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Latchkey for success
February 4, 2003
Dear Community Leader,
Please allow “LatchKEY To Success” to share our vision with you. The future of today’s youth is in our hands. With all of the pressures in the world today, we feel the children of this community need a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where they can learn and grow while seeing Biblical principals in action. The “LatchKEY To Success” program is a non-profit organization. All activities will be offered at no charge to the users of our facility. Our goal is to help mold today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.
Low-income families and single parents/guardians create a large percentage of poverty level households. Children in this situation may go home to an empty house after school every day. An empty home with no adults around is a potential “breeding ground” for mischief, or worse. We at “LatchKEY To Success” do not feel that accountability is innate. We feel it is taught, and a necessary component of a successful person. The children that attend the “LatchKEY To Success” program will learn accountability.
We cannot stop the negative influences from entering our youth’s atmosphere. However, we can provide viable positive alternatives. “LatchKEY To Success” will offer programs that will enhance each child’s mind. We believe study time, playtime, and fellowship opportunities in a positive environment might make the difference in a child’s future.
Our goal cannot be achieved alone. We need your financial support. There are those in society that want to help others, but do not know how. If you are one of these individuals who would like to make a difference, please read further to gain a more detailed understanding of the “LatchKEY To Success” program.
Sincerely,
The “LatchKEY To Success” Executive Team
Contents
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4
INTRODUCTION 5
Purpose, Scope, and Limitations 5
Sources and Methods 5
WHAT IS “LATCHKEY TO SUCCESS?” 6
Mission Statement 7
Goal Statement 7
High-Level Operational Objectives 7
Performance Appraisal System 7
EXECUTIVE TEAM OVERVIEW 8
Location and Building Information 9
Demographic Information 9
“LATCHKEY TO SUCCESS” PROGRAMS 10
Mental 10
Physical 11
Emotional 11
Spiritual Emphasis 12
FUNDING EFFORTS 13
Keystone Contributors 13
Government Assistance 14
MARKETING OVERVIEW 15
Feedback Opportunity 15
SAFETY & LEGAL AFFAIRS 16
CONCLUSION 17
WORKS CITED 18
APPENDICES 19
Executive Summary
This report analyzes LatchKEY to Success’ after school program. Our goal is to receive funding in order to provide a safe and wholesome atmosphere for the children of our community.
Why is LatchKEY to Success needed in our community?
Research has shown that in our community, approximately 90% of our families have children left after school with little or no supervision. Of that 90%, nearly 70% are single parent families that struggle daily to make ends meet. LatchKEY to Success will play an important role in our community because we offer a rewarding atmosphere for the children of these families free of charge. Even more devastating, 21% of American children under eighteen years of age live below poverty level, 15% live in households receiving cash assistance or food stamps and 19% of children live with a parent or guardian who has not graduated from high school.
What will LatchKEY to Success do to improve this standard in our community?
In all facets of programming, every young person is treated as one of God’s children. We strongly believe the most important job a person can have is to teach or influence another in a positive direction. The goal of “LatchKEY to Success” is to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with each young person by ministering to their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual being. Students in our program will receive assistance with homework, build academic skills, and work with caring adults whose special help and encouragement builds self-esteem. Physical activity helps to build strong bones to last a lifetime and provides a positive outlet for play and stress relief. The mental and spiritual side of our program will provide positive encouragement and the opportunity to have someone to talk to when tough decisions need to be made.
What end result can be expected from LatchKEY to Success?
We are hoping to look back on this experience and as an end result, see our community enhanced by an increase in students graduating from high school, a reduction in crime rate, and improved self esteem in our youth.
Building an Effective Non-Profit Youth Program
Introduction
Today, more than 28 million school-age children have parents who work outside the home. An estimated five to seven million, and up to as many 15 million “latch-key children” return to an empty home after school. When the school bell rings, the anxiety for parents often just begins. They worry about their children being safe, and whether they are susceptible to drugs and crime.
Purpose, Scope, and Limitations
The purpose of the “LatchKEY To Success” program is to provide an affordable place for “latch key” kids to go after school that would enhance their lives. We hope to implement this program community wide. The limitations of the program are the size of the facility and the dollars we have to spend at this time.
Sources and Methods
In preparing this report, our team analyzed data relating to existing youth programs. We spoke with current employees of these programs to find the “best practices” at each facility and incorporated those practices into our plans. Additionally, we met with psychologists to gain a better understanding of the “latch key” child’s mindset.
What is “LatchKEY To Success?”
“LatchKEY To Success” is a program built around the concept of providing opportunities. Our vision is to create opportunities for our community’s youth, and opportunities for businessmen and businesswomen to support a wholesome project.
