Boys & Girls Clubs Of Greater Tarrant County Inc

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY ENABLED OVER 36,000 YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND AT-RISK COMMUNITIES, GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH ENRICHING PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY SERVES THE TARRANT COUNTY AREA WITH AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES AT 11 SITES AND THREE CHILDCARE CENTERS. THE CLUB SERVES MEMBERS AGES 5-18, AND NO YOUTH IS EVER TURNED AWAY DUE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. HIGH-YIELD CLUB ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON THE AREAS OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP. OUR VISION IS THAT SUCCESS IS WITHIN REACH OF EVERY CHILD WHO ENTERS OUR DOORS, WITH ALL MEMBERS ON TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WITH A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, DEMONSTRATING GOOD CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP, AND LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDE DAILY HOT MEALS, CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HYGIENE ITEMS, AND REFERRALS FOR COUNSELING. PROGRAMMING OFFERED BY THE CLUB ALLOWS US TO REACH AND CRITICALLY IMPACT A DIVERSE YOUTH POPULATION, PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGHOUT ALL PHASES OF THEIR LIVES. BGCGTC UNIQUELY ADDRESSES THE COMPLEX CHALLENGES YOUTH FACE WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THOSE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH GROWING UP IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, 31,000 YOUTH WERE SERVED THROUGHOUT TARRANT COUNTY.

PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THE CLUBS FOCUS ON EQUIPPING YOUTH WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS, TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS, POSITIVE ACTION, AND CURRICULUM BASED SUPPORT GROUP. IN PARTICULAR, 789 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN TEN WEEKS OF CURRICULUM, DEMONSTRATING AND TARGETING EFFECTIVENESS IN HELPING YOUTH IN BUILDING CRITICAL RESISTANCE SKILLS. OUR COUNSELING PROGRAM ASSESSED 84 YOUTH FOR SERVICES AND ENROLLED 28 YOUTH INTO INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER MANY ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE POSITIVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CLUB MEMBERS WHO OFTEN LACK THE FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT ELSEWHERE.THE BASIC NEEDS CENTER FOOD PANTRY IS A DAILY FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTER PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH FRESH GROCERIES AND DRY GOODS TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS MEALS IN THEIR HOME. ADDITIONALLY, DRIVE THROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS CONTINUE ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE READINESS ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS. THE UPWARD BOUND AND EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME AND POTENTIAL FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS; AND FOCUSES ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS COUPLED WITH PERSONALIZED SUPPORT AND DAILY MENTORING.THE HIGH GRADE-TO-GRADE PROGRESSION, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, AND COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES SPEAK TO THE IMPACT THE PROGRAMS HAVE ON THE PARTICIPANTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

IN ADDITION TO BRANCH PROGRAMS, THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER TARRANT COUNTY ALSO OPERATES COMIN' UP, A PROGRESSIVE AND INNOVATIVE GANG-INTERVENTION PROGRAM THAT SERVES MORE THAN 640 GANG-INVOLVED YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13-24 YEARS OLD IN CRITICAL FORT WORTH COMMUNITIES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES NEEDS-BASED SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE GANG VIOLENCE AND INFLUENCE POSITIVE CHANGE. THE PROGRAM OPERATES IN SIX TARGET AREAS OF THE CITY AND DEVELOPS TRUCES BETWEEN RIVAL GANGS BY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH GANG MEMBERS TO ASSIST WITH CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION TO REDUCE POTENTIALLY VIOLENT SITUATIONS. THE 2022 FISCAL YEAR YIELDED 140 (22%) LIFE CHANGES WITHIN THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 650 MEMBERS, SURPASSING THE GOAL OF 130 LIFE CHANGES. LIFE CHANGES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: RETURNING TO SCHOOL; GRADE PROGRESSION; GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL; OBTAINING A GED; COMPLETING A SEMESTER OF COLLEGE; COMPLETING OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING; MAINTAINING A JOB FOR 90 DAYS; ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY; AND COMPLETING PROBATION.