Location
POWER (Promoting Outstanding Work, Education,
and Recreation) in Youth
Salem-Keizer School District
Community Education
PO Box 12024
Salem, OR 97309

Contact
Sandy Swanson, Community Education Coordinator
Phone: 503/399-3305
Fax: 503/399-4004
E-mail: swanson_sandy@salkeiz.k12.or.us

Description
In the spring of 1995 the staff at Parrish Middle School, in the Salem-Keizer School District, decided they wanted to make a concerted effort to rebuild the school's sense of community after they and students had been displaced for a year of building construction. Based on research indicating that students with a strong sense of belonging and positive bonding to school are more likely to resist negative behaviors, such as drug/alcohol abuse, delinquency, premature sexual behavior, or violence, they set out to design an after-school program that would engage both students and faculty as an extension of the regular school day and the school-based curriculum. What resulted was the POWER in Youth program. The goal of POWER in Youth is to improve student attendance, behavior, and academic performance, and also to enhance student bonding to school and community through integrated after-school activities.

POWER In Youth was so successful at Parrish Middle School that it has since been implemented at the remaining eight Salem-Keizer middle schools. POWER is open to all students, but particular emphasis is made to involve ESL students. Sites are open two days a week, for an hour and a half each day. Involvement in the program helps students build positive relationships with peers, teachers, volunteers, and other community members. Though all schools implementing POWER have similar guiding principles and are overseen by a Central Coordinating Committee (responsible for master scheduling of community resources, guest speakers, visiting instructors, volunteer drives, and fundraising), each program is uniquely based on the needs of the students it serves. Each school's program is guided by a team of faculty, parents, students, and community resource people. Initially each team surveyed students to determine interests and to aid in the design, structure, and content of the program. Based on these findings, and with the input of students, individual school programs were implemented.

Each school works to facilitate the integration of after-school activities with the academic curriculum. To successfully do this, many stakeholders are actively involved with the onsite programs. Classroom teachers instruct selected activities such as photography, computers, Web-page design, model building, painting, dance, and tutoring; professionals from local youth organizations (City Recreation, Boys and Girls Club, 4-H, YWCA, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, etc.) lead other programs, such as a girls leadership club, a cooking class for at-risk teen boys, and an environmental club; and community volunteers serve as tutors, mentors, and as assistant leaders to other instructional staff. Depending on the expertise of teachers and community members, activity options vary, but all POWER sites include tutoring centers and study hall as part of their offerings.

Examples of activities that result from this combined community effort include an art club led by a professional artist who created a mural for a school cafeteria, an environmental club that studied wetlands and created an interpretive nature trail at a park near the school, and a foods class that made treats for a bake sale and raised funds for new ovens at the school. Through their POWER program, most schools also provide regular field trips. Every day is a little different in the various program sites, but students generally meet in one location to have a snack and wait to be directed to their activity that day.

Each POWER site has a designated coordinator who is usually also a teacher at that school. Coordinators meet monthly to keep the program organized and unified.

For the last four years POWER In Youth has been funded through local grants and donations, but in 1998 the district received a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the federal government that will total $600,000 over the next three years. This new money will be used to develop a community learning center at three sites, and the remaining six schools will continue with the POWER program. The money from the grant will provide the salary for a half-time staff person at each school, allow for the development of extended learning opportunities during evenings and weekends, and assist the district at it works to design new site-based activities that meet emerging community needs with community resources.

In 1997 the district surveyed more than 2,200 students (half of whom participate in the program) and approximately 100 school personnel at four of the nine middle schools. The response was both positive and informative. Survey results have helped to shape the program as it continues to evolve each year.

Observed Outcomes

• Students meet new friends and gain new skills
• Student attitudes have improved, which has subsequently enhanced school spirit
• Student attendance has improved and there are also indications that students' academic performance has improved

Keys to Success

• Involve all key stakeholders in the planning process (including students)
• Have an onsite planning committee at each school and also a district coordinating committee
• Use student and staff surveys to inform program improvement decisions

Location
Bend Metro Park and Recreation District
KIDS INC-School-Age Care Program
200 NW Pacific Park Lane
Bend, OR 97701

Contact
Sue Jorgenson, Youth Recreation Manager
Phone: 541/388-7275
Fax: 541/388-5429

Description
To ensure that children in the Bend community have quality options before and after school each day, the Bend Park and Recreation District sponsors a program called KIDS INC at seven area elementary schools that is open to students in kindergarten through fifth-grade.

During the school year, KIDS INC provides children with a safe, enriching recreation program conducive to learning and social interaction. Students are encouraged to pursue their interests and to develop friendships, a sense of independence, and self-confidence. KIDS INC is available from 7 a.m. to8:45 a.m. and from 3:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. on regular school days. On early release days, the program is available at the time children are released from school. Time spent at KIDS INC affords students opportunities to cook, construct, explore science, play games, participate in sports, and hear guest speakers. The program does not have a specific tutoring or homework component, but if students want to do homework or if a parent makes a special request, a space is always available. The driving idea behind KIDS INC is that kids need time to make choices for themselves.

Staff at KIDS INC are not required to be certified educators, although many have backgrounds in education, recreation, or a related field. All staff are required to attend a formal training at the beginning of each school year, and to participate in regular inservice trainings throughout the year. Topics of training emphasis include leadership, safety, developmentally appropriate practice, customer service, and purposeful program planning. All staff are screened to ensure that they have no criminal history and an up-to-date first aid/CPR certification. KIDS INC works to hire only people who are genuinely interested in providing children with quality recreational, social, and educational experiences.

Children who participate in KIDS INC represent the full spectrum of the community. Some come from well-to-do families that can easily afford the program fee, while others are from homes that need financial assistance either through scholarships or child-care assistance from Adult and Family Services. The bottom line is that no child is ever turned away because of financial reasons.

Because all KIDS INC sites are at schools, a natural collaboration occurs between program staff and school staff. Beyond a sharing of resources, the two parties must have close communication to successfully serve students. If a student is having problems at school, he or she will likely exhibit the same difficulties after school. By discussing the student the program staff can inform the school staff and vice versa. In this way, both KIDS INC and the school can provide the students with the supports necessary for their success.

In addition to KIDS INC, the Bend Park and Recreation District offers a summer enrichment and recreation program called Operation Recreation.

Observed Outcomes

• The staff's modeling of positive interactions teaches students how to build positive relationships with others
• KIDS INC gives participants a sense of belonging
• Students learn empathy and understanding of others, due in part to the inclusion in the program of children with special needs
• Through field trips and community service projects, students gain an increased awareness of their community and the important part they play in it
• Students improve their problem-solving skills, learning how to interact with each other and people rather than spending all their time in front of the TV or computer

Keys to Success

• Make a strong effort to develop and nurture your relationship with all school staff
• Focus on outcome-based program planning
• Constantly work on program improvement through feedback from parents, children, school, and staff
• Allow children the opportunity to make choices while giving them a routine they can depend on