SCHOOL SUCCESS
School environments have been found to play a significant role in adolescents' well-being. Effective programs in schools can help adolescents learn ways to foster their overall well-being and development. The effects of school on low-income communities have huge impacts in promoting social and emotional learning and success in later life. Resources provided in school and after-school programs can and will significantly alter an adolescent living in a low-income community.
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Why is this important?
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Recommended Programs Implemented in School & After-school Curriculum:
WYMAN
TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM
Original Developer: Brenda Hostetler
Current Owner/Purveyor: Wyman Center
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Geared towards middle and high school teens
Ages: 12-14 & 15-18 years old
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Implemented in a variety of settings, including in-school, after school, through community-based organizations, or in systems and institutional settings, including residential facilities.
​Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) has been implemented successfully with diverse communities and in both urban and rural environments. Independent research reviews by federal agencies and organizations have recognized TOP for its evidence-based.
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Promotes positive development of adolescents through curriculum-guided, interactive group discussions; positive adult guidance and support; and community service learning. Teen Outreach Program is delivered by trained adult facilitators across a nine-month period to groups of teens.
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Learn more at:
Afterschool Alliance
Directed by Jodi Grant
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Targeted towards youth, adolescents, and children
Ages: 3-18 years old
Currently runs in Washington D.C.
The mission of Afterschool Alliance is to keep youth safe, inspire learning, and give working parents the help they need. Alliance works to ensure that all youth have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs by bringing public and private investment into after-school programs at the national, state, and local level.
Statistics show that for every child in a program, two are waiting to get in. And that nationwide, 11.3 million children and youth are home alone within the span of 3 hours or more. Afterschool Alliance works towards targeting underserved and disadvantaged communities to bridge gaps in education and care.
The Afterschool Alliance works to encourage school attendance, achieve better grades, and increase the likelihood of graduating high school. They focus on supporting youth to reach their full potential and most importantly work towards addressing the inequality in education.
Ensure…
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Encourage Sustainable Investments
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Inspire Holistic Youth Development
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Support Equitable Access
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Empower Community Action
Learn more at:
Recommended Programs After-school Mentoring:
Teen Success, Inc
Empowering teen mothers, transforming lives
Directed by: Becky Morgan
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Targeted towards teen moms.
Ages: 13-18 years old
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Teen Success, Inc. empowers young mothers to graduate high school, pursue post-secondary education, and break out of the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children.
The young women they serve to receive the supports and education they need to create thriving futures for their families, including:​
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An Advocate: provides one-on-one coaching and support tailored to a young mother's unique situation
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Educational navigation: planning for and achieving educational goals through post-secondary while mitigating barriers to success
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Early childhood development: parenting skills, childhood development education, and emotional regulation skill building for mother and child
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Financial well-being: development of financial literacy, building career skills, and connection to career resources
Health and wellness: health knowledge development and connection to physical, emotional, and mental health care resources for both mother and child
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Learn more at:
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iMentor
Directed by Max Polaner
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Targeted towards adolescents.
Ages: 14- 18 years old
Located in New York City, Chicago, Bay Area & Baltimore.
The mission of iMentor is to work hand in hand with first-generation students from low-income communities to achieve a high school diploma, continue their success in college, and achieve greatness through the building of mentoring relationships.
iMentor works to ensure that students receive the resources and gain the ability to use education to navigate social systems. They work to ensure that mentors are useful to change agents and advocate for educational equity and access. Lastly, iMentor works to highlight diversity, equity, and inclusion practices as they fight to change and reach education equality.
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Learn more at:
Recommended Programs Available Online:
The Transition
Adjusting to College Life
SET TO GO | A JED PROGRAM
Directed by: Donna and Phil Satow
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Geared towards high school teens
Ages: 14-18 years old
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This program provides online information and tools to prepare students in high school to apply to college and become an adult. This website is available online to all types of students and families.
Set to Go is a nonprofit program from The Jed Foundation designed to help you transition out of high school and to college, university, job training or the world of work. Our resources help you prepare for greater independence by understanding the day-to-day skills and emotional skills you’ll need as well as the physical and mental health implications of living on your own, and more.
Their goal is to help adolescents thrive while adjusting to college. The transition from high school to college marks an important milestone along the path from adolescence to adulthood. ​
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Learn more at:
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Recommend Programs Available Outside of School-Based Learning:
Wilderness Youth Project
Directed by: Kyra Rogers
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Targeted towards youth and adolescent
Ages: 4 - 18 years-old
Location: Santa Barbara
The mission of the Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) is to foster confidence, health, and a life-long love of learning for young people and families through active outdoor experiences and mentoring.
While children today spend 95% of their time indoors, Wilderness Youth Project works to resolve that nature deficit, taking 1,200+ children outdoors each year through school and agency partnerships, after-school programs, and summer camps.
Wilderness Youth Project’s “Bridge to Nature” program serves students living in -low-income communities and meets them where they already are, at our partner organization sites and at schools. Beginning at age four, they connect with participants experiencing homelessness at Storyteller Children’s Center. These programs, paired with the opportunities to join summer camps, allow participants to maintain consistent and reliable connections with our mentors.
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Learn more at:
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