Boys & Girls Club, Discovery Center, Rosecrance and YMCA Will Receive Allocations for Middle School Programs Addressing Academic and Social-Emotional Needs Children are Facing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On Thursday, November 19, United Way of Rock River Valley will present grant allocations totaling $129,000 to representatives from Boys & Girl Club, Discovery Center, Rosecrance and YMCA of Rock River Valley. The allocations will be used to support programs addressing academic and social-emotional needs middle schoolers are facing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are pleased to be making these allocations to agencies that are making important, positive impact on middle schoolers at this critical time,” said Linda Sandquist, United Way of Rock River Valley vice president. “The programs facilitated by Boys & Girls Club, Discovery Center, Rosecrance and YMCA of Rock River Valley are helping us expand the reach of Move the Middle and providing critical resources that are needed now, more than ever.”
Move the Middle was implemented at Lincoln Middle School as a pilot program in 2019 to ensure ninth graders are on track to graduate. Two United Way Achievement Advocates work with middle school students, parents, teacher and United Way partners to identify struggling students and provide intervention and support. United Way’s goal is to grow the program to other area middle schools.
A check presentation will take place on Thursday, November 19 at 10:00 a.m. at United Way of Rock River Valley, 612 North Main Street, Suite 300. One representative from each agency will be on hand for a socially distanced event.
Programs Receiving Grant Allocations
Boys & Girls Club
Program: Academic Success Project
The Boys & Girls Club Academic Success Project is a targeted reading and math program providing small group intervention for students who are identified as at-risk.
Discovery Center
Program: STEM on the Rock: Increasing STEM Engagement in Minority Middle School Students
In partnership with the local chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, Discovery Center’s program seeks to increase STEM engagement in, and develop career pathways for minority middle school students.
Rosecrance
Program: Overcoming Obstacles Open Access Program
The Overcoming Obstacles program provides therapeutic, life skills development group sessions to middle schoolers identified as having behavior health needs, in order to help improve behavior, school performance and quality of life. Rosecrance will partner with Kennedy Middle School where some of Winnebago County’s most at-risk underserved youth attend.
YMCA of Rock River Valley
Program: Y Middle School Achievers
Y Middle School Achievers will address a wide range of needs of middle school students, starting with educational needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time will address academic achievement, family needs, leadership development, responsibility and accountability and mental health needs such as trauma, grief, behavioral health and violence. The program will take place at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard, open to all middle school students but will be targeted to West Middle School students.