U-Care Des Moines Metro Area
The Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE program is located at Urban Dreams’ main office at 1410 Sixth Avenue. The Des Moines U-CARE initiative has built off Urban Dreams’ twenty-year history working in Des Moines and is reaching out to strengthen community collaborations. The community’s goal for the Polk County U-CARE program is to reduce Polk County DMC relative rates by 10% compared to the previous funding year.
The Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE program will reduce DMC relative rates through the development and coordination of a local DMC committee. Key Polk County stakeholders have been identified and initial planning meetings have been conducted. The committee has determined that preventative programming must be in place by Spring of 2006 in order to prevent minority juvenile justice contacts during the summer months. The committee has determined two focus areas: employment opportunities and cultural exposure.
A second project of the Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE program is advocacy services for DMC reduction. The Polk County U-CARE Coordinator regularly meets with community-based services providers, public officials, and other interested parties regarding DMC relative rates and issues. The U-CARE Coordinator participates on a variety of planning groups and community committees. The U-CARE Coordinator is available to interested parties for technical assistance in the areas of programming and minority youth relations.
The Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE program provides preventative projects through mentor services incorporated into recreational programs. The U-CARE program connects student participants with positive role models that serve as coaches and mentors. Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE has sponsored flag football teams and is currently sponsoring a basketball team. The U-CARE program will continue this initiative through other recreational programs in the Spring and Summer.
The Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE program has greatly benefited from the community buy-in that has occurred throughout the implementation of the project. Some of the most active partners in Polk County are Juvenile Court Services, DHS, Polk County DECAT, Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans, Polk County Community family & youth services, Evelyn Davis Early Learning Academy, Creative Visions, Willkie House, SPPG, Employee & Family Resources, Union Baptist Church, local public officials, and other interested community leaders.
For information regarding the Des Moines Metro Area U-CARE program, please contact Bobby Stanley, U-CARE Polk County DMC Coordinator, at 515-288-4742 or bobby.stanley@urbandreams.org. For additional information about Urban Dreams’ statewide U-CARE program, please contact Zachary Wilson, State U-CARE Program Director, at 515-288-4742 or zachary.wilson@urbandreams.org.
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