We have a gap in youth services in our community. It is a gap our team believes we can fill. Each day, a substantial number of our area’s kids leave school and come home to an empty house, often without a parent or guardian around for hours. Simply put, they are “latch key” kids. What our program will succeed in doing will be to provide Monday – Friday after school care for our community’s youth, for grades K – 12, free of charge. We are launching a non-profit, multi-disciplined program designed to be a place for kids to go and spend the after school hours playing and learning, instead of heading home or out to the streets, unsupervised.
One might ask what “multi-disciplined” means. It means that the “LatchKEY To Success” program will not merely be a big room with toys where kids come and play. Our agenda will contain several choices of activities each day that the youths may participate in. From sports to reading, from art to music, the “LatchKEY To Success” program will allow the kids to decide what they would like to do each day while providing a safe, wholesome place to do it.
Mission Statement:
The “LatchKEY To Success” Program is an after school organization, which aims to provide safe, wholesome personal growth opportunities to the youth of our community free of charge.
Goal Statement:
To enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of our community’s youth.
High-Level Operational Objectives:
Ø To have a membership level of 100 youth in the first year of operation.
Ø To receive $250,000 in the first three years through private and corporate donations.
Ø To have at least four activities available per day to meet the holistic needs of each youth member.
Ø To receive at least 95% parental/guardian rating of very good or excellent of all parents/guardians surveyed.
Performance Appraisal System:
We will mail out quarterly quality surveys to our membership to gain feedback on the quality of our program. Every quarter, a unique 25% of our membership will be mailed a one-page survey soliciting their feedback regarding the “LatchKEY To Success” program.
Executive Team Overview
Our executive team is helping to shape the future of “LatchKEY To Success.” Todd Sheldon, our Executive Director, is the top executive accountable to the community and contributors for the legal, moral, and ethical decisions made in the name of ““LatchKEY To Success”.” Basically, the “buck stops” with Todd. His priorities include the high level oversight of all our programs, as well as building quality relationships with our parents and contributors.
Maria Biggerstaff holds our Director of Funding position. Her position’s main tenet is to drive the effort to procure monetary and non-monetary donations for the “LatchKEY To Success” program. Additionally, Maria is responsible for insuring that moneys and items collected are used responsibly.
Sherrie Stevens holds the position of Program Director. Her team develops and implements wholesome, life affirming programs that allow for a child’s individual growth, while focusing on the community’s needs.
Our program’s Director of Marketing is Cortney Sweeney. Cortney’s team creates and implements innovative and impactful met...
February 4, 2003
Dear Community Leader,
Please allow “LatchKEY To Success” to share our vision with you. The future of today’s youth is in our hands. With all of the pressures in the world today, we feel the children of this community need a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where they can learn and grow while seeing Biblical principals in action. The “LatchKEY To Success” program is a non-profit organization. All activities will be offered at no charge to the users of our facility. Our goal is to help mold today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.
Low-income families and single parents/guardians create a large percentage of poverty level households. Children in this situation may go home to an empty house after school every day. An empty home with no adults around is a potential “breeding ground” for mischief, or worse. We at “LatchKEY To Success” do not feel that accountability is innate. We feel it is taught, and a necessary component of a successful person. The children that attend the “LatchKEY To Success” program will learn accountability.
We cannot stop the negative influences from entering our youth’s atmosphere. However, we can provide viable positive alternatives. “LatchKEY To Success” will offer programs that will enhance each child’s mind. We believe study time, playtime, and fellowship opportunities in a positive environment might make the difference in a child’s future.
Our goal cannot be achieved alone. We need your financial support. There are those in society that want to help others, but do not know how. If you are one of these individuals who would like to make a difference, please read further to gain a more detailed understanding of the “LatchKEY To Success” program.
Sincerely,
The “LatchKEY To Success” Executive Team
Contents
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4
INTRODUCTION 5
Purpose, Scope, and Limitations 5
Sources and Methods 5
WHAT IS “LATCHKEY TO SUCCESS?” 6
Mission Statement 7
Goal Statement 7
High-Level Operational Objectives 7
Performance Appraisal System 7
EXECUTIVE TEAM OVERVIEW 8
Location and Building Information 9
Demographic Information 9
“LATCHKEY TO SUCCESS” PROGRAMS 10
Mental 10
Physical 11
Emotional 11
Spiritual Emphasis 12
FUNDING EFFORTS 13
Keystone Contributors 13
Government Assistance 14
MARKETING OVERVIEW 15
Feedback Opportunity 15
SAFETY & LEGAL AFFAIRS 16
CONCLUSION 17
WORKS CITED 18
APPENDICES 19
Executive Summary
This report analyzes LatchKEY to Success’ after school program. Our goal is to receive funding in order to provide a safe and wholesome atmosphere for the children of our community.
Why is LatchKEY to Success needed in our community?
