Lasos

TO PROVIDE QUALITY ADULT LITERACY CLASSES INCLUDING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, CITIZENSHIP, AT RISK YOUTH AND FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS AS WELL AS A NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR THE NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY OF HARFORD COUNTY.

YOUTH MENTORING - THIS PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF 5 SUB-PROGRAMS:MENTORING - STUDENTS GRADE PRE-K THROUGH 12, CATEGORIZED AS AT-RISK DUE TO ECONOMIC OR ACADEMIC REASONS, COME TO A ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING SESSION WHERE THEY RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM A CERTIFIED TEACHER AS WELL AS AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING SCHOOL-AGE STUDENT. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WORK ON HOMEWORK TOGETHER AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP OF COMPASSION AND CARING. STUDENTS IN TURN LEARN LEADERSHIP, CIVIL, AND LANGUAGE SKILLS. THE SECONDARY STUDENTS ARE PAIRED WITH ADULT MENTORS WHO MONITOR GOAL SETTING AND SUCCESSES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE THE EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF YOUTH AND CHILDREN WITH THEIR ACADEMIC WORK, AND TO PROVIDE AN ATMOSPHERE OF SUPPORT WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN SUCCEED. SUMMER CAMP - IN THE SUMMERTIME, STUDENTS GATHER FOR A MONTH-LONG SUMMER CAMP THAT SUPPORTS THEIR ACADEMIC GAINS, AS WELL AS INTRODUCES THEM TO HOW THEY CAN BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN BE ACTIVE IN THEIR LIFE. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS DURING THE SUMMER THAT SUPPORTS THEIR ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. LASOS BUTTERFLY PROGRAM - THE GIRLS IN THE LASOS BUTTERFLY PROGRAM RECEIVE THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL/LEADERSHIP SUPPORT THEY NEED BUT SEEM TO BE LOCKED BETWEEN TRADITIONAL FAMILIAL EXPECTATIONS AND THOSE SET BY AMERICAN SOCIETY. BY WORKING WITH THE GIRLS FROM AGE 9 TO 21 IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR THE GIRLS AS WELL AS A BRIDGE TO ALLOW THEM TO TOGGLE BETWEEN THEIR HOME CULTURE AND THAT OF THE USA WHILE FINDING SUCCESS. THE EMBRACE PROGRAM - IS A WRAP-AROUND SERVICE WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING FAMILY LIFE, SCHOOL LIFE, AND THE PERSONAL LIFE OF THE STUDENT. IT FOCUSES ON THE CHILD AND FAMILY UNIT WORKING TOGETHER IN MULTIPLE SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR TO ADDRESS PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR AT RISK YOUTH. THE BASIC CRITERIA INCLUDE LOW ACADEMIC LEVEL, HIGH ABSENTEE RATE (8+ ABSENCES), LOW STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, DISRUPTION IN CLASS, AND ISSUES AT HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM OUTCOMES INCLUDE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED FAMILY COMMUNICATION, DECREASED DRUG USE, INCREASED SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT ACADEMICALLY, AN INCREASE IN GRADUATION RATES, AND A DECREASE IN TRUANCY AND DISCIPLINE REFERRALS. THE ASPIRE PROGRAM - WAS DESIGNED TO MEET THE GROWING NEED OF VISION FOR AT RISK YOUTH WITHIN HARFORD COUNTY. WE STRIVE TO OFFER A CLEAR, ATTAINABLE PATHWAY TO HELP CHANGE THE LIFE TRAJECTORY OF AT-RISK YOUTH. OUR PROGRAM FOCUS IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO STRUGGLE WITH TRADITIONAL SCHOOLING, AND THEREFORE LACK THE EDUCATION TO THEN GO ON AND BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS. WE ENGAGE THE CLIENT BY OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT.

NETWORK - LASOS WORKS DILIGENTLY TO BUILD A NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENCY. BY SERVING AS A CULTURAL LIAISON BETWEEN THE CONSTITUENT AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER, OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS SERVICES NEEDED WITH LITTLE TO NO ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION. WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE MOST AT RISK POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDED 3700 SERVICE REFERRALS IN 2015-2016.

ADULT LITERACY - THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 4 SUB-PROGRAMS:LITERACY CLASSES - LASOS OFFERS LITERACY CLASSES FOR TECHNOLOGY AND FINANCES THAT ARE DEVELOPED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD OF THOSE WHO HAVE HAD STRUCTURED EXPERIENCES AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT. THE MATH AND READING LITERACY CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON THE LIFE AND WORK SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUBJECT AREAS THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR ATTAINMENT OF ENHANCED JOB PLACEMENT OR NATURALIZATION. THE OTHER LITERACY CLASSES ARE DESIGNED TO AID IN THE PROCESS OF PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL IMPROVEMENTS. CITIZENSHIP COURSES & SUPPORT - THE PROGRAM SERVES AS RESOURCES FOR MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE HELP WITH FILLING OUT THEIR APPLICATIONS AND PASSING THE NATURALIZATION TEST. WE HOST A YEARLY FREE CITIZENSHIP DAY WITH ATTORNEYS FROM AILA TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS. LASOS STRIVES TO SUPPORT PERMANENT RESIDENCE AS THEY STRIVE TO BECOME US NATURALIZED CITIZENS.THE ESOL PROGRAM IS COMPOSED OF FOUR LEVELS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AND IS FOCUSED ON CITIZENSHIP AND LIFE SKILLS. PARTICIPANTS ARE PLACED IN COURSES BASED ON THEIR ENGLISH LEVEL AND ABILITY. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER THAT EXISTS WITH IMMIGRANT ADULTS AND THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY, AND HAS A FOCUS ON REAL LIFE APPLICATION AT HOME, WORK, AND LEISURE (THE PARTICIPANTS CAN USE WHAT IS TAUGHT IMMEDIATELY), WITH AN INCREASE OF CIVIL AND ENGLISH SKILLS PARTICIPANTS CAN OBTAIN A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. THE GETTING AHEAD PROGRAM - MEETS ONCE A WEEK FOR 16 WEEKS AND BENEFITS RESIDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY IN FINANCIAL NEED. THE PROGRAM ANALYZES THE CURRENT ECONOMIC POSITION OF PARTICIPANTS, PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND HELPS PARTICIPANTS STRATEGICALLY PLAN OUT THEIR NEXT STEPS TOWARDS ACHIEVING FINANCIAL STABILITY USING THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM.