Location
Contact
Description
TOGETHER! is funded through various federal, state, and local grants, and the location and scope of each TOGETHER! program varies. Some programs use school facilities and school bus transportation, but most do not. Some have school personnel who determine what students they serve, while other are drop-in centers. Some run programs beyond after school (e.g., summer), some do not. In essence, TOGETHER! is a community-based effort, not run directly by schools but is successful only when the community and the school partner with each other and are committed to it. Each site has the assistance of a school staff person who is appointed as the liaison between the school and the program. In addition, it is imperative that every building principal and school counselor must be in favor of and supportive of the program. Following is a description of one TOGETHER! site. Kids' Place is an after-school and summer program in Rochester, Washington, which is held at the R.O.O.F. (Rochester Organization Of Families) Community Resource Center. The program, which has been operating for nearly four years, specifically targets at-risk children in grades one through six. The approximately 50 children who participate daily (and also in the summer) commit to attending at least four out of five school days per week. All of the children are referred by Rochester school teachers or counselors. The criteria for including a child in the program specifies that they come from a low-income home and are classified as being at-risk. Accordingly, children are "at-risk" if one or more of the following scenarios applies: 1) no supervision at home after school, 2) exposure to drug and alcohol abuse or violence, 3) poor school attendance, 4) single-parent home, 5) low self-esteem, 6) poor peer relationships, or 7) low academic skills. Kids' Place staff work very closely with teachers to ensure that each child's needs are met. Once selected, the child signs a commitment form and their parent signs a permission slip and a student information release form, which the school keeps on file. To facilitate smooth transitions between school and the program, R.O.O.F. contracts with the school bus company to transport participants to and from Kids' Place each day (there is no access to public transportation in this rural area). Though this proves to be a significant expense for the program (approximately $12,000 annually), it is the only way they have found to guarantee the attendance of these high-risk children. Each day, the children have snacks, receive homework help, participate in recreational activities, and work on arts and crafts projects. They may also participate in a violence prevention workshop or home economics activity. There are weekly sessions concerning drug and alcohol awareness, conflict resolution skill building, self-esteem improvement, and personal hygiene. The children are also treated to monthly field trips to places where they might not otherwise have the opportunity to visit. For example they have gone to the beach, park and zoo, and have also gone swimming and skating. Groups such as DARE, Washington State University Extension-Master Gardeners, and Community Youth Services-Readiness to Learn also volunteer their services for the program. Family nights, a time when families enjoy a meal and activities together at the R.O.O.F. Community Resource Center, are another regular event at Kids' Place. It has become a privilege for students to be participants in the program. The program relies on volunteers as well as staff to succeed. Many teens from the local high school give their time to help with tutoring. Staff at Kids' Place includes the program coordinator, an AmeriCorps member, a program assistant, and three teens who are participants in a local job-training program for low-income teens (their salaries are paid by another community agency). Teachers and school counselors fill out monthly evaluations concerning each participating child. These evaluations are then used by program staff to determine where they are making a positive difference in the lives of the children they serve, and also for future funding options. Kids' Place staff attend school conferences and also meet weekly to discuss the program and current issues. In addition, the program and its budget are evaluated annually to determine how services can be improved. For more information about Kids' Place, please contact Linda Clark, Director of R.O.O.F., at 360/273-6375. Observed Outcomes
Keys to Success
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