Research has shown that in our community, approximately 90% of our families have children left after school with little or no supervision. Of that 90%, nearly 70% are single parent families that struggle daily to make ends meet. LatchKEY to Success will play an important role in our community because we offer a rewarding atmosphere for the children of these families free of charge. Even more devastating, 21% of American children under eighteen years of age live below poverty level, 15% live in households receiving cash assistance or food stamps and 19% of children live with a parent or guardian who has not graduated from high school.
What will LatchKEY to Success do to improve this standard in our community?
In all facets of programming, every young person is treated as one of God’s children. We strongly believe the most important job a person can have is to teach or influence another in a positive direction. The goal of “LatchKEY to Success” is to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with each young person by ministering to their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual being. Students in our program will receive assistance with homework, build academic skills, and work with caring adults whose special help and encouragement builds self-esteem. Physical activity helps to build strong bones to last a lifetime and provides a positive outlet for play and stress relief. The mental and spiritual side of our program will provide positive encouragement and the opportunity to have someone to talk to when tough decisions need to be made.
What end result can be expected from LatchKEY to Success?
We are hoping to look back on this experience and as an end result, see our community enhanced by an increase in students graduating from high school, a reduction in crime rate, and improved self esteem in our youth.
Building an Effective Non-Profit Youth Program
Introduction
Today, more than 28 million school-age children have parents who work outside the home. An estimated five to seven million, and up to as many 15 million “latch-key children” return to an empty home after school. When the school bell rings, the anxiety for parents often just begins. They worry about their children being safe, and whether they are susceptible to drugs and crime.
Purpose, Scope, and Limitations
The purpose of the “LatchKEY To Success” program is to provide an affordable place for “latch key” kids to go after school that would enhance their lives. We hope to implement this program community wide. The limitations of the program are the size of the facility and the dollars we have to spend at this time.
Sources and Methods
In preparing this report, our team analyzed data relating to existing youth programs. We spoke with current employees of these programs to find the “best practices” at each facility and incorporated those practices into our plans. Additionally, we met with psychologists to gain a better understanding of the “latch key” child’s mindset.
What is “LatchKEY To Success?”
“LatchKEY To Success” is a program built around the concept of providing opportunities. Our vision is to create opportunities for our community’s youth, and opportunities for businessmen and businesswomen to support a wholesome project.
We have a gap in youth services in our community. It is a gap our team believes we can fill. Each day, a substantial number of our area’s kids leave school and come home to an empty house, often without a parent or guardian around for hours. Simply put, they are “latch key” kids. What our program will succeed in doing will be to provide Monday – Friday after school care for our community’s youth, for grades K – 12, free of charge. We are launching a non-profit, multi-disciplined program designed to be a place for kids to go and spend the after school hours playing and learning, instead of heading home or out to the streets, unsupervised.
One might ask what “multi-disciplined” means. It means that the “LatchKEY To Success” program will not merely be a big room with toys where kids come and play. Our agenda will contain several choices of activities each day that the youths may participate in. From sports to reading, from art to music, the “LatchKEY To Success” program will allow the kids to decide what they would like to do each day while providing a safe, wholesome place to do it.
Mission Statement:
The “LatchKEY To Success” Program is an after school organization, which aims to provide safe, wholesome personal growth opportunities to the youth of our community free of charge.
Goal Statement:
To enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of our community’s youth.
High-Level Operational Objectives:
Ø To have a membership level of 100 youth in the first year of operation.
Ø To receive $250,000 in the first three years through private and corporate donations.
Ø To have at least four activities available per day to meet the holistic needs of each youth member.
Ø To receive at least 95% parental/guardian rating of very good or excellent of all parents/guardians surveyed.
Performance Appraisal System:
We will mail out quarterly quality surveys to our membership to gain feedback on the quality of our program. Every quarter, a unique 25% of our membership will be mailed a one-page survey soliciting their feedback regarding the “LatchKEY To Success” program.
Executive Team Overview
Our executive team is helping to shape the future of “LatchKEY To Success.” Todd Sheldon, our Executive Director, is the top executive accountable to the community and contributors for the legal, moral, and ethical decisions made in the name of ““LatchKEY To Success”.” Basically, the “buck stops” with Todd. His priorities include the high level oversight of all our programs, as well as building quality relationships with our parents and contributors.
Maria Biggerstaff holds our Director of Funding position. Her position’s main tenet is to drive the effort to procure monetary and non-monetary donations for the “LatchKEY To Success” program. Additionally, Maria is responsible for insuring that moneys and items collected are used responsibly.
Sherrie Stevens holds the position of Program Director. Her team develops and implements wholesome, life affirming programs that allow for a child’s individual growth, while focusing on the community’s needs.
Our program’s Director of Marketing is Cortney Sweeney. Cortney’s team creates and implements innovative and impactful met...
Posted by: Chad Boger
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