Christ Child Society

The Christ Child Society, Inc. Washington DC Chapter provides professional and volunteer services for at-risk children and families in the Washington DC community. Working in partnership with schools and social service agencies the Christ Child Society attempts to serve the material, educational, and emotional needs of children and their families in order to change lives.The mission is accomplished through three primary programs: Layette, Student Success, and Girls on the Rise Empowerment Program.

Layette Program: The first and signature program of the Society meets material assistance needs by providing more than 4,000 welcome kits (layettes) which include clothing, bedding and supplies for newborns, to mothers in need. Welcome kits also include educational information for new mothers on subjects that include: immunizations, breast feeding, baby safety, importance of reading to children, and nutrition for newborns. Layette welcome kits are distributed through partnerships with over 30 community-based partners. The program also provides diapers and wipes, upon individual request, to over 1000 families each year.

The Student Success Program includes four components - School Counseling, Volunteer Tutoring, Book Bunch Early Literacy, and Adopt a School. School Counseling/Social Work Program (SCP): is dedicated to assisting children in school and improving the quality of their lives through supportive mental health counseling. The Society provides five under resourced schools with on-site social work services at no cost to students and families. Christ Child volunteer tutors provide individual instruction in reading, math, and study skills in our partner schools. Reading tutors are trained in a structured decoding curriculum. Results are overwhelmingly positive based on post testing with significant increases in grade levels recorded. Book Bunch is an early literacy program for children ages 0-8 and their families. Providing new books and literacy rich experiences at local community-based agencies, Book Bunch models the importance of parents' sharing books with their children; the program provides fun, motivating, activities-led by volunteers- for families to enjoy, encourages increased interaction with books, and prepares preschool aged children in school readiness. Book Bunch sessions are offered in both English and Spanish.

The Girls on the Rise Empowerment Program includes after-school, summer camp, and family support programs. The Program serves at-risk girls from Ward 8 and their families. After-school and summer camp program provides social/emotional learning, academic support, mental health counseling, and specific programs in leadership, decision making, relationships and community service. The after-school program meets Mondays - Fridays from September to June and the camp meets for six weeks in the summer. Parents are provided case management and crisis support as well as life coaching and support. All programs are offered at no cost to the girls or their families.