Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley Inc

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE GREATER CHIPPEWA VALLEY, INC.'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND ENABLE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM DISADVANTAGED CIRCUMSTANCES, TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE, CARING CITIZENS.AS A YOUTH GUIDANCE ORGANIZATION, THE CLUB IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING HEALTH, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, CULTURAL, CHARACTER, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. THE CLUB PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN REDUCING DELINQUENCY, INCREASING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND IMPROVING CAREER GOALS. IN TURN, YOUTH IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY BUILDING SKILLS, VALUES, AND SELF-ESTEEM IN ORDER TO PREVENT POTENTIAL GANG INVOLVEMENT AND ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG ABUSE.STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE GREATER CHIPPEWA VALLEY SERVED OVER 12,220 YOUTH THROUGH MEMBERSHIP, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SPECIAL EVENTS IN 2019. THE CLUBS SERVE MEMBERS GRADES 3RD-12TH. 80,016 FREE MEALS AND SNACKS WERE SERVED IN 2019. 53% OF MEMBERS QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL LUNCHES. A TOTAL OF 24 CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND AIDES FROM THE EAU CLAIRE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHIPPEWA FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT, MENOMONIE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND BLACK RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT TAUGHT SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT THE CLUB IN 2018. 644 MEMBERS ENGAGED IN CLUB-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES. 10,947 HOMEWORK AND HIGH YIELD LEARNING ACTIVITY HOURS WERE COMPLETED AT THE CLUBS, HELPING MEMBERS BE SUCCESSFUL AT SCHOOL. OVER 41% OF OUR MEMBERS COME FROM SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES.KEY PROGRAMS:POWER HOURTHIS COMPREHENSIVE HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE AND TUTORING PROGRAM, IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY OF CLUB MEMBERS AGES 8-18 OR IN GRADES 3RD-12TH. THROUGH THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF PROJECT LEARN, YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN IMPORTANT SKILL-PRACTICE ON ACADEMIC CONCEPTS. MEMBERS ARE PAIRED WITH VOLUNTEERS TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN NUMEROUS ACADEMIC AREAS. IF MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE HOMEWORK, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, CURRENT EVENTS AND ACADEMIC COMPUTER PROGRAMS.TRIPLE PLAYTHIS WELLNESS PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES HOW EATING RIGHT, KEEPING FIT AND FORMING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS ADD UP TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. THE GOAL OF THE TRIPLE PLAY PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE CLUB MEMBERS' KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTHY HABITS; INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOURS PER DAY THEY PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES; AND STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITY TO INTERACT POSITIVELY WITH OTHERS AND ENGAGE IN POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. PROGRAM ELEMENTS INCLUDE DAILY SPORTS CHALLENGES, SOCIAL RECREATION, NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION AND COOKING SKILLS.SMART MOVESTHE SMART MOVES (SKILLS MASTERY AND RESISTANCE TRAINING) PREVENTION/EDUCATION PROGRAM ADDRESSES PROBLEMS SUCH AS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, PREMATURE SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND PEER PRESSURE. THE PROGRAM USES A TEAM APPROACH INVOLVING CLUB STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. MORE THAN SIMPLY EMPHASIZING A "SAY NO" MESSAGE, THE PROGRAM TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 12 TO 18 HOW TO SAY NO BY INVOLVING THEM IN DISCUSSION AND ROLE-PLAYING, PRACTICING RESISTANCE AND REFUSAL SKILLS, DEVELOPING ASSERTIVENESS, STRENGTHENING DECISION-MAKING SKILLS AND ANALYZING MEDIA AND PEER INFLUENCE. THE ULTIMATE GOAL: TO PROMOTE ABSTINENCE FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADOLESCENT SEXUAL INVOLVEMENT THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR.