ADOPT-A-FRIEND KIDS-FOR-PEACE PROJECT             by: Dr. Elba Lopez

KIDS-FOR-PEACE

Distressed by the increasing rates of violence, adolescent suicide, premature sexual activity, and a host of other pathological and social ills assaulting American youth, and responding to the needs of parents and children in low income communities, Adopt a Friend Inc. Education Committee proposes to develop an after school youth project, Kids for P.E.A.C.E. (Progress, Excellence, and Character Education), in twelve Houses of Worship Schools.

 

Adopt a Friend Inc. proposes to work with the African Union Star Academy, a school with a charter from the State of New York.  The AUSA has been in existence for 10 years and has been running after school programs since its inception. The Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will seek to enhance their delivery of services by providing an inter-disciplinary curriculum, organized activities, trained staff, and partnerships with essential community institutions.  This is a pilot project that, if successful, Adopt a Friend Inc. will seek to replicate in other community organizations through out the Bronx.

 

Adopt a Friend Inc. Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will integrate an academic curriculum with character education lessons to provide students with a rich curriculum of the knowledge, skills, and values they need to be informed young adults who understand the responsibilities and rewards of productive living in a global and diverse society. The inter-disciplinary curriculum will reinforce New York State’s rigorous academic Regents Learning Standards; while the character education component will incorporate real-life lessons aimed at instilling a respect for human dignity and self.  Students will be taught to think critically and act responsibly, while creating meaning and allowing them time for purposeful exploration and self-reflection.

 

The project will work with a team of professionals from Adopt a Friend, the African Union Star Academy, the Soundview Coalition, local elected officials, the Consortium for workers Education and other organizations to produce the curriculum, the curriculum guide to be used for teacher training, and instructional videos with illustrations of classroom activities and instruction for the purposes of future professional development and model replication in other Houses of Worship .

 

Need to Support Adopt a Friend Inc. Project Kids for P.E.A.C.E.

There are many organizations in New York City; but what set apart Adopt a Friend Inc. from other affiliations is its commitment and desires to work continuously to improve the lives of thousands of residents in the Bronx. Adopt a Friend Inc. is an organization that was created to serve the needs of our diverse community in the Bronx and other areas of New York City.  Adopt a Friend Inc. has partnered with the Soundview Coalition to develop a system by which community organizations share their knowledge and resources to help our children. The organization’s leadership believes that sharing is not only the method of communication par excellence between the members of a community; but also sharing is an exchange of ideas and resources among groups of different faith, ethnicity, interests and educational background. The leadership of Adopt a Friend Inc. is working to encourage partnerships and economic development in our neighborhoods. The goal of the organization is to improve the communities in the Bronx through programs that promote voluntary action, the sense of empowerment and economic independence.  In other words, Adopt a Friend Inc. is formed by all those men and women that derive pleasure in the service of others. The only requirement to participate in this organization is the desire to improve our relationships with our neighbors and to develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and beliefs.

At the heart of Adopt a Friend Inc. mission and vision is the improvement of our children's education, especially for those children who are at risk. Changes in families and communities have limited the amount of contact many youths have with adults who can offer advice and act as role models. To help fill in the gap, members from Adopt a Friend are working as mentors to provide emotional support and guidance to young people. They help with schoolwork, job skill development, career planning and the many other challenges that face young people today.

Many families are afflicted in the Bronx with such tragedies as hunger, loneliness of the elderly, unemployment, housing problems that affect immigrant’s families, the diseases which afflict the neighborhoods, etc. And yet, the worst form of poverty is the educational deprivation and the lack of quality programs for our children.

 

Responding to these challenges AAFI, has initiated a school for children who are at risk, the African Union Star Academy. AAFI leadership, practices two ways of teaching: by example and by preaching. They have organized a school to give children safe havens from violence and alternatives to drugs.  They have put students on the right path by providing quality education programs that have led many students to college. They believe that a future filled with hope and promise is the best answer to the hopelessness of drugs.

 

AAFI has used their own personal resources to start programs for children who are at risk.  Without their educational interventions these students would have dropped out from school. They have made after school academic activities available to children as well as community awareness and athletic activities. They have provided access to such learning resources as books and computers; because low-income children can suffer serious academic losses over the summer. The leadership in AAFI is conscious that those months need not become a time for losing ground academically or getting into trouble, but they need help of community resources to increase and continue providing services.                                                                                                                                  

Need to Support  AAFI, Kids for PEACE Project   

Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project proposes to provide after-school activities for 418 elementary and middle school students residing in the 76^th Assembly District and the 18^th Council District in the Bronx.

