Educare Foundation

INSPIRE & EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE, COMPASSIONATE, & TO LIVE THEIR DREAMS.

EDUCARE'S OBJECTIVES INCLUDE EMPOWERING SCHOOLS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES, TO BETTER SERVE YOUTH AND PREPARE THEM TO LEAD HEALTHY, FULFILLING LIVES. EDUCARE OPERATES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT INTEGRATE LIFE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT; AT-RISK INTERVENTION PROGRAMS; AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT; PROFESSIONAL STAFF TEAMBUILDING/COMMUNITY BUILDING; STUDENT PEER MENTORING; COMMUNITY SERVICE; CROSS-AGE MENTORING; PEER MEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION; AND PARENT EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT.FOUNDED IN JUNE 1990, EDUCARE WORKS WITH COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL BASED EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS TO EMPOWER STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC PURSUITS THROUGH INTEGRATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS. EDUCARE PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY, HEART-CENTERED AFTER SCHOOL ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS, AND PARENT WORKSHOPS. WE EMPOWER AND INSPIRE YOUTH TO BECOME HIGH ACHIEVERS; PROMOTE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HOME, AT SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY; AND PREVENT DESTRUCTIVE SOCIAL BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE, VIOLENCE AND CRIME.EDUCARE IS DEDICATED TO CREATING AND EXPANDING ITS IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS, BOTH IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. THE FRAMEWORK FOR EDUCARE'S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS HEARTSET EDUCATION. HEARTSET EDUCATION IS EDUCARE'S SIGNATURE APPROACH TO SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING THAT AWAKENS PEOPLE TO WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEIR LIVES CAN BECOME. IT PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GROWTH HEARTSET IN STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS, TO COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE A POSITIVE "GROWTH MINDSET." FROM AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO ACE, FROM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PARENT WORKSHOPS, HEARTSET EDUCATION ESTABLISHES A POWERFUL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL NEW "WAY OF BEING" THAT GUIDES AND DEFINES "WAYS OF DOING" IN OUR COMMUNITIES. EDUCARE'S CORE PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL (EXPANDED LEARNING) PROGRAMS, ACE (ACHIEVEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE) STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS, ACE INITIATIVE, SPECIALIZED STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS, PARENT AND FAMILY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, HEARTSET EDUCATOR INSTITUTE, AND HEARTSET EDUCATION CERTIFICATION COURSE.SINCE 2009, EDUCARE HAS PROVIDED DAILY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR LOS ANGELES AREA YOUTH, AND CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 30,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. EDUCARE'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTLY CONDUCTED AT 21 HIGH SCHOOLS AND 2 MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED AND LYNWOOD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL AS FOR GREEN DOT PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOS ANGELES. EDUCARE'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS GO BEYOND SIMPLY PROVIDING A SAFE AFTER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS BY OFFERING NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING, LEADERSHIP AND GROWTH. CONDUCTED WITHIN OUR FRAMEWORK OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND HEARTSET EDUCATION, THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE ABILITIES, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND FIND RELEVANCE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE DISTINCT TO EACH SCHOOL AND INCLUDE HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, TUTORING, MUSIC AND ARTS ENRICHMENT, MENTORING, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) ACTIVITIES, PHYSICAL/RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SERVICE LEARNING, AND COLLEGE/CAREER PATHWAYS SERVICES. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN SIGNIFICANT GAINS FOR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCARE'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ABSENCES, HIGHER STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, AND INCREASED GRADUATION RATES.DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EDUCARE BEGAN TO PROVIDE ITS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS VIRTUALLY TO STUDENTS AS THEY TRANSITIONED TO DISTANCE LEARNING. BEGINNING IN MARCH 2020 EDUCARE PROVIDED PRE-RECORDED PROGRAMS TO OUR STUDENTS, AND IN JULY 2020 EDUCARE BEGAN PROVIDING SYNCHRONOUS ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION PROGRAMS UTILIZING AN ON-LINE PLATFORM.ACE (ACHIEVEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE) PROGRAM IS EDUCARE'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, A COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT SUCCESS AND CHARACTER-BUILDING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EMPOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC PURSUITS. ACE UTILIZES EDUCARE'S YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ("SEL") TO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR SAFE AND POSITIVE LEARNING AND GROWTH. ACE FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING SEL ELEMENTS:1. