Committee advances $925,200 SPARK home-visit literacy contract despite cuts that reduce slots

Cuyahoga County's Environment & Education Committee voted to forward Resolution 2025344, authorizing program administration and direct services for the SPARK home-visit early-literacy program with Family Connections of Northeast Ohio in an amount not to exceed $925,200.

Shauna Norman of the County's Invest in Children office described SPARK as a home-visit literacy and kindergarten-preparation program for 3- and 4-year-olds (birth-through-age-6 services are offered by Family Connections). She said SPARK participants who receive at least eight monthly visits show statistically significant gains in literacy and numeracy and higher kindergarten readiness rates.

Trina Saxon, SPARK director at Family Connections, said the program historically received about $514,000 per year from the county; under the proposed funding level staff discussed in committee, the program would be able to serve about 217 children with county funds (down from about 310 before the cuts), meaning approximately 93 fewer children per year would be served. Beth Darmstatter, executive director of Family Connections, said a 10% cut equates roughly to the loss of one parent-partner staff position and that the organization is operating below full capacity amid broader funding reductions.

The committee voted to forward the resolution with a recommendation for second reading suspension and asked staff to continue tracking outcomes and staffing impacts.