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The Northwest Settlement House supports three main programs areas:
Developmental
Day Care The Infant Center (224 R Street, NW) serves 15 children, ages 6 weeks to 2 and 1/2 years. The Preschool (448 Ridge Street, NW), serves 24 children, ages 2 and 1/2 to 5 years. The objectives of the program are:
Social
Services Senior Citizen Services - are geared toward providing recreational activities, through the Senior Citizens' Association (SCA), and additional assistance to homebound seniors. The SCA participates in shopping trips, luncheons, tours, exercising, and other community social activities. The group also takes advantage of educational opportunities, such as computer classes and informational health sessions. Parent/Family Programs - NWSH strives to offer opportunities for parents to engage in programs designed to strengthen family interaction and the ability of families to better care for their members. Our commitment to families is apparent in our yearly pursuit to meet the ever-changing needs and desires of families by adding innovative programming options. Throughout the year we offer stand alone workshops and/or program series for the purpose of enriching the lives of parents and children. Every Wednesday, the NWSH parent support group is held at our Preschool Center location. This group is guided by the standards and principles of Parents Anonymous®, a nationally recognized model for parent support. Family Support Program - consists of several components, which include a supplemental food program, referral services, and direct services. In addition, each year, due to the overwhelming support received from local schools, universities, and private donors, NWSH is able to provide Thanksgiving baskets to low-income families. Advocacy - NWSH also realizes the need for advocacy within the spectrum of services we provide to our families. We advocate for the rights of low-income residents of the District in a variety of capacities, from rally/meeting attendance to letter writing campaigns. We not only participate in activities to achieve fairness for our families, but encourage the realization among our families that one is his/her own best advocate. The Youth Services Programs serve District of Columbia residents ages 5 – 19 with a focus on those living in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest, DC. The mission of the Youth Services Programs is to increase the quality of life for participants by providing healthy alternatives to negative behaviors, preparation for educational success, and increased skills in preparation for self-sufficiency. The programs operate under three broad headings:
Our STAR Programs are the cornerstone of the Youth Services. Year-round programming is provided in the form of an enrollment-based After-School Enrichment Program and the All-STARz Summer Camp. All programs are free of charge to District of Columbia residents and youth are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. The goals of the STAR Programs are to:
The After-school program is operated out of the Enrichment Center located in the Community Room of Washington Apartments. The Center is open on all days in which DC Public Schools are in session and on most teacher workdays. The hours of operation are from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The child/adult ratio never exceeds 8:1. Youth receive a free snack daily. The All-STARz Summer Camp attracts youth from all quadrants of the city. Various community partners, including local churches, provide space to operate the All-Starz Camp. The camp operates for six weeks beginning on the first weekday after the Fourth of July holiday. Project based learning, twice weekly field trips, arts and crafts, and swimming are integral parts of the All-STARz experience. The camp is staffed by four full-time staff, a college intern, and several teen-aged counselor trainees. All campers receive free breakfast and lunch daily. Our TEAM Programs are geared toward preparing high-school aged youth for higher education, gainful employment, and productive citizenship. Previously entitled “Business Explorers”, the TEAM program is an expanded concept which includes Business Explorers programming but also incorporates mentoring and college preparation assistance. TEAM stands for: Training, Employment, Academic Achievement, and Mentoring. Each session of TEAM programming is delivered to a cohort of 10 to 15 youth over the course of a year. Curriculum-based job skills training is provided in a classroom environment and supplemented by periodic visits to local employers. Employment is offered via Junior Camp Counselor positions in the NWSH All-STARz Summer Camp. Aspirations toward higher education are encouraged by monitoring the academic achievement of participants. This process includes assisting youth in understanding how to plan high school courses in order to meet admission requirements for college, how to prepare for standardized tests, how to effectively utilize resources including guidance counselors, web-based services, and informational seminars and college fairs. Youth are also taken on visits to local universities for campus visits and information sessions. Information on financial aid is also presented to youth and their parents. Finally, the mentoring piece matches participants with adult mentors in professions that the youth have expressed interest in pursuing. The BUDDY Program is a set of new services being planned to address extant needs identified by parents, staff, and program participants. BUDDY stands for Building Up DC’s Dynamic Youth. In response to parental concerns around their youth’s transition from elementary school to middle and junior high school, a series of Saturday Success Seminars will be implemented to address issues specific to this age group. These seminars will cover topics including study skills, organizational skills, peer pressure, conflict resolution, and goal setting. Additionally, age-appropriate social activities (primarily on Friday nights) are being planned toward off the attrition that often impacts enrichment programs as youth get older. The goal of these social activities is to respect the youths’ need for peer group acceptance and increased independence without compromising safety concerns. Such outings will include supervised game nights or movie nights at the Enrichment Center; chaperoned evening trips to the movies, roller/ice-skating rinks, Dave and Buster’s, sporting events, and other fun experiences. In order to incorporate incentives in to the program, participation will be contingent on satisfactory progress being made academically and behaviorally in school. Finally, a Counselor-in-Training program is being developed where youth will have the opportunity to attend sessions designed to teach them about job skills in general and specifically, how to be an effective camp counselor. Many of our teen-aged camp counselors that we employ in the All-STARz camp started out as participants in our STAR programs. What employers, including NWSH, have found is that many of these young people do not have the basic skills necessary to be productive in the workforce. As such, participants in the BUDDY program will be taught about punctuality, appropriate dress, communicating with supervisors, regular attendance, and modeling appropriate behavior. They will also learn about food safety, facility maintenance, effective chaperoning, positive discipline techniques, group facilitation, and child development. In the initial stages, there may be fees associated with participation in BUDDY programs (e.g. registration, admission, and transportation). We would like to recognize and thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous support of the Northwest Settlement House Youth Services Program. Children’s Youth and Investment Trust Corporation United Way Dena Greenstein Paula Miller Hannah Mullin Nonnie Mullin Stephanie Staples |
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©2001 Northwest Settlement House