City presents 2024 Community Programs annual report; summer youth employment and reentry services highlighted

Dana Doucette, director of the Department of Community Programs, presented the departments 2024 annual report to the City Board, saying the department runs roughly $5 million in annual programming and served more than 24,000 children, youth and families across more than 50 programs in 2024.

The report matters because the department administers city-funded youth and family services, summer employment and neighborhood safety programs that affect young residents, community providers and nonprofit partners across the city.

Doucette told the board the Department of Community Programs had an annual budget of about $5 million and that in 2024 the department supported more than 50 programs and served more than 24,000 children, youth and families. She highlighted the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which focuses on ages 13 to 30 and targeted wards; reentry services that produced a 2025 city employee of the year from a program participant; and school-based intervention, street outreach and community violence reduction efforts funded through a mix of ARPA, PIT and other local sources.

On workforce programs, Doucette said the Summer Youth Employment Program accepted 911 eligible applications last year (from roughly 1,200 total applicants after eligibility screening) and that 558 participants completed their placements. She described a youth workforce development pilot that served 24 students under age 16 to prepare them for future employment, and she said Little Rock Career Climb connected more than 521 residents with career-advancement services.

Doucette said program development and small contract awards help build nonprofit capacity; the department awarded 10 small contracts in 2024 totaling $45,000. Board members thanked staff and noted Doucettes upcoming retirement in July. Director Webb urged colleagues to meet with Doucette prior to her departure; board members praised the annual report and asked for continued reporting on program outcomes through the departments newly approved data system.

Doucette said the full annual report is available to the public and that staff would answer follow-up questions about program metrics and audits in coming weeks.