AGENDA #2f
BUDGET WORKING PAPER
TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Kathryn Spatz, Parks and Recreation Director
SUBJECT: Special Olympics Demographics and Funding
DATE: May 19, 2004
This memorandum is in response to Council Member questions concerning the demographics of participants in the Town’s Special Olympics program and funding for the program.
Special Olympics is an athletic-based program for individuals with mental retardation. The program is administered by a State office, with program offices representing counties housed in various cities and counties. The Parks and Recreation Department houses the Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program, which serves all of Orange County. We believe that our program is a model for the potential of not only Special Olympics programs but indeed, all public parks and recreation activities. We cannot think of a program that more completely serves such a diverse group of citizens.
The program offers recreation services to those with multiple and severe challenges. We serve those with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, severe health and physical disabilities, poverty-related concerns, transportation barriers, and behavioral problems. The Special Olympics program meets the needs of pre-schoolers through seniors living in retirement homes. We believe the Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program supports full programming options for a population of adults and children who need significant structure, supervision, and support.
During the current fiscal year we have already served more than 225 athletes, with the assistance of over 100 volunteers. Overall demographics of Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics in the school-based and community-based program participants are as follows:
As you may know, the Special Olympics program is a two-pronged effort with school-based and community-based participants.
School-Based Program: Both the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City and Orange County public school systems provide transportation to their students for instruction, training, and practices. The Department works in close cooperation with the schools adapted physical education instructors. All the participating students have Special Olympics training as part of their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and it is a key component of their socialization opportunities and training to use mainstream recreation centers (such as the bowling alley and the pools).
Community-Based Program: It is the community-based program that makes the local Special Olympics program unique. Our recruitment, training, and retention of over 100 volunteers enables the program to accept all eligible athletes for training and competition. The Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program is dramatically larger in depth and scope than any comparable program in the State.
Demographics of the community-based program are as follows:
The community-based program includes volunteers not only from within Orange County but also from neighboring counties. Volunteers from Durham, Wake, Alamance, and Chatham have informed us that they work for the Chapel Hill/Orange County program due to the diversity we offer in programming as opposed to the programs in their own local counties. Also, many loyal volunteers continue to travel to our practices once they leave the Chapel Hill area. Following is the demographic breakdown for current volunteers:
Program Support: Town support for the program includes personnel costs and a small amount of funding for professional development/association membership dues and supplies. The Manager’s recommended budget for FY 2004-05 includes:
The remainder of $15,000 - $20,000 annual Special Olympics funding comes from local fund raising events. This includes on average $7,000, raised by the Chapel Hill Police Department in the annual Torch Run. All Torch Run proceeds raised are sent to the State Special Olympics office. Approximately 10% is returned to the local Olympics program.
Neither the Orange County nor Town of Carrboro governments contribute finances or personnel to the Chapel Hill-Orange County Special Olympics program. However, the County has historically made an annual contribution to the Town of Chapel Hill in recognition of non-Town residents participating in Town programs/activities and using Town facilities at the same fees as Town residents do. In recent years, the County has appropriated approximately $86,000 to the Town for this purpose. Conversely, the Town appropriates approximately $48,000 to the County for operation of the senior center located in Chapel Hill.
Orange County and the Town of Carrboro offer some programming for special populations, including seniors, at-risk youth, teens, and individuals with disabilities. Both departments offer monthly special events, such as dances and field trips, and some classes specifically designed for individuals with special needs. In addition, the Carrboro Department funds two inclusion specialists for its summer day camps.
Currently, the Town funds a part-time (25 hours per week) Recreation Specialist II to coordinate the entire local Special Olympics program. As is the case with all exempt employees in the Parks and Recreation Department, the Special Olympics Recreation Specialist does not earn overtime pay. Rather, the individual is eligible to earn compensatory time. In the past three years, she has worked an average of 221 hours more than budgeted and lost an average of 195 hours of comp. time at the end of each fiscal year.
The additional personnel costs that would be required to upgrade the position total $14,399 (this includes salary and benefits). We believe an added responsibility with the additional hours would be for this position to help those citizens participating in Special Olympics expand into other department classes and activities, particularly the community-based therapeutic recreation cultural opportunities.