Government Technology Magazine’s Special Districts Awards Program is designed to recognize innovation and leadership within special district agencies across the country.
Through the Special Districts Award Program, Government Technology Magazine has recognized the exemplary work of The Children’s Trust in providing resources, information and direct services to children and families in Miami-Dade County.
During a virtual awards ceremony and year-in-review summit on Dec. 15, The Trust will receive two awards for Technology Innovation in the Citizens category for the newly created StayHome.Miami website and The Children’s Trust Book Club.
The Technology Innovation: Citizens category recognizes special districts that have utilized technology to improve service delivery to citizens. This year specifically, the program looked for notable examples of how special districts applied innovative technologies and leadership to response and recovery efforts as they relate to COVID-19.
“Throughout everything that we have endured this year, The Children’s Trust has remained steadfast in our commitment to giving children and youth new opportunities to develop the skills necessary for a successful life,” said Trust President and CEO James R. Haj. “Having our new Book Club and StayHome.Miami recognized through the Special Districts Award Program gives us that satisfaction of knowing that the work we are doing truly impacts of the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade.”
The StayHome.Miami website was launched in March, less than two weeks after stay-at-home orders were put in place by the county due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The interactive and comprehensive website was created with one thing in mind: to help the children and families keep a positive outlook on life no matter what challenges lay ahead. It offers free, engaging and educational activities for children and families who had limited options due to stay-at-home restrictions in three languages (English, Spanish and Haitian Creole).
To date, StayHome.Miami has garnered close to 200,000 pageviews.
The Children’s Trust Book Club expanded the footprint of its previous book club to all Miami-Dade children from birth to 5 years old. The enhanced book club has increased the number of books being mailed by 3000%. In addition, the accompanying new IT solution has resulted in a 75% reduction of personnel needed while providing an increase in functionality.
To date, the new and improved book club has been a rousing success with almost 23,000 members in less than five months.
The Special Districts Award Program is the first program designed for special district leaders across the United States. The virtual award ceremony will host an expert panel with district leaders on how they are rethinking internal operations, virtualizing citizen services and leading their teams through disruption in response to the pandemic.
Learn more about the program here: https://www.govtech.com/districts/
About The Children’s Trust
The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their future. For more information visit www.TheChildrensTrust.org.
