GOALS
The main goal of the StepUp Children’s Program is to teach children concepts that they would not ordinarily learn or concentrate on in school. We teach children life skills such as how to conduct themselves when they enter a room, how to meet new people, how to save and budget, how to create goals, among many other important tools. The best part about our program is that everything is taught on a level that children understand. We also teach children how to identify their needs versus wants and how to practice these skills in the home, school, and community. We also focus on teaching parents how to interact with the school system and how to take charge of their child’s education and family life.
Like their parents, the children are in the StepUp program for one year.
Over that time, children go through several units in their track.
Units are the same across all tracks but class topics are age and grade-appropriate.
THE UNITS
- Self and Other: This unit focuses on intrapersonal and interpersonal knowledge, health, and coping. During this unit, children all of ages learn and practice manners, first impressions, and self-presentation. They discuss attitude, self-esteem, and trust. The topics also cover various communication and conflict resolution styles.
- Personal Health: During this unit, children delve into the meaning of a healthy lifestyle through diet, physical activity, and taking care of one’s body. This includes an introduction to mental health. The elementary track discusses hygiene, the middle school track covers puberty, and the high school track discusses sexual responsibility.
- Global and Cultural Awareness: This unit calls children to consider the differences between themselves and children across the globe. In age-appropriate pedagogies, students will discuss attitudes of prejudice surrounding sexism, racism, ableism, and ageism. They also learn about diversity in global ethnicities and religions. This unit urges children to extend beyond themselves.
- Financial Literacy: During this unit, children explore, perhaps for the first time, how to earn and save money. They also discuss budgeting: when and how to spend money. Children begin to identify their needs versus their wants. The youngest track tries to understand how their decisions can affect their parents’ budget, the middle track learns about healthy, responsible spending; and the oldest track discusses what it takes to become financially independent.
- Education and Future: This particular unit focuses on the knowledge and skills children will need to pursue degrees and careers. They learn the critical tools of time management and goal-setting. The tracks discuss End-of-Grade exams, SATs, the benefits of college, trade school information, and how to prepare a resume. All children consider what it takes to make a career and in what field their personal gifts would be best used.
- Our World Today: The crux of this unit is a technology series. Each track spends 2-3 weeks at a time in the computer lab working on computer skills and literacy. Current events and issues are also discussed during this unit, such as the war, violence in the media, and bullying. Students learn how to make smart and safe decisions in an unknown world as well as ways to make friends and gain positive influences.
Child/Co-Partner Interaction
When the children first arrive in the program, they do not know how the program works or who their co-partners will be. Most of our co-partners have volunteered at StepUp for some time and understand how the process works. They do a good job of breaking the ice and getting the children acquainted with the program. We have co-partners and volunteers from all different backgrounds and ages. By opening up volunteering to those with a desire to help children, StepUp is able to keep children involved with a variety of individuals. (Volunteers are selected on an individual basis after a thorough background check). By Phase II, most of the children are comfortable with their co-partners and are working extremely hard in the program.
Parent Communication
When a child enrolls in the program, parents are required to provide names of schools, teachers, and contact information so an introduction of our program can be made. As educators and child advocates, we are able to serve the child better when we work together. With the parents’ permission, teachers and counselors are informed that the family is enrolled in a community program that helps promote self-sufficiency. The Children’s Program team works with parents and school staff to identify ways they can utilize StepUp services to support the child and the family. Teachers, parents, and StepUp staff work together to arrange parent/teacher conferences. Teachers are asked to supply weekly grades, behavior reports, and any other issues or concerns they may want the child to work on outside of school. We share information with the teacher regarding the children’s progress at StepUp, at home, and in the community. Together, we are able to fill in the missing pieces.