The median household income for most of the families in the Bronx is $27,257, up to 15% of the population is unemployed, and the area has a high rate of out of home placements, indicating disruptions in family life that may cause educational lags.  One in five families receives Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and 16% of all births in these areas are to teen mothers.  Between 1992 and1996, this area saw an influx of more than 12,000 new immigrants, mostly from Hispanic countries such as the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Honduras.[1]  The death rates in these communities due to AIDS and homicide are higher than the city average by 90%, hospitalization rates due to asthma are 85% higher,[2] and the high school drop out rate is 30% higher. 98,791 school age-children needed out of school time programs in 2004 and did not receive them.                                                                                                                                  

The youth in these communities lack the public resources they need for constructive forms of recreation and academic enrichment in the after-school hours. There are few public libraries, very few playgrounds, and no pubic recreation centers for the children and youth under the age of 18.  The ratio of public library books is 0.5 per child compared to a city average of 6.2, and the ratio of children per park acre is 783 compared to a city average of 139.[3]  For most families, the public schools are the only cultural and recreational resource available. 

Compounding other educational barriers, most parents are limited in their ability, either by time constraints, work commitments, or language barriers to help their children with homework.  Too often parents are not available to their children after-school, when students are most at risk to the dangers of the streets.  Students are in desperate need of a safe place to go after school, and caring adult role-models who are able to offer academic assistance and help students focus on future professional and life goals.  By offering support to students before, during and after their transition to middle school, Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will provide our students with a firm base of support to reach future goals. 

 

 

Adopt a Friend Inc. Responds to the Responds to the Needs of Parents                                               

Most children have parents who work outside the home. These families must be able to find and pay for good day care. Paying for after school programs in private settings is added stress to many of the families residing in New York City. “America after 3 PM” was commissioned by the After School Alliance[4] with funding from the JC Penney After School Fund to conduct the first ever National Household Survey “America After 3PM” on how kids spend the after school hours. The study shows that our nation is failing to give its children safe, supervised activities during the often-dangerous afternoon hours. For all those reasons, it is imperative that Adopt a Friend Inc. reach out and connect to families and children and become involved in education in their local community.

When Secretary of Education Richard Riley issued the guide of “Religious Expression in Public Schools,”[5] he opened the door to education partnerships with faith communities as another effective way to support children's learning. Adopt a Friend Inc. is in position to step in to support families in their educational aspirations. As part of the commitment to address the serious issues facing our community in the 21st century, Adopt a Friend Inc. was formed as a community faith-based organization through a partnership of religious and community leaders who sought to provide superior services to assist in the development and growth in the various communities that are targeted for improvements. It is a non-denominational organization made up of more than 169 Houses of Worship and more than 100 community organizations.

In preparation for the Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project, Adopt a Friend Inc. Education Committee has established additional partnerships with the New York City Department of Education and the New York City Police Department.  We share the common goals of seeking to help students stay safe and productively engaged during the summer and after-school hours. Through this collaboration, we will provide wholesome activities for after school in twelve Houses of Worship Schools. By sponsoring alcohol- and drug-free activities, and by providing extracurricular learning opportunities, mentors, internships, character education and community service work, we will make a difference for youth in their community.                                                                                                                                 

Good educational programs keep younger kids safe and older kids out of trouble. They also motivate and engage children who might otherwise be tempted to watch too much television, or who might remain inactive and isolated during the after-school hours. Working mothers would also have PEACE of mind leaving their children in the care of after school staff in the Houses of Worship.  As one mother recently shared with us,   “I prefer to enroll my child in the house of worship summer program and after school because they provide smaller classes and more safety. My child’s class has a parent volunteer each day, and other support staff.”     

Another parent said: “The school curriculum in the house of worship is more challenging and the children behave better. So I am committed to doing a bit more at home, though I also recognize that academics are only one part of school; he does not complain of being bored and he is learning so much about social relations.”

1. Target Population for Adopt a Friend Inc. Kids for P.E.A.C.E. Project

 

The 418 students are predominantly Hispanic and African-American residing in the 76th assembly District and the 18^th Council District in the Bronx. More than 50% of the students are enrolled in the English Language Learners curriculum, and 15% of the students are enrolled in special education classes on either a full-time or part-time basis. 

Over 50% of the students who will participate in this program failed to meet state standards for English Language Arts, and almost 45% fail to meet the standards for Mathematics. [6]

 

2. QUALITY OF PROJECT DESIGN.

A.  Goals and Objectives:

 

 Goal 1: Students’ academic performance will be improved in core subject areas by providing meaningful after-school learning activities delivered by a qualified staff.

 

 Objective 1.1: Each year, 100% of participating students, in the summer program, will receive academic support and tutoring in core subject areas as well as other social and cultural enrichment. 

 

 Objective 1.2: Over the course of the grant, active participants will show gains in math and/or language arts, and increased school day attendance. 

 

Goal 2: Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will broaden 418 students’ educational and cultural experiences through activities that are otherwise unavailable to them in after school programs, in such areas as arts, technology, and sports/physical activity.

 

 Objective 2.1: Every year, 100% of active students will participate in at least one new academic, one arts-based, and one structured physical activity that is not offered during the school day.

 

 Objective 2.2: At least 90% of active students will participate in a performance or demonstration for family, friends, and teachers, using new skills.

