Latchkey for success

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February 4, 00

Dear Community Leader,

Please allow "LatchKEY To Success" to share our vision with you. The future of today's youth is in our hands. With all of the pressures in the world today, we feel the children of this community need a safe, structured, and nurturing environment where they can learn and grow while seeing Biblical principals in action. The "LatchKEY To Success" program is a non-profit organization. All activities will be offered at no charge to the users of our facility. Our goal is to help mold today's youth into tomorrow's leaders.

Low-income families and single parents/guardians create a large percentage of poverty level households. Children in this situation may go home to an empty house after school every day. An empty home with no adults around is a potential "breeding ground" for mischief, or worse. We at "LatchKEY To Success" do not feel that accountability is innate. We feel it is taught, and a necessary component of a successful person. The children that attend the "LatchKEY To Success" program will learn accountability.

We cannot stop the negative influences from entering our youth's atmosphere. However, we can provide viable positive alternatives. "LatchKEY To Success" will offer programs that will enhance each child's mind. We believe study time, playtime, and fellowship opportunities in a positive environment might make the difference in a child's future.

Our goal cannot be achieved alone. We need your financial support. There are those in society that want to help others, but do not know how. If you are one of these individuals who would like to make a difference, please read further to gain a more detailed understanding of the "LatchKEY To Success" program.

Sincerely,

The "LatchKEY To Success