United Way of Central Oklahoma Awards Education Grants

OKLAHOMA CITY – United Way of Central Oklahoma awarded four education grants to local programs focused on improving the reading abilities at the third grade level and increasing the high school graduation rate. The grants are funded through a $150,000 bequest to United Way of Central Oklahoma.

Research demonstrates that children who have not gained the ability to read at an age-appropriate level by the third grade are at great risk of never obtaining this important ability. In addition, this research states that graduation from high school is one of the most critical determinates of success later in life.

The United Way Board of Directors, based on research and the recommendations of the selection committee, awarded four grants to the following organizations:

• City Care, Whiz Kids Tutoring & Mentoring Programming - $50,000
• Youth Services for Oklahoma County, SKIL Program - $50,000
• Moore Youth & Family Services, School-based Services - $25,000
• Positive Tomorrows, After School Tutoring & Enrichment Program - $25,000

City Care, Whiz Kids Tutoring and Mentoring Program, $50,000, for academic years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

The Whiz Kids mission is to improve the well-being of inner-city youth through academic tutoring, positive mentoring, as well as communicating spiritual and moral values. Whiz Kids' reading-focused tutoring program proactively focuses on improving literacy abilities and targets students from inner-city schools who are reading below grade level and who could benefit most from a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult.

The program partners with 51 local churches and over 1,000 volunteers serving more than 700 at-risk children from 23 urban schools, in neighborhoods with Oklahoma City's highest rates of illiteracy and lowest socio-economic levels. Students are referred into Whiz Kids in first or second grade and stay in the program until the end of elementary school. Through focused tutoring and educational support from a teacher liaison at each tutoring site, students in the Whiz Kids program are able to improve their reading proficiency each year.

United Way funding will help Whiz Kids deliver tutoring/mentoring services to students in four new schools in eastern and northeastern Oklahoma City in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. The targeted schools are: (a) Crutcho School, (b) Thelma Parks Elementary,(c) Moon Academy, and (d) Willowbrook Elementary.

Moore Youth & Family Services (MYFS), School-Based Services, $25,000, for academic years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

MYFS provides a variety of services focused on preventing juvenile delinquency, reducing substance abuse, and preserving and strengthening families. The School-based Services program provides high quality effective alcohol, drug and violence early intervention/prevention services to students at risk of dropping out of Moore Public Schools with the following objectives in the identified high risk population: 1. Reduce the number of drug, alcohol, tobacco and violence referrals by 5%. 2. Reduce the total number of excused and unexcused absences by 5%. 3. Maintain 95% of the students in school. Currently, federal and state funding cuts are placing the program in jeopardy.

The program serves 5 junior high schools and three high schools. With the support of this grant, the program will be able to serve up to 100 additional at risk students and the program can be enhanced with additional school-based counselors especially at the 3 high schools. Also, truancy groups could be expanded.

Positive Tomorrows, After-school Tutoring and Enrichment Program, $25,000, for academic years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

Positive Tomorrows is a Sanctuary of Hope; educating homeless children and their families for life. Positive Tomorrows will add after-school tutoring and enrichment programs to Positive Tomorrows students (homeless children Kindergarten through 5th grades). These are students whose parents are unable to provide reading at home and need additional activities focused on literacy and enrichment to bridge the developmental gap caused by years of poverty and homelessness. At the end of the school day, homeless children have no place to go. They lack the support at home to complete their homework assignments necessary for their continued learning. Homeless children are at the top of the high school dropout list and the bottom of the list for reading and writing abilities.

This program will expand the school’s already established educational programs so that children can receive one-on-one tutoring for reading and writing along with group exercises that are enriching and fun. Efforts are aimed at teaching homeless children to read by the 3rd grade. A read at home program will begin a culture of literacy at home. Reading assistance will be provided for those parents who need that support.

Oklahoma City University will provide up to 15 work-study students to assist in the implementation of this program. Positive Tomorrows expects to have an enrollment of 95 students this academic year and will make available the after-school program to those students who want to participate. An informal survey with parents about the need for an afterschool program was positively received, so they expect 70-80% of students to participate.

Youth Services for Oklahoma County, Supporting Kids in Independent Living (SKIL), $50,000, for academic years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

Youth Services for Oklahoma County advocates, educates, intervenes and counsels youth and families to make a positive difference in their lives. Through the SKIL program, they connect unaccompanied youth in the Oklahoma City Public School District with the resources they need to graduate. These teens are not supported by the state, a parent or legal guardian and have no responsible adult to look after them either financially or emotionally. Many of them live with friends, coaches, other relatives or, if over 18, on their own. These youth struggle to survive and stay in school. SKIL provides the support they need to successfully complete high school and continue on to higher education, the military or gainful employment. SKIL teens receive help with needs such as food, clothing, and hygiene items; financial assistance for apartment/utility deposits/payments, car repairs, school fees, prom or graduation expenses; guidance for finding a safe place to live and home furnishings, clothing, medical care, employment, or legal assistance; and life skills education such as banking, employment readiness, and nutrition planning. Additionally, teens with infants or toddlers receive food, diapers, equipment, and clothing for their children, as well as parenting education. Without the assistance SKIL provides, many of these students would have to drop out of school to work to meet their basic needs.

In FY 2010, the two full-time SKIL staff members were stretched to serve a daily average caseload of 57 teens. Funding for another part-time position will allow SKIL personnel to provide more intensive one-on-one sessions and individualized services to clients, to expand services in schools which are currently underserved, and to increase the caseload by approximately 12 students.

For more information, please contact Rachel Klein at (405) 523-3534 or rklein@unitedwayokc.org.

United Way of Central Oklahoma is focused on successful kids, strong families, independent living, healthy citizens, and community preparedness. Through a network of local partner agencies, United Way serves one in three central Oklahomans each year while maintaining the highest level of accountability.