, FL 33319.



Budget for Program Services by
Goal FY 12/13


Goal Area Description Amount % # Served
Out of
School Time
Programs provide safe, positive environments and
relationships for school children from economically-
disadvantaged families. High-quality and enriching
activities expose children to art and culture, science and
community service while boosting academic achievement
and social and physical development.
$11,507,680 20% 7,996
Family
Strengthening
Programs provide county-wide collaborative and
innovative programming that reach families at risk for
child abuse and neglect, families at risk for out of home
placement, and families in crisis. Programs also provide
free Earned Income Tax Assistance (EITC) and provide
food to decrease childrens hunger.
$9,767,646 17%
2,783 families
with multiple
children
11, 519 for EITC
and hunger
services
Physical &
Behavioral
Needs
Programs provide safe, positive environments and
relationships for children and youth with physical,
developmental and behavioral needs that enhances
academic achievement and social development. Programs
prepare teens with disabilities for independence. CSC
funds a Special Needs Hotline and website for parents
with special needs children at 2-1-1 Broward.
$9,732,320 17%
1,863 children
served
3,239 calls
12,480 web
hits*

Delinquency
Prevention &
Diversion

Programs incorporate family support services, counseling,
youth development activities, community service and
restitution to divert low-risk juvenile offenders from the
delinquency system. Programs provide highly-structured
civil citation and diversion alternatives to protect public
safety and decrease likelihood of re-offending.
$9,910,711 18% 9,854
School
Readiness &
Early Education
Programs provide subsidized child care for low-income
families & strengthen current Early Care and Education
$7,306,189 13% 3,225
Goal Area Description Amount % # Served
programming quality. Afterschool at Your Library program
serves children in 11 Broward libraries.
Maternal &
Child Health
Programs include efforts to ensure a continuum of
maternal and child health services within the community
and provide in-home/ out of home support to address the
risks associated with maternal depression, promoting
maternal/child bonding, increase parenting skills and
reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and
neglect.
$2,592,318 5% 640
Physical
Health
Programs include School Health, SWIM Central water
safety lessons and prevention training regarding domestic
violence.
$2,212,276 4% 105, 613
Independent
Living
Programs promote the development of life, academic, and
employability skills to help youth transition successfully
out of foster care and into healthy young adulthood.
$1,620,200 3% 366
Public
Awareness &
Advocacy
CSC promotes awareness about our funded programs and
creates visibility for childrens issues in a cost effective
manner which includes: a staff-produced television show,
radio campaigns, print media (paid and in-kind), social
media presence, email blasts and a consistent presence at
communitywide events and the creation of community-
wide campaigns targeting important issues like Safe Sleep,
Look Before You Lock, Back to School and Broward Aware.
$739,807 1%
31 organizations
150 events
Reaching over
400k residents*
Agency
Capacity &
Training
The Childrens Services Council is committed to assisting
all children and family-serving agencies meet their full
potential by offering assistance to strengthen staff
performance and organizational development, as well as
mini-grants, are available in several ways from the CSC
that all contribute to organizational health and high
performance.
$594,666 1%
2,158 training
participants*
Seamless
System of Care
CSC funding supports 2-1-1 Broward Information and
Referral general population hotline. CSC is the backbone
organization for the Broward Childrens Strategic Plan
which convenes nearly 200 child and family serving
agency partners through over 40 committees.
$517,739 1%
97,594 calls*
118,895 web
hits*
FY 12/13 Total

147,098 children and families served
*not included in the total