Denver Kids Inc

PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING AND VOLUNTEER MENTORS FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS IN THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM WITH THE GOAL OF KEEPING THEM IN SCHOOL

EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING: PROVIDES ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO STUDENTS IN GRADES THIRD THROUGH TWELVE WHO ATTEND DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DPS) AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZATION'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF POST-SECONDARY TRANSITION. STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO THE ORGANIZATION BY THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND THEN ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL COUNSELOR WHO MEETS WITH THE STUDENT ON A WEEKLY TO SEMI-MONTHLY BASIS FOR A PERIOD OF 7 YEARS, ON AVERAGE. THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES PARENT ENGAGEMENT ALONG WITH PERSONNEL OF BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND DPS PROVIDING A LINK BETWEEN PARENTS AND EXTERNAL AGENCIES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OMENTORING: THE ORGANIZATION RECRUITS AND TRAINS VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AS MENTORS TO THE STUDENTS. MENTOR AND STUDENT MATCHES TYPICALLY AVERAGE 4.5 YEARS WITH MEETINGS TWICE PER MONTH. THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATIONAL COUNSELORS WORK CLOSELY WITH EACH VOLUNTEER PROVIDING EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS: PROVIDES POST-SECONDARY GUIDANCE AND CAREER EXPLORATIONS TO STUDENTS WHICH INCLUDE IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND ASSISTANCE WITH APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID. WORKSHOPS, CAMPUS AND INDUSTRY TOURS AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ENGAGE STUDENTS IN BOTH CAREER EXPLORATION AND JOB READINESS EXERCISES. THE ORGANIZATION'S GRADUATES MAY APPLY TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF POST-SECONDARY TRANSITION TO COLLEGE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMMING IMPLEMENTS CASE MANAGEMENT AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT INCLUDING GOAL-SETTING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, RESOURCE REFERRALS, AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS, WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING POST-SECONDARY ATTENDANCE, PERSISTENCE, AND COMPLETION OR CAREER READINESS.