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Cape Assist seeks AEREF funds for Botvin life‑skills, school and camp programs
Summary
Packet materials reviewed by MHADA show Cape Assist requested a $64,211 AEREF award to support Botvin Life Skills delivery in local schools and summer camps, with a proposed allocation split across Woodbine, Dennis, and summer camps.
Cape Assist has requested AEREF funding totaling $64,211 to support delivery of the Botvin Life Skills curriculum to youth in Cape May County and nearby districts, according to AEREF materials included in the MHADA packet. The proposal would fund staff time for four summer camps and school-year programming in Woodbine and Dennis elementary schools.
Proposal details in the packet show an allocation table that sums to $64,211: $24,000 for Strengthening Families Program (noted as previously provided but with low enrollment last year), $22,418 proposed for Woodbine Botvin Life Skills (projected to reach 150–200 children), $18,000 proposed for Dennis (projected to reach about 150 children, constrained by an RFP), and $17,793 listed as unallocated in the summary; the packet also lists a separate line labeled “23,793 4 camps (staff time only) Middle, Upper Wildwood and pros camp (total 185 youth).” The applicant notes that prior federal funding for the summer camps ended on March 25 and that the requested funds would cover staff time to run camps and school-based sessions.
Why it matters: AEREF (local A&E/education-related funding pool described in the packet) grants fund prevention and youth-skills programming that local providers and schools use; allocation decisions would affect program capacity and staffing for school-year and summer delivery. MHADA scheduled a proposed modification to the AEREF grant for discussion at its March 11 meeting and tasked a small review group with examining the 2025 budget and allocations.
Discussion versus action: The Cape Assist AEREF request appears in meeting materials; no formal MHADA vote on the grant award or modification was recorded in the Feb. 11 minutes. MHADA directed a small group to review the 2025 budget and proposed allocations and to bring recommendations to the March 11 meeting.
Clarifying details: Packet states Cape Assist seeks to reach up to 185 youth through four summer camps (staff time only) and up to 300 youth across Dennis and Woodbine elementary schools during the school year. The document lists a past Strengthening Families Program (SFP) provided last year that enrolled six families; the packet also notes two additional SFPs funded through a state grant in the Woodbine area. The proposal explains prior federal summer-camp funding ended on March 25, requiring a new local allocation to maintain camp staffing.
Next steps: MHADA will consider the proposed AEREF modification and any budget reallocation recommended by the small review group at the March 11 meeting.