 

Objective2:3:  The students and the staff of the Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will produce two video tapes and a curriculum guide to document the project activities.

 

Goal 3: Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will provide a safe environment for and promote the healthy social development of 418 participating students, reducing the risk of drug use, violence, and teen pregnancy.

 

Objective 3.1: All students will participate in proper nutrition, exercise, recreation, and wellness activities designed to reduce obesity while building self-esteem, positive peer relationships, social, emotional, and intellectual skills.

 

Objective 3.2: Participants will demonstrate improved classroom behavior, reduced absenteeism, and will engage in fewer unsupervised or otherwise unsafe situations that include fighting, alcohol, drugs, and criminal activities, as reported through student and parent/caregiver surveys.

 

 Objective 3.3: Each year, 60% of students will participate in community service activities such as the Community Involvement Project that will strengthen their connections to the community, and instill a sense of personal and collective social responsibility.  They will also present their work in a public presentation.

 

 Objective 3.4: 90% of active students will be introduced to career opportunities in at least five different professions.

 

Goal 4: Adopt a Friend Inc. Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will increase parent and caregiver involvement in their children’s education, improve family literacy, and increase families’ access to social services within the community.

 

Objective 4.1: Evening and weekend workshops will be offered that provide parents with tools, resources and strategies to assist their children with their academic needs, including homework.

 

Objective 4.2: Parents/caregivers will be provided with opportunities for academic and career exploration that emphasize high school completion, early planning, and goal setting; and provided information on how to access social services and higher education institutions in the Bronx, such as English courses and other adult education opportunities.

 

Objective 4.3: 60% of parents/caregivers will participate in at least one student performance, field trip, open house, or culminating event.

 

Objective 4.4: All students’ parents/caregivers will be provided an opportunity to participate in the monthly Parent/Advisory Council meetings to provide feedback on the project.

 

Goal 5: To address the after-school needs of children and parents for consistent after-school programming by establishing an after-school infrastructure in the Houses of Worship Schools that is strong, flexible, and sustainable.

 

Objective 5.l: In the first year, the project will be developed through a unique collaboration between Adopt a Friend Inc., The New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Education, College of New Rochelle, Mercy College, Elected Officials and other community organizations to create an effective extended platform for learning.

 

Objective 5.2: Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will increase its capacity to operate high-quality summer after-school programming through ongoing staff training and professional development.

 

Objective 5.3: Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will make modifications as needed to maximize the efficiency and quality of service delivery.

 

Program Activities

 

Adopt a Friend Inc. Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will provide 418 students with safe space and supervision during after-school hours, engaging them in relevant and empowering experiences and activities with a focus on academics, community, arts, and careers.  The curriculum is based on the premise that observation and participation are essential elements of a good education, and that youth learn best when topics are presented to them in an appropriate and relevant manner.  During the summer from July 1, 2009 to August 10, 2009, 288 students in grades K-5 will be engaged in after-school activities in the African Union Star academy from 9:00 A.M. to 6 P.M. Mondays – Fridays.  One hundred thirty two students in grades 6-8 will be engaged in summer activities from 9:00 A.M. to 6 P.M. Mondays –Friday. On one Saturday each month, students and their parents will engage in family literacy activities from 9 a.m. – Noon. Project activities will take place in the Houses of Worship Schools.  Students will be expected to attend every day.

Adopt a Friend Inc. Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project is a unique project model combining academic enrichment, recreation and youth development programs, and family literacy services during the summer, after-school hours.  The project includes special family support services to help students and their families cope with the transition from Elementary to Middle School – and the challenges of adolescence. Adopt a Friend Inc. is working with Local Elected Officials, the Department of Education, the consortium for Workers Education, and the Soundview Coalition to offer core services and determine project content.

Project components will be offered to all active Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project participants unless otherwise noted.  

                                                                                                                               

a.       Educational Services:   Academic enrichment components of the project include help with core basic subjects, community-based learning activities, and career fair and special events. Classes in academic subjects seeks to provide support to students in the accurate completion of their school work assignments; focusing on key areas such as mathematics, literacy, social studies and science.  Students are allocated dedicated time to do class projects, complete their academic work, begin their homework assignments and/or to study for upcoming tests.  Department of Education teachers and project staff will be available to provide one-on-one help.  The Kids for P.E.A.C.E. Project is the center of Adopt a Friend Inc. and the African Union Star Academy. It offers students an extended school day allowing students to become actively involved in assessing, analyzing, and addressing social problems in their community such as homelessness, gang violence, drug abuse and the environment. Project participants will learn how to conduct research, develop their leadership abilities, and work as a team, while contributing to the growth and development of their community. The students will write about their real life problems to produce a guide that will be disseminated to other Houses of Worship Schools and community organizations.

