Kidworks Community Development Corporation

THE MISSION OF KIDWORKS IS TO RESTORE AT-RISK NEIGHBORHOODS ONE LIFE AT A TIME. THE ORGANIZATION BUILDS ON THE STRENGTHS AND POTENTIAL IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, CHARACTER FORMATION, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM PLACES 400 STUDENTS ON A DIRECT PATH TOWARDS COLLEGE BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS. BEGINNING IN KINDERGARTEN AND CONTINUING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, CHILDREN PARTICIPATE IN AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES THAT PREPARE THEM TO BE 'LIFE-READY LEARNERS AND LEADERS.' KIDWORKS WHOLISTIC PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON THREE CRITICAL AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING; PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT RELATIONSHIPS THAT BEGIN IN PRESCHOOL AND CONTINUE THROUGH COLLEGE IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR APPROACH. SUCH RELATIONSHIPS ARE DEVELOPED THROUGH WELL-EQUIPPED, COMMITTED, AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT STAFF, ENGAGED VOLUNTEERS AND MENTORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. PROGRAM EXPERIENCES FOCUS ON HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, WORKSHOPS IN STEAM, MUSIC, SPORTS, ART, AND MORE. LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE NURTURED THROUGH THE LEADER IN ME FRAMEWORK, A FRANKLIN COVEY PROGRAM AND CASEL APPROVED PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. IN 2021-2022, KIDWORKS WAS PROUD OF STUDENT GRADUATION AND PROMOTION RATES, DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC AND DISTANCE-LEARNING. 100% OF 12TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENT GRADUATED ON-TIME. (COMPARED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 42% OF YOUTH AS RESEARCHED BY THE SEARCH INSTITUTE.)IN 2021-2022 AT LEAST 75% OF 4-12TH GRADE STUDENTS DISPLAYED "LIFE READY" SKILLS, SUCH AS EMPATHY, DECISION-MAKING, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. IN 2021-2022 AT LEAST 75% OF 4-12TH GRADE STUDENTS BELIEVED THEIR LIFE HAS PURPOSE. (COMPARED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 63% OF YOUTH AS RESEARCHED BY THE SEARCH INSTITUTE.)IN 2021-2022 AT LEAST 70% OF 4TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE HELPING MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE. (COMPARED TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 50% OF YOUTH AS RESEARCHED BY THE SEARCH INSTITUTE.)408 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 11,500 HOURS OF SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF THE KIDWORKS MISSION.

YOUTH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: FCE BUILDS AND DEVELOPS LEADERS WHO GIVE BACK AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. KIDWORKS' YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTEER AS TUTORS AND MENTORS, ENGAGE IN CIVIC PROCESSES OF THE CITY, AND PERFORM SERVICE PROJECTS. KIDWORKS' PARENTS PARTICIPATE IN PARENTING WORKSHOPS, IN LEADERSHIP GROUPS, SUCH AS THE PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (PAC), EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS/PROJECTS. IN 2021-2022 A TOTAL OF 178 PARENTS PARTICIPATED IN REGULAR PARENT EDUCATIONAL CLASSES/WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS, AS WELL AS ACTIVITES. COLLEGE AND CAREER SERVICES WERE OFFERED TO YOUTH. SERVICES INCLUDE COLLEGE READINESS WORKSHOPS, COLLEGE APPS ACADEMY, COLLEGE VISITATIONS, CAREER EXPLORATION, AND MORE. IN 2021-2022, 100% OF 12TH GRADE STUDENTS GRADUATED ON-TIME AND 100% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ENROLLED IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING. COLLEGES INCLUDE SANTA ANA COLLEGE, IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE, ORANGE COAST COLLEGE, VANGUARD UNIVERSITY, AND COLGATE UNIVERSITY. IN ADDITION, 70% OF COLLEGE STUDENTS PROMOTED TO THEIR NEXT LEVEL OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. FINALLY, 3 COLLEGE STUDENTS COMPLETED THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREE WITHIN 6 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

PRESCHOOL:KIDWORKS CDC OPERATES A LICENSED STATE PRESCHOOL SERVING 48 STUDENTS; PROVIDING ON-SITE LEARNING FOR 29 5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN SERVED ARE BELOW OR WITHIN THE 85% STATE MEDIAN INCOME. ANNUALLY, KIDWORKS PARTICIPATES IN THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) FOR 100% OF OUR STUDENTS AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM PRESCHOOL TO TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN OR KINDERGARTEN FOR EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY. 96% OF KIDWORKS' PRESCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ASSESSED AS TRANSITIONAL KINDER OR KINDERGARTEN-READY BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IS PART OF THE QUALITYSTART OC, WHICH PROVIDES KIDWORKS WITH A GRANT, FREE TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.