Education and Career Development
POWER HOUR is a comprehensive homework help and tutoring program offered daily at each clubhouse. Before members are able to participate in sports, arts, and leisure activities they are required to complete their homework with the assistance of trained club staff and volunteers. The purpose of POWER HOUR is to raise the academic proficiency of members 6-12. Senior members are incorporated into the program as study aides, helping the younger children with homework. In addition to homework help, members are also introduced to a variety of fun, academically beneficial activities such as educational board games, science projects, and real-life problem solving.
Achievement Plus is a supplemental academic assistance program that closely mirrors the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's (CMSD) core curriculum. Its primary purpose is to provide youth with year-round educational support that offers homework assistance and tutoring, spelling and math contests, computer training, and life and vocational guidance.
Goals for Graduation introduces Club members ages 6-15 to the concept of academic goal setting. In one-on-one sessions with Club professionals, members set achievable "Know-I-Can" goals, more challenging "Think-I-Can" goals and yearly "Believe-I-Can" goals, and then create action plans. The program provides recognition of members’ achievements at every step of the journey. In addition to Goals for Graduation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland incorporates portions of CareerLaunchTM, a career exploration and mentoring program for teens ages 13-18, uses the CareerLaunch Web site, which allows teens to take an interest survey, explore careers, identify training or college requirements, seek out financial aid and play skills-building games. The CareerLaunch Portfolio contains a Teen Tips booklet with helpful interviewing and on-the-spot job tips.
Goals For Growth teaches young people ages 8-12 skills for setting and achieving their own personal, education and career goals. Each member of the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland is asked to set three goals at the beginning of each academic year. The goals should encompass home, school and Club. Club staff and parents work with members to help them achieve their goals or understand why certain goals weren't met.
JOB READY! is a comprehensive program that teaches young people ages 16-18 effective job-hunting techniques and helps them develop the skills necessary to be successful once on the job.
Money Matters: Make it Count was designed by Boys & Girls Clubs of America in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation. The program promotes financial responsibility and independence among Club members ages 13-18 by building their basic money management skills. Participants learn how to manage a checking account, budget, save, and invest. They also learn about starting small businesses and paying for college. Youth use The Teen Personal Finance Guide, a fun, attractive booklet containing practical tips and activities to help teens learn the important skills of balancing a checkbook, creating a budget, saving and investing for college and retirement. The Money Matters Web site, http://moneymatters.bgca.net, offers teens an engaging online tool for building their money management knowledge and skills through interactive activities, games and tools like a savings and financial aid calculator to plan for college.