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CONFIDENCE BUILDING, POSITIVE DECISION MAKING AND CONSTRUCTIVE CHOICES2. PERSONAL MANAGEMENT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY3. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE MANAGING ANGER, FEAR, REJECTION AND PEER PRESSURE4. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS COMMUNICATION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PROBLEM-SOLVING AND TEAM BUILDINGIN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO REACH STUDENTS AND PROVIDE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EDUCARE ADAPTED ITS ACE PROGRAM INTO THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT BY CREATING ACE HEARTBEATS. ACE HEARTBEATS ARE HIGHLY INTERACTIVE ONE HOUR VIRTUAL SESSIONS THAT FOCUS ON THE FOUR SEL ELEMENTS (CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, PERSONAL MANAGEMENT, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS) AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN DISTANCE LEARNING.CURRENTLY IN FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS, ACE INITIATIVE ("AI"), A PRACTICAL OUTGROWTH OF ACE, WEAVES HEARTSET EDUCATION INTO A SCHOOL'S CULTURE, DEVELOPING LEARNING COMMUNITIES OF KINDNESS. AI PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE YEARLONG PROGRAM OF INTEGRATED ACE WORKSHOPS AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND PARENTS. AI CREATES SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS OF SELF-AWARENESS AND COMPASSION THAT PROVIDE STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND EDUCATORS WITH THE PRACTICAL SKILLS AND RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND PREPARE THEM TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE.AI HAS OFFERED SEVERAL VIRTUAL PROGRAMS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING SUCH AS:-SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAMS TO ASSIST INCOMING 9TH GRADER STUDENTS AS THEY GET TO KNOW THEIR NEW TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES VIRTUALLY. SUMMER BRIDGE CURRICULUM IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO EACH SCHOOL'S MISSION AND VISION AND OFFERS A GENUINE OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH STUDENT TO DEVELOP THEIR IDENTITY AND SEL SKILLS.-SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT EITHER ONE-ON-ONE OR IN SMALL VIRTUAL GROUP DISCUSSIONS. WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT EACH STUDENT STAYS SAFE, AND HAS A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A STAFF AND A PEER MENTOR AS A FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY, SAFETY AND FRIENDSHIP.-PEER LEADER / STUDENT MENTOR TRAINING TEACH UPPER-GRADE STUDENTS TO BE ASSISTANTS TO THE SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM, TO FACILITATE SMALL GROUPS DURING ORIENTATION, AND TO SERVE AS MENTORS WHO NEW STUDENTS CAN TURN TO FOR SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP.-COLLEGE SUPPORT FOR SENIORS PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE CASE MANAGEMENT TO STUDENTS AS WELL AS POSTING RESOURCES.-PARENT ORIENTATIONS INTEGRATE PARENTS INTO THE SCHOOL'S CULTURE AND BUILD PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT PARTNERSHIPS. ADDITIONALLY, AI SITE ADMINISTRATORS ARE MAKING INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT CALLS TO PARENTS DURING THIS TIME.-SUMMER MELT SUPPORTS RECENT GRADUATES TO HELP ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO COLLEGE. AI STAFF ARE ASSISTING WITH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, FINANCIAL AID CONCERNS, CLASS SCHEDULING, COMPLETING REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, CREATING A RESUME/COVER LETTER, AND DEALING WITH ANXIETY ABOUT STARTING COLLEGE IN THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT.SPECIALIZED STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS INCLUDE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE LEARNING, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS SUPPORT, STEM, HEALTHY CHOICES, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.EDUCARE'S EDUCATOR INSTITUTE INCLUDES THE HEARTSET EDUCATION 1-YEAR CERTIFICATION COURSE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND PARENT AND FAMILY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS.THE PRIMARY GOAL OF EDUCARE'S 1-YEAR CERTIFICATION COURSE IN HEARTSET EDUCATION IS TO PROVIDE SCHOOL LEADERS, TEACHERS AND AFTERSCHOOL PRACTITIONERS WITH PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS INFUSED WITH CARING, CONNECTIVITY, AND PROVEN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING PRACTICES. PARTICIPANTS LEARN AND PRACTICE HEART CENTERED STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING STUDENTS SELF-AWARENESS, EMOTIONAL SELF-MANAGEMENT, RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING AND WISE DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY PARTICIPANTS GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE AND PEER SUPPORT TO EFFECTIVELY FACILITATE SMALL GROUPS (STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS); PROMOTE AND IMPLEMENT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING; AND ESTABLISH SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE INITIATIVES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS ENABLE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO REPLICATE EDUCARE'S SUCCESSFUL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, RESULTING IN SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENTS THAT FOSTER TOLERANCE, CREATIVITY, AND IMPROVED STUDENT LEARNING.