 

b.      Trips, Spelling Contests and Career Orientation activities help students make the connection between success in school and success in life.  One week of after-school activities will be devoted to a Career Goals where guest speakers from a variety of professions will talk to students about their jobs and required educational preparation.  Plan Trips to City and the Neighborhood is an educational curriculum created for 8^th grade students by Scholastic, Inc. to strengthen reading and writing through activity-based learning. Students will visit Central Park, Sonny Wonder Technology Lab. the Bronx Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and the American Museum of Natural History.  The Spelling competitions is a fun way to encourage literacy among elementary school students, and on-going spelling competitions will be organized between K, 1&2, and 3^rd-5^th grade students. Champions must retain their “title” through challenges from their peers during special events throughout the year.  Eligible students must participate in their school’s summer and after -School Extended Day Reading and Math components.  This project is staffed by Houses of Worship staff, New York City Department of Education schools’ teachers, Mercy College Interns, Police Officers and Youth Counselors to provide support with literacy and the comprehension and application of mathematical concepts.

 

c.       Enrichment and Support Activities:  Fitness and Recreation provides valuable learning experiences to students that broaden their physical fitness experiences beyond sports, exposes students to the mental benefits of physical discipline, and promotes healthy hygiene and lifestyles. Activities include organized sports, dance, games, art, and poetry that allow students to have fun in an organized, safe environment Children will be introduced to other cultures through fun, upbeat world music. Materials are used to entertain, educate, inspire cultural curiosity, and encourage K-8 students to become global citizens.

 

d. Conflict Management Classes for Middle Grades and Middle School students utilizing improvisation, role play and theatre games to help students explore their thoughts and feelings around chosen themes and goals. Lead by church’s teaching artists students will learn behavior management skills while creating and presenting a showcase/performance.  A group of seventh and eighth grade students will participate in Family Living Sex Education Classes, ADOPT A FRIEND INC. school-based, asset-building, and mental health model of pregnancy and disease prevention. Through small-group discussions, teens will learn comprehensive, up-to-date sexual health information, build positive peer support, challenge the stereotypes of the youth culture, and acquire the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to set goals and resist peer pressure. To help students prepare for the challenges of adolescence, a group of 5^th grade students and their parents/caregivers. Students will write about their experiences and a guide will be completed for dissemination.

 

e. Workshops and conferences will improve parent-child communication about issues such as school, respectful relationships and peer’s pressure for drinking, drugs and gang life, and sex. The project will take place for 6-weeks during the summer and after school during the school year.

 

f. The Junior Achievement Project uses hands-on experiences to help young people understand the economics of life. In partnership with business and educators, Junior Achievement brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their potential. It allows students to express their life goals and the impact they want to make on the world utilizing dance, drama, poetry, and speech performances.

 

g. Services for Parents: The consortium of Workers Education will offer monthly Family Literacy Sessions for students and their parents with a special focus on helping English Language Learners increase their English language competency. Project staff will also offer evening workshops and encourage parental involvement in their children’s educations. The Parent Advisory Council will offer logistical planning and support for project special events, give parents the opportunity to discuss and address issues of concern, and provide publicity and evaluations of project activities and experiences.

 

h. Recruitment:  The Site Director will encourage student interest by giving presentations in the AUSA, engaging students in conversations about their interests and goals, and conducting orientations for teachers and staff during professional development days.  Kid-friendly and bilingual fliers will be distributed in the classrooms and taken home to parents.  The teacher director and staff in the school will also participate in identifying and recruiting students for the Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project.  The project will serve 416 students.  It is estimated that 60% of elementary school students and 50% of middle school students will maintain regular attendance over the school-year.  In an effort to increase student retention, weekly Group Meetings have been designed as a forum for students to share their ideas and suggestions, discuss the group’s progress, and address any conflicts if necessary.                     

 

i. Services that is not currently available: These students do not have access to quality after-school projects and are often going home to an empty house.  While unsupervised, they may fail to eat well, do their homework, watch too much television, have accidents, be victimized by violence, or engage in unsafe sexual activity.  Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will increase parental involvement in their children’s education by holding monthly family literacy events and inviting parents to student performances and other activities.  Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project will also provide supplemental instruction for English Language Learners to increase literacy levels.  Our Family Living Sex Education summer project with fifth grade students and their parents will provide additional social support during the critical transition to middle school. 

 

j. Development Approach: Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project uses an asset-building model to give students the personal resources needed to make wise decisions, choose positive paths, and grow up competent, capable and caring.  The project offers boundaries and high expectations, a constructive use of students’ time, and helps young people develop a commitment to learning and positive values.  Through bi-lingual instruction, group activities, one-on-one contact, and special events, students gain a sense of their own power, purpose and worth and build a positive connection to their community.  The project utilizes a youth development framework[7] - an approach dedicated to meeting the human development needs of youth and building a set of core assets and competencies needed to participate successfully in adolescent and adult life.  The youth development approach is holistic, asset-based and culturally relevant.  This approach is based on academic and policy literature that suggests that six basic human needs are critical to both survival and to healthy development. They are: a sense of safety and structure, a sense of belonging and membership, a sense of self worth/contributing, a sense of independence/control over one’s life, a sense of closeness/relationships, and a sense of competency/mastery (health/physical, personal/social, cognitive/creative, vocational, and citizenship competencies).[8] Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project is outcome-focused rather than problem-focused, views youth as resources, and suggests the need for an infrastructure of community based developmental supports for youth. 

