Community-based

Using performance to give voice to children of prisoners

pingv — Tue, 24 May 2005 01:00:00 -0500

The loss of a parent to incarceration has a tremendous impact in the life of a child. For adolescents who are dealing with other difficult life issues, having a safe way to express their thoughts and feelings can make a tangible difference. At San Francisco's Balboa High School, students told their stories in the form of a play, and this literally meant the difference between dropping out and staying in school. This program was highlighted in an article by Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 23, 2005.

Partnering with a bakery to provide breakfast to low-income schools

pingv — Thu, 25 Sep 2003 01:00:00 -0500

A partnership between a popular bakery chain and schools in low-income areas of the United Kingdom ensures children receive a healthy breakfast to start the day, while the bakery is able to promote a positive public image. This effective practice was highlighted on the Business in the Community website.

Buying nutritional food on a limited budget

pingv — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 01:00:00 -0500

The Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program created a series of fact sheets on food and nutrition in response to increasing economic challenges among a variety of populations. "Shopping Tips to Stretch Your Food Dollar," offers applicable guidance to seniors living on a limited income and volunteers and national service members who are usually on a tight budget.

Implementing an employee volunteer program in ten steps

pingv — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Corporate social responsibility in the form of employee volunteer programs creates a win-win situation for businesses, employees and the communities in which they serve. These ten tips excerpted from the USA Freedom Corps website are practical steps for getting a program off the ground and ensuring its success.

Starting a CERT program in your community

pingv — Thu, 21 Aug 2003 01:00:00 -0500

During a disaster, emergency services are oftentimes pushed to their limits. People have to rely on each other for help in order to meet immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. By having a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in place so that they are an extension of first responder services, direct help can be offered to victims until professional services arrive. CERT training is in needed life saving competencies with emphasis on decision-making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. This effective practice excerpts materials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

Serving at-risk junior high school students by modeling positive life choices

pingv — Fri, 08 Aug 2003 01:00:00 -0500

With adult mentoring and community support, an after school program in Franklin County, Ohio focuses on encouraging at-risk junior high school youth to make positive life choices — specifically organized around the issues of teen pregnancy, physical and substance abuse, and academic success. John Magee submitted this effective practice to the Promising Practices in Afterschool e-mail discussion list in June 2003.

Supporting at-risk youth with summer high school preparatory programs

pingv — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 01:00:00 -0500

The transition from middle school to high school can be a difficult one for even the most "on track" students. It can pose some especially tough challenges for at-risk youth. In North Carolina, teachers work hands-on with students to prepare them during the summertime months for their first year of high school. The curriculum offers help in core academic courses, as well as support in areas of confidence and self-esteem building, and organizational and study skills. Regina Gilchrist Ash submitted this effective practice to the Promising Practices in Afterschool Listserv in April 2003.

Helping students complete their homework: tips for parents

pingv — Fri, 11 Jul 2003 01:00:00 -0500

The No Child Left Behind Act is an educational bill that is designed to improve student performance and to change the culture of American schools. Features include accountability for results; an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research; expanded parental options; and expanded local control and flexibility. "Tips for Parents" is a featured resource from the Department of Education's website. Written for parents and caregivers, this information is also appropriate for tutors. A link to the website is provided.

Preserving and enhancing trails with a local community-based organization

pingv — Fri, 23 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Multiple-use trails are a viable solution to the problem of increased demand for recreational access to a limited amount of public land in Northern California. In Santa Cruz, California, volunteers with Trailworkers.com help support their county's trail system and build a sense of community among groups who use the trails. Trailworkers.com encourages volunteers to sign up beforehand on their website, and information about monthly workdays is posted in advance.

Performing environmental stewardship at an historic ranch

pingv — Thu, 22 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

During the summer of 2002, teens from all over the country traveled to the 87,000 acre Chico Basin Ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving as ranch hands to accomplish much-needed manual labor for the working cattle ranch, which is owned by the State of Colorado for education, recreation, and conservation. The teens learned about the environment, gained service-learning credits, and developed lasting friendships as a result of their community service.

Preparing for a national security emergency

pingv — Tue, 20 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Immediately after an emergency, essential services may be cut off and local disaster relief and government responders may not be able to reach everyone right away. Knowing what to do to protect oneself and one's household is essential. This effective practice outlines how to prepare for any kind of disaster. It is excerpted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's, Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness.

Writing a sustainability plan for after-school programs

pingv — Fri, 16 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Keys to sustainability are clarifying value and demonstrating feasibility. This effective practice from The After-School Corporation outlines how to write a sustainability plan for after-school programs; however the information is applicable to other programs as well. Yurij Pawluk submitted this effective practice to the Promising Practices in After-School listserv in May 2003.

Cleaning up a creek bed for Earth Day

pingv — Fri, 16 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

For people who work 9-5 jobs, it might not be that easy to attend an Earth Day event. At a small nonprofit in Scotts Valley, California, one of the staff members organized an Earth Day project that could be implemented during the lunch hour. Fifteen staff members cleaned up garbage in and around nearby Carbonero Creek. Approximately 250 pounds of trash were removed with this effort.

Encouraging homeownership with a faith-based organization

pingv — Fri, 09 May 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Faith-based organizations usually have deep roots in the communities in which they serve. Because homeownership provides stability for children, generates wealth for families and creates community stakeholders, it leads to healthier communities. This effective practice provides tips on how faith-based organizations can promote home ownership in their communities, and is adapted from materials provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. A listing of Internet resources is provided.

Providing online mentoring to students interested in public health professions

pingv — Wed, 16 Apr 2003 01:00:00 -0500

All public health providers are invited to participate in the Public Health Expertise Network of Mentors (PHENOM) sponsored by Southern Connecticut State University. Participants serve one-year voluntary terms as mentors, communicating primarily by e-mail with college students and others who are interested in the public health professions. Betty Jung, Program Director for PHENOM, submitted this effective practice in February 2003.

Implementing a hazardous-weather awareness week

pingv — Mon, 07 Apr 2003 01:00:00 -0500

As part of the activities to promote weather safety, Florida's Emergency Management Agencies, American Red Cross Chapters, National Weather Service Offices and Department of Education have sponsored a Hazardous Weather Awareness Week Poster Contest each year since 2000. The contest is open to all students in fourth and fifth grades, and increases awareness of potential disasters and disaster preparedness and mitigation. Chris Floyd shared these ideas on the DisasterDiscussions e-mail discussion list, in January 2003.

Considering definitions of terrorism

pingv — Tue, 18 Mar 2003 01:00:00 -0600

According to research conducted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, there is no universally accepted definition of terrorism. However, understanding some of the various meanings can help citizens become better informed and consequently better able to deal with the events of September 11, 2001, and subsequent reaction to those events. This effective practice offers several definitions of terrorism, as well as a description of elements that are common to terrorist attacks. Materials are excerpted from the Constitutional Rights Foundation's The Bill of Rights in Action, Winter 2001 newsletter, Volume 18, Number 1.

Creating a young people's Bill of Responsibilities

pingv — Thu, 05 Dec 2002 01:00:00 -0600

While studying citizenship, sixth-grade students at Marathon Elementary School in Marathon, Wisconsin, produced a Bill of Responsibilities — addressed to themselves, their parents, and their country. This effective practice reproduces the students' bill. The project was a runner-up in the Promise of Tomorrow Contest, sponsored by a national insurance company, winning the school $500.00, and was highlighted in the Fall 2002 issue of The American Promise, a newsletter for educators that accompanies the video series for teaching citizenship and democracy.