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The City of Orlando will be expanding its Kidz Zone initiative beyond its original neighborhood of Parramore to include Holden Heights (which officially launched in 2018), Engelwood and Mercy Drive.
The program launched in 2006 and is modeled on the Harlem Children’s Zone. It aims to reduce juvenile crime, teen pregnancies, child abuse and neglect, and high school drop out rates among youth, and it has worked. Between 2006 and 2019:
• More than 6,000 children were served.
• Juvenile arrests in Parramore went down 78.3%.
• Teen births in Parramore went down 63.4%.
• Young children attending early learning programs are up 117%.
– Katie Householder, On 3 Public Relations