The Escambia Children's Trust Board of Directors approved funding of 19 out-of-school time programs at their regular meeting on February 14, 2023. The $5,104,482 in grants will provide out-of-school time programming for more than 5,000 children and youth across Escambia County over the next three years. The selected grantees are as follows:

• Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast
• Children's Home Society
• Dixon School of Arts and Sciences
• Urban Development Center
• Valerie's House Pensacola
• Omega Lamplighters
• Central Gulf Coast Freedom Schools
• Covenant Care
• Pensacola Children's Chorus
• Pensacola Little Theatre
• CMB Visions Unlimited
• Epps Christian Center
• Pensacola MESS Hall
• City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation
• Chain Reaction
• Children's Theater Company
• SALT Ministry (Sisters Anointed to Lead Together)
• YMCA of NW Florida
• James B. Washington Education & Sports

The funded projects will address several urgent needs identified in the Trust’s 2022 Needs Assessment, in particular the academic and attendance indicators addressed in Theme 2: Children are Ready to Succeed in School and Life and the indicators on youth mental health, addiction and violence addressed in Theme 4: Children Have Supports to Help Them Avoid Risky Behaviors.

Studies have shown that the social and emotional outcomes associated with out-of-school time program participation lead to improved school attendance, academic achievement, attitudes toward learning, increased self-confidence and self-esteem, decreased behavior problems, improved communication skills, and enhanced ability to effectively interact with peers and adults. Research has shown that reading just six books over the summer may keep a struggling reader from regressing. Students who read or are engaged in another learning activity for 2-3 hours per week during the summer can further prevent summer learning loss. The combined data on summer learning and the positive effect on social and emotional learning provides a clear understanding of the opportunity out-of-school time programs have to positively impact Escambia County youth.

NEW BOARD MEETING TIMES

Beginning in February, the ECT Board of Directors Regular Meetings will be held at alternating times to make them more accessible to the community. Start times will alternate between 9 AM one month and 5:30 PM the following month.

All ECT Board Regular Meetings are held in the Board of County Commissioners' Chambers at 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola, FL 32502.

The full Board calendar can be found here, and all Board packets are posted here at least seven (7) days prior to each meeting.

February is Black History Month - an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Thank you to all the incredible Black leaders in Escambia County who contribute so much to our community and who are making history now.

To stay up-to-date with the Escambia Children's Trust, check out our website at escambiachildrenstrust.org. 

If you want to know all about what we're doing at the Trust, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@escambiachildrenstrust), and stay subscribed to our newsletter, The Community Voice.