 

j. Coordination in September:  The project director, assistant supervisor, teachers, youth counselors, consultants, media specialists, curriculum developer will meet one week in September to ensure the integration of Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project within the school.  The Teacher in Charge will serve as the Academic Liaison between the project and the school, ensuring that the learning needs of project students are being addressed and supporting day-to-day management issues such as space, student discipline, and curriculum integration.  In addition, teachers will assist with homework help; ensuring students receive appropriate and relevant guidance on their assignments. 

 

 

Proposed Weekly Program Schedule:

Sample Kids for P.E.A.C.E. K, 1^st, & 2^ndGrade Schedule

3, 4 & 5^th grade

 

TIME	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
3:00-3:15	GATHERING	GATHERING	GATHERING	GATHERING	GATHERING
3:15-4:00	Homework Help	Homework Help	Homework Help	Homework Help	Homework Help
4:00-4:20	SNACK	SNACK	SNACK	SNACK	SNACK
4:20-5:5:15	Reading , Math Character Education through Enrichment Activities	Community Change Project Character Education through Enrichment Activities	Reading , Math Character Education through Enrichment Activities	Community Change Project  Character Education through Enrichment Activities	Reading , Math Character Education through Enrichment Activities
5:15-5:45	Fitness and recreation	Fitness and recreation	Fitness and recreation	Fitness and recreation	Fitness and recreation
5:45-6:00	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal

 

 

 

Sample Kids for P.E.A.C.E Middle School Schedule

 

TIME	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY		THURSDAY		FRIDAY
3:315	GATHERING	GATHERING		GATHERING		GATHERING	GATHERING
3:15-4:00	Homework Help	Homework Help		Homework Help		Homework Help	Enrichment Activities
4:00-4:25	MEALTIME	MEALTIME	MEALTIME		MEALTIME		MEALTIME
4:25-5:15	Reading, Math, character Education through Community Change Project	Reading, character Education through Community Change Project Enrichment Activities	Reading, Math character Education through Community Change Project Enrichment Activities 4:30)		Reading, Math character Education through Community Change Project Enrichment Activities		Reading, Math character Education through Community Change Project Enrichment Activities
5:15-5:45
5:15 – 6:00	Fitness & Recreation	Music	Dance		Fitness & Recreation
6:00	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal		Dismissal		Dismissal

 

 

4.       Parent and Student Involvement:

Adopt a Friend Inc. Educational Committee held Focus groups from September, 2007 to September 2008 to solicit feedback from students, parents, and the teacher director in the AUSA to help in the design of the Kids for P.E.A.C.E. summer and after-school project.  These focus groups helped determine the content and design of the project.  On an ongoing basis, feedback will be solicited during weekly student group meetings and monthly Parent Advisory Council meetings.  Client satisfaction surveys will also be administered periodically to solicit feedback from students, parents, and other caretakers.  Consortium for Workers Education will provide English as a Second Language classes and Career Education to involve parents in their children’s educations and to increase literacy skills for parents and their children.  Community Outreach:  Houses of Worship Schools will be open to all students regardless of gender, race, national origin, color, or disability.  In a special effort to reach the parents of our largely immigrant population, promotional flyers for recruitment and events will be distributed in Spanish as well as English, and a portion of our after-school staff will be bilingual.  Safety, Health, and Nutrition Needs:  The first priority of Adopt a Friend Inc. summer and after-school project is to ensure the safety, health and welfare of participating students at all times. The African Union Star Academy is in the process of receiving School Age Child Care (SACC) registration to document our adherence to NYS standards of building and equipment use, discipline, fire safety, sanitation, staff background checks, and staff credentials and training.  All staff will be trained and familiar with their School.

 

 Emergency Response Plans:

 

Most children will have breakfast and lunch in the neighborhood public schools.  The site teacher director and other staff members will accompany them to the lunch and breakfast sites. A daily snack or light supper will be provided to all of our students to ensure they receive the nutrition they need to concentrate on their studies.  Student Travel:  The vast majority of our students live near the Houses of Worship Schools and will either be dropped off or picked up by an authorized representative, or will walk to and from school. 

