FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Karen Hawes, Lee County Human Services
                (941) 652-7930

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 23, 2001) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners today unanimously approved annual funding contracts with 17 local human services agencies totaling $2.2 million. The contracts are for Fiscal Year 2001-02.

The funding is through the county’s Partnering for Results Program, which is a process that enables the county to receive measurable outcomes by purchasing "units of service" from participating human service agencies.

The county purchases services in the areas of: Supportive Housing/Living, Economic Opportunity, Activities for Youth, and/or Basic Assistance. Agencies submitted proposals earlier in the year and a citizen review panel made funding recommendations to the Board as part of the county’s budget process. The county will send out requests for proposals for Fiscal Year 2002-03 in Feb. 2002.

The program serves low-income, homeless, elderly, developmentally disabled, and handicapped residents of Lee County. To be eligible, agencies must meet the following requirements:

1. Services must be based on a unit cost and produce measurable outcomes in one or more of the four areas.
2. Be a 501(c)3 private, not-for-profit agency.
3. Be in operation for one year and provide an independent audited financial statement and management letter.
4. Possess the administrative/fiscal capability to manage the proposed program and maintain adequate records.
5. Provide direct client services to residents of Lee County.

Contracts approved today are for:

SUPPORTED LIVING/HOUSING ($672,338)

• Deaf Service Center -- $42,306
• IMPACT for Developmental Education, Inc. -- $145,475
• Lee Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. -- $249,466
• Lee County AIDS Task Force -- $70,517
• Senior Friendship Centers of Lee County -- $104,574
• Sunrise community of Southwest Florida -- $12,000
• Visually Impaired Persons Low Vision Clinic -- $48,000

• AgeLink of Lee County, Inc. -- $24,000
• Boys and Girls Club of Lee County, Inc. -- $38,279
• Catholic Hispanic Social Services -- $80,175
• Child Care of Southwest Florida -- $360,000
• Dr. Piper Center for Social Services, Inc. -- $65,085
• Lee Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. -- $133,156
• Visually Impaired Persons Low Vision Clinic -- $10,980

ACTIVITY FOR YOUTH ($432,881)

• Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Southwest Florida, Inc. -- $80,000
• Boys and Girls Club of Lee County, Inc. -- $149,070
• Catholic Hispanic Social Services -- $50,000
• Southwest Florida Addiction Services, Inc. -- $153,811

• Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. -- $210,812
• Salvation Army -- $40,000
• Southwest Florida Children’s Fund -- $62,031
• The Nations Association -- $44,265 (held in reserves pending completion of satisfactory audit)