YMCA Achievers

Background

The mission of the Community Initiatives Branch of the YMCA is to provide quality educational and recreational programs to youth and their families who traditionally have not taken advantage of the YMCA services. The goal of out programs is to promote high self-esteem, academic achievement, community service, self-discipline and citizenship. The YMCA has a 100-year heritage of serving youth in Maricopa County.

Introduction

In 1994, the Urban Services Branch (now Community Initiatives) began its Minority Achievers Program (now YMCA Achievers Program), which targets youth of average to high academic standing who need positive role model/mentors to guide them to successful adulthood. This program is offered Valley wide.

History

The YMCA Achievers Program was started in 1971 as the Black Achievers Program at the Harlem YMCA. For 30 years, this nationally renowned program has been serving the needs of minority youth.

Program Description
The goal of the program is to guide youth to successful adulthood. “Success” is denied somewhat defined somewhat differently for each participant. For some, it will be acceptance to college, while for other it might be technical school or apprenticeship program.

Our objective is to serve 250 junior high and senior high students annually at 9 school throughout the Valley.

Methodology

• Offer the YAP program for 1 or 11/2 hours every other week at all participating schools
• During the YAP program, provide the following types of ongoing support services mentoring, tutoring, career exploration, career shadowing, community service and life & social skills education.
• Recruit participants from school counselors, teachers, students organizations, attendance and drop-off staff
• Solicit and train at least 4 – 6 volunteers to function as mentors and chaperones.
• Offer field trips throughout the school year and during summer. This may include tours of U of A, NAU, ASU, workshops the YMCA and participation in educational and cultural events.

Program Monitoring and Evaluation

The long-term nature of the YMCA Achievers Program allows us to monitor behavior change over time and evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Each participant has a Plan for Success that outlines their goals and the steps necessary to achieve them. The participants and Site Director jointly prepare the plan upon entry to the program. On a three-month basis, the participants along with the parents and the Site Director evaluate progress and amend the plan necessary. Grades, behavior at home in school as reported by parents and teachers, self-evaluations and observations by staff and volunteers are all data that is used to tailor services to meet each participant’s unique needs.

On an annual basis, staff will evaluate the program by examining changes in the following indicators: academic achievement, attendance and juvenile arrests. Participants and their parents will be asked to evaluate the program and offer suggestions for improvement.

Measure of Success

• Over 80 percent of new participants with a “C” average will raise their grade point average by the end of the first year.
• Over 80 percent of seniors will have a clear goal and will be accepted to college or technical school.