 

5.  ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND QUALITY OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

Vision of Project Partners: 

The vision of Adopt a Friend Inc. after-school project is to improve academic performance and attendance, promote positive youth and character development through civic engagement, and create strong collaborative relationships between families, schools, and communities.  Partner Roles and Capacities: Adopt a Friend Inc. will partner with the 18^th City Council and 76th Assembly District, The Soundview Coalition, and the Consortium for Workers Education. Each partner has been involved in project planning; will participate in ongoing quarterly strategy meetings to determine project direction and execution; and will use their expertise to make the Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project a better summer and after-school project.  Adopt a Friend Inc. will recruit, hire, and train all after-school project staff except the Department of Education teachers; track student enrollment and attendance; and manage all day-to-day operations of the project.  Adopt a Friend will provide adequate space for after-school activities including computer facilities; space for project staff offices; custodial services and security staff; and Department of Education teachers for Homework Help.  Adopt a Friend Inc. will provide: training and technical assistance to Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project staff; after-school project expertise; and the evaluation of the project.  Adopt a Friend Inc. will also ensure that all activities are in compliance with grant requirements as well as New York City and State educational activities.  The consortium for Workers Education will design and implement a family literacy component at all the schools, using their expertise in reaching English Language Learners.  A Director will work with project staff for up to sixteen hours each month to build the capacity of the project, maintain relationships with neighborhood partners, and assist with the adoption of sustainable family literacy activities such as reading partners and peer-led conversations with parents.  

 

Student and Family Involvement:

Parent involvement is encouraged through Adopt a Friend Inc. Parent Advisory Council which allows the direction, input, and involvement of the family members of project participants.  At the beginning of the project, flyers will be sent to parents, encouraging their participation.  Parents will be asked to let staff know their availability for meetings when they sign-in at project events. The Council will offer logistical planning and support for project special events, will allow parents the opportunity to discuss and address issues of concern, and will offer publicity and evaluations of project activities and experiences. 

Adopt a Friend Inc. has a membership of more than 100 community organizations. The AAFI director is a  recognized leader and innovator in youth development, teen pregnancy prevention, and teen family support projects serving thousands of impoverished youth in New York City and each year.  Adopt a Friend Inc. have been providing enrichment and support to New York City Public School children for more than 10 years - during the school day, after school, and during the summer months.

 

Family Living and Sex Education:

 Adopt a Friend Inc. s has been working with AUSA to reduce teen pregnancy and AIDS prevention, for more than 10 years. They have served many students annually.  A long-term evaluation shows that their initiatives have significantly improved students’ self-esteem, sense of empowerment, and communication and relationships with parents.

 

Program Management:

Adopt a Friend Inc. will employ a licensed  supervisor who will be the site Director and will be responsible for maintaining partners’ relationships, developing project policies and procedures, supervising personnel, managing the project budget; developing and overseeing the parent advisory council, and designing marketing strategies and materials that support project goals.  The Site Director will be responsible for ensuring the safety of all project participants; supervising project staff and volunteers; documenting attendance of project participants; supporting the design and implementation of the project evaluation; and managing the project calendar.  The site director will serve as the Academic Liaison between the project and the school, supporting day-to-day management issues such as space, student discipline, and curriculum integration. 

The site director will be responsible for developing relationships with parents and other members of the community; supporting the coordination of the Parent Advisory Committee; and scheduling events and activities designed for parents.

A site director, a teacher, 3 Youth Educators, will be responsible for educating and supervising groups of 10-15 students in activities including homework help, recreational activities and the Community Change Project.  Group educators assist in developing educational and recreational activities; implement lesson plans; prepare and submit reports related to project activities and attendance; and coordinate special events and field trips. 

AAFI will hire five youth educators. Additional staff members include two Specialty Instructors for art and dance, a Curriculum Specialist will work with all the sites to modify the Community Change Project and identify curriculum to meet the needs of middle school students, and two Teachers who will implement the summer Family Living Sex Education project for 5-8^th grade students and their parents.                                           The educational consultant will be responsible for engaging the entire project staff community in thinking critically about student achievement.  They will bring in a consistent focus on common instructional strategies in a student-centered classroom. They will be responsible for designing a professional development program that will model rigorous and relevant instruction in all the classrooms.                                       They will collect students writing reflections on moral dilemmas to prepare a curriculum guide that will be disseminated by the end of June.   They will look at strategies for developing and creating student-centered lessons that invite students to construct their own meaning. Their focus includes - the relevance of essential questions, higher order thinking skills, and linking visual literacy with listening and reading skills.                         The media consultant will be responsible for setting up video equipment, for checking the lighting, framing, and other visual elements and for making any adjustments if needed before the video gets rolling. They will prepare film and video tape for the production of a final version for showing. They will arrange shots, adjust and enhance the quality of pictures and add special effects if needed.                                                                              The media consultants will be responsible for matching sound to pictures, fixing sound levels, preparing new soundtracks and dubbing. They will be responsible for mixing sounds and adding music, background noise, special effects or narration.  They will prepare, cut and splice and edit films. They will deal with shot by shot, in sequence. And they will download all the footage on to computer hard disks. They then use editing software to produce the final version.

