CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-21-150 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Lan Sena
RESOLUTION
title
Adjusting Fiscal Year 2021 General Fund Appropriations To Provide For Additional Support For The Pan-Asian Student Community; And Approving A Supplemental Agreement With The NM Asian Family Center For Administration Of The Program (Sena)
body
ADJUSTING FISCAL YEAR 2021 GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE PAN-ASIAN STUDENT COMMUNITY; AND APPROVING A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE NM ASIAN FAMILY CENTER FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, there has been recent increase in violence against Asian-Americans due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, including Asian-American students of all ages; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), identified suicide as the second leading cause of death among 12-18 year olds; and
WHEREAS, National data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System reported that 8.0% of American youth had at least one suicide attempt within the twelve months preceding the survey; comparatively, 11.8% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) youth and 9.5% of Asian American (AA) youth had at least one suicide attempt; and
WHEREAS, among males, Asians were the most likely to attempt suicide compared to other groups; and similar pattern was seen for feeling sad or helpless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row; and
WHEREAS, AA and NHPI youth may be susceptible to different risks than other racial/ethnic groups; such as ethnic and cultural socialization or orientation, poverty, education related stress, familialism, discrimination, and acculturation that can take root at a young age, affecting mental health outcomes. Additionally, cultural socialization and unique life experiences specific to AA and NHPI populations can also promote resilience and serve as protective factors against suicide; and
WHEREAS, the NM Asian Family Center provides culturally sensitive programs and services focused on families and youth, to help create a Pan-Asian community that advocates for and supports itself; and
WHEREAS, the NM Asian Family Center’s programs include “Tea Talks”, a monthly gathering for members of the Asian Pacific Islander community which includes family support assistance programs, through a Family Coordinator and Youth Interns; and
WHEREAS, the program is need of expansion as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and students return back to in-person learning; and
WHEREAS, of the $77,000 of funding required to expand services to 50-100 additional youth, the City’s Department of Family and Community has identified $45,000 of existing funding, and is in need of and additional $32,000 to fulfill the needs of the program; and
WHEREAS, approval of additional funding for the program, and approval of the related to social service contract supplement, is timely and needed to provide services to City residents.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. That the following amounts are hereby appropriated to the following program from available fund balance for Fiscal Year 2021:
GENERAL FUND - 110
Family and Community Services
Health and Human Services $32,000
SECTION 2. That a supplemental agreement to the City’s social service contract with the NM Asian Family Center, as necessary to implement the purposes of this resolution, is hereby approved in accordance with the City’s Public Purchases Ordinance 5-5-19 (A)(4)(b).
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