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10/07/20
The County of San Diego has launched a reimbursement program to make youth sports and camp programs more affordable, and to provide financial assistance in the communities that need it most.
The Youth Sports and Camps Waiver Program
provides youth with the opportunity to participate in recreational
sports or camps for free or at a reduced cost. The program was
approved by the
San
Diego County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 5, is
federally funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, and was
designed to reduce financial barriers that could otherwise limit or
prevent kids and teens from participating in these activities.
Managed by the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation, this waiver program directly benefits participants in youth sports and camps that take place in San Diego’s unincorporated areas and at County-managed facilities.
There are two reimbursement levels, and these are based on a community’s score in the California Healthy Places Index (HPI). The HPI is a census tract-based index that evaluates all of the health indicators of a community, including economic standing, education level, housing availability and affordability, health care access, safe neighborhoods, clean environments and transportation/accessibility.
In an effort to provide more equitable program benefits, communities that have lower HPI scores will qualify for higher paying benefits – but all recreational youth sport and camp providers will qualify for some level of reimbursement. Once approved, the program requires organizers to adjust registration costs accordingly for the kids and teens who wish to participate in their sport and camp activities.
Funding categories, based on the applicant’s primary facility
and/or mailing address:
Requests will be
processed in the order they are received. Of the available $2M,
approximately $1.8M will be used for fee waivers and registration
reimbursements for up to 20,000 youth – and the remaining $200,000 is
earmarked for administrative costs to run the program.
Applicant Checklist:
If you can answer “yes” to all three questions, you may qualify for some level of reimbursement. Submit your application today!
Complete the Application:
View and Share the Flyer:
For more information, email YouthSports@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Who is eligible for the program?
What is the healthy places index (HPI)?
How will funding be allocated?
How will organizations that operate in multiple zip codes be categorized?
What is the application process?
If approved, when can organizations expect their reimbursement?
What is the maximum reimbursement an organization can receive?
How many participants do we expect to benefit from the program?
Who is eligible for the program?
All recreational youth sports or camp provider applicants that are located within the unincorporated areas of San Diego County or operate on County owned properties with a valid Federal and/or State Tax ID will be eligible for some level of reimbursement. Priority will be given to communities that have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis. The Healthy Places Index (HPI) was used to identify these communities within the unincorporated areas of San Diego County.
Additionally, applicants must meet the following requirements:
What is the healthy places index (HPI)?
The Healthy Places
Index (HPI) combines multiple community characteristics, including
economic, education, housing, health care access, neighborhood, clean
environment, transportation, and social factors into a single indexed
score for individual census tracts. The scores from multiple census
tracts are then compared across the state to provide an overall report
on the health of individual communities and neighborhoods. The HPI was
used to identify communities in the County of San Diego by zip code
that have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 Public
Health Crisis and identified to be fifty percent or less “less
healthy” than other communities. These zip codes were then categorized as
being in the third and fourth quartile. A total of
36 zip codes were identified to be in the third and fourth quartile of
the unincorporated areas of the County. DPR is using the HPI as the
primary tool to prioritize funding for families and communities that
have been most impacted by the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis, and the
organizations that serve those communities.
How will funding be allocated?
DPR will allocate up
to $200,000 of the funding to cover administrative costs to operate
the program. The remaining $1,800,000 will be used to directly
reimburse eligible organizations for registration-related costs. Of
the remaining $1,800,000, DPR will allocate 2/3 ($1.2M) to third and
fourth quartile organizations and the remaining 1/3 ($600K) to
organizations in the first and second quartile. Using the HPI report,
participants, facilities, and organizations that fall within the HPI’s
third and fourth quartile would be eligible for full waivers and
reimbursements of costs associated with registration up to a $100.
Participants, facilities, and organizations that fall outside of those
quartiles would also be eligible for partial waivers and
reimbursements of 50% of costs associated with registration through
the program up to $50.
How will organizations that operate in multiple zip codes be categorized?
DPR will use the
organization’s home field location and/or consider their mailing
address to determine which quartile the organization belongs to. In
more complex situations, DPR may opt to review the place of residence
of the youth participants.
What is the application process?
Applications are
required for all organizations seeking to be part of this program. The
format of the application is interactive pdf document. The application
will require general information for the organization and additional
documentation, including previous years registration costs,
participant rosters, tax ID number, etc. to assist with eligibility
determinations. Applications will be reviewed and processed in the
order received. DPR staff will review the information and confirm
eligibility. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the organization
will be notified so they can implement the registration cost
adjustments for participants.
If approved, when can organizations expect their reimbursement?
Due to registration
periods varying and often occurring months ahead of the actual season,
DPR will issue reimbursements to organizations in two batches to
ensure that the total reimbursement is reflective of actual
participation and not just projected numbers. Reimbursements will be
processed by DPR’s fiscal team. Each reimbursement will be submitted
as a claim to the Auditor & Controllers Office for processing.
This will require additional or backup documentation to ensure funds
are properly being reimbursed.
What is the maximum reimbursement an organization can receive?
Due to varying
participation levels per sport, DPR will prioritize third and fourth
quartile organizations by allocating 2/3 of the 1.8M to these groups
and the remaining 1/3 to organizations in the first and second
quartile. Funding will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
Organizations in the third and fourth quartile will be eligible for
full reimbursements up to $100. Organizations in the first and second
quartile will be eligible for partial reimbursements up to $50.
How many participants do we expect to benefit from the program?
Approximately 15,000
– 20,000 youth participants are anticipated to benefit from the
program.