After School Staffing for Twelve Sites

Site	AAAF (African Union star Academy)
Staffing Pattern	1 Supervisor , 1assistant supervisor , 10 teachers 10  youth counselors
Staff supervision	the supervisor supervises teachers, and youth counselors
Number of Salary staff	22
Number of non-salary staff	4
Total number of participant hours each week, assuming 80% attendance	26
Total number of staff hours worked each week	20
Staff to student ratio	1 to 5

 

 

Staff Development: 

 

At the beginning of September, all staff will attend a one week training session covering public speaking, conflict management, group management, the Community Service project, and other education-related curricula.  A detailed procedures and policy manual outlines their duties, the project curriculum, and operating procedures for each new staff member.  This manual will also include an outline of staff positions, sample project schedules, rules for interacting with children, transporting children on field trips, ensuring child safety during and after the project hours, maintaining the facility, interacting with the school and parents, and mandatory reporting requirements.  In addition, the curriculum for both staff and students includes a code of behavior and discipline as well as a rewards system and suspension procedures.  

                                           

5. ADEQUACY OF RESOURCES: Adequacy of resources covering the periods from September 2009 –June the5, 2010.  The 2008-2009 budgets will be modified depending on grant award date.  The total averaging budget for Kids for P.E.A.C.E. Project is $439,790.00; the cost average per student is $1057.18.
6. Adopt a Friend Inc. is in the process of securing funding from Elected Officials, and the collaboration from the consortium of Workers Education, the NYC Department of Education, to enrich the Kids for P.E.A.C.E. project.  The consortium for workers Education will provide an in-kind donation of training and technical assistance specifically.  The dollar funds will be allocated to Group Educator salaries including fringe, Curriculum specialist, educational consultant, script writer, media consultant program supplies at $60/child, and program development at $28.75/child.  AAFI will contribute space in their school buildings including access to classrooms, computers, and other facilities.
7. Use of other Federal, State and Local Programs Adopt a Friend Inc. will apply to the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development for a $416,000 grant to support Kids for P.E.A.C.E. in July 2007.  Decisions are still pending.  Plan for Continued Funding:  Over the grant-period, efforts will be made to increase the level of private support being allocated to the program.  Adopt a Friend Inc. will leverage our expertise in program delivery and long-term relationships with funders to ensure the continuation of Kids for P.E.A.C.E. 

 

8. QUALITY OF PROJECT EVALUATION.

 

</SEvaluation Design:  The evaluation will demonstrate the extent to which the project achieves its operational goals outlined in Section 2 to: improve students’ academic performance, broaden students’ educational and cultural experiences, promote the social development of participants, increase parent and caregiver involvement in their children’s educations, and create a safe and sustainable after-school environment.

 

1.       How does participation in the project affect the academic performance of students?

Benchmarks: Within the first year, active participants will demonstrate improved achievement in either math or English Language Arts and their rates of school day attendance will increase.

Performance Indicators: test scores, teacher reports, enrollment and attendance data.

 

2.       How does participation in the project affect the emotional and social development of at-risk students? And to what extent does participation in the program reduce the risk of students’ engaging in adverse behaviors?

 

Benchmarks: Each year, active participants will demonstrate improved self-esteem, more positive attitudes towards school, improved classroom behavior, and engage in fewer adverse behaviors.

 

Performance Indicators: Student, supervisor, assistant supervisor, teacher’s directors and parent/caregiver surveys.

 

3.       Does participation enhance students’ transition into middle school, and promote parent and caregiver involvement?

 

Benchmarks: Over the grant term, active participants will be more likely to make a successful transition into middle school as demonstrated by reports of their performance and behavior. 

 

Performance Indicators: parent/caregiver and student surveys, school reports.

 

4.       Does <SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic">the project offer a range of high quality educational, developmental and recreational services to 4the6 students and the00 parents and caregivers annually?

 

Benchmarks: Each year, the project will offer students 15 to 20 hours a week of after school and Saturdays activities. The range of programming designed and implementation will be done in collaboration with the Consortium for Workers Education, The staff will receive at least 2 hours of appropriate training or professional development and each site director will participate in at least four days of professional development. 

 

Performance Indicators: Site visits by project monitors, quarterly reports, enrollment and attendance data.

 

5.       Is the project able to engage sufficient numbers of students and their families in these services?

 

Benchmarks: In October, 90% of active participants will engage weekly 10 hours of academic supports and five hours of enrichment, including tutoring, and athletic activities. 70% of active participants will weekly receive five hours of activities that promote self-esteem, develop social, emotional, and intellectual skills, and positive peer relationships.  50 parents/caregivers will participate in after-school school activities at least four times during the summer, and at least 20 parents will become actively involved in the Parent Advisory Council.  Each month, at least 20 families will participate in 2 hours of Family Literacy activities.  In the first year, at least fifteen 5^th grade students and their parents will participate in a 5-week Family Living Sex Education Summer Program.

 

 Performance Indicators: Data derived from site visits reports of the project monitor, quarterly reports, and attendance reports.

                                                                                               

6.  Does the project provide the target school with a strong and sustainable infrastructure for the delivery of high quality and effective after-school services to all students who need them?

 

Benchmarks: In the first year, the project will provide quality after-school programming to 416 students and to 100 parents from the 18^th Council District and the 76th Assembly District,  providing structure and content that will reflect in put from Teachers Director, and Youth Counselors, Teachers, Consultants and other staff.  The Director, the Teachers, Representative from community organizations will participate at Quarterly Partner Meetings to ensure their collaboration.  Each year, the project will evaluate, and if necessary, modify program components to maximize the efficiency and quality of service delivery. 

 

Performance Indicators: Partnership protocols, site director reports, budgets and financial reports, attendance data, and teacher, principal, site director, and parent/caregiver surveys.

 

Types and Frequency of Data Collection:

 

 1.  Enrollment and attendance data will be collected on a weekly basis by site director and reported to Adopt a Friend Inc. It will be analyzed on a monthly basis and reported to Adopt a Friend Inc. and partners quarterly.

2. Participant, staff, supervisor, assistant supervisor, parent/caregiver and teacher will respond to surveys that will be administered at the end of the summer and annually to a sample of participants.

 3. Data gathered from periodic site visit reports, quarterly reports and annual appraisals prepared by Adopt a Friend Inc. and project staff will be reviewed annually.  Annual test scores and school attendance data will be extracted bi-annually, analyzed and reported on by TASC, subject to availability. 

Student and Family Involvement: Evaluation information will be shared with the Parent Advisory Council on a quarterly basis, and students will be encouraged to voice their opinions at weekly group meetings.

 

Reports and Outcomes: At the end of June 2010 two video tapes will document the program activities, accomplishments, and outcomes. In addition, a self-assessment questionnaire will be conducted at the end of the summer and a curriculum guide with the children’s scripted lessons will be completed by the end of August.

 

Program Improvements: AAFI, evaluator, will distribute quarterly reports to Kids for P.E.A.C.E. partners on enrollment and attendance data.  This data will be reviewed at the quarterly Partner Strategy Meetings, and will drive discussion on ways to enhance and improve the program.

 

Evaluator and Qualifications:  Adopt a Friend Inc. Educational Committee will hire an educational consultant who will assist site supervisor in the evaluation of the project.  Adopt a Friend Inc. Educational Committee and Planning Committee will be responsible for designing the evaluation instruments and analyzing the data collected. AUSA be assigned a program officer who will assist the site in administering survey instruments and securing data from the school and program operators. In addition to using data for reporting purposes, program officers will integrate findings into their ongoing monitoring activities, and have them serve as the basis for additional training and technical assistance.

 

 

Staff Budget for the School Year 2010-11

 

 

Staff	#	Hrs. per day/Saturday	# of days	Rate per hour	total
Teachers	12	3per day /5 Saturdays	150	40.00	$216,000.00
Supervisor/director	01	1	150		$56,250.00
Media  consultants	0	1	100	50.00	$5,000.00
Script writer	01	1	100	30.00	$3,000.00
Curriculum Specialist	01	1	50	40.00	$2,000.00
Secretaries	01		100	30.00	$3,000.00
Assistant supervisor	01	1	150		$35,000.00
Accountant	01	1	75	62.50	$14,062.25
Total					$334,250.25

 

Budget Request for the School Year 2010-11

 

	Expenses
Teachers	216,000
Supervisor/director	56,000
Assistant supervisor	35,000
Media Consultant	5,000
Script Writer	3,000
Equipment	6,815
Activity Equipment	8,400
Telephones	3,600
Postage	1,800
Trips	42,000
Refreshments	7,200
Printing	4,800
Secretary	3,000
curriculum specialist	2,000
games	1,800
total	394,615

 

 

Other Expenses for the summer

Other Expenses
Games	1,800
Video Equipment	6,815
Telephones	3,600
Postage	1,800
Trips	42,000
Refreshments	7,200
Printing	4,800
Activities equipment	8,400
	76,415

 

 

 

Quotation for video production equipment and materials
	Name	Brand	Model	Serial#
3, 699.00	Camera	Sony	HDR-FXthe	B&H #SOHRXtheXQ-
830.00	Video Switcher	Edirol/Roland	Vthe	B&h #EDVthe------------
112.00	Light	SV840	SV840AC/DC	B&H #SMSV840-----
40.00	Cable	Power	Mfr #the2thethe	COSRCAM25---------
570.00	Monitors	Hitachi	C2theF88OSNT	B&H------------------------$570.00
170.00	Microphone	Sennheiser	Mfr # SEMK300	B &H
70.00	Tripod	Velbon	Mfr #Vev607	B&H
15.00	DV-Tapes	TDK	60 min	Mfr#292344------------
180.00	DVD/VCR	Toshiba		Mfr #SD26VSR-------
11.00		RCA	Tthe20PAKthe2Tthe20H
28.00	TDK-DVD-RW	TDK-Spindle	4.7 GB	DVD-RW47CB25----
370.00	Corrector	Video	TVONE	Mfr #theTTkc-B&HTVI
700.00	Digital Camera	Canon	Rebel XTI	Mfr # the236B002-----
20.00	Power Surge	Protector	Mfr #556B	B&H
$6,815.95
These items can be found at B&H Photo-Video-Pro Audio
420Ninth Avenue, New York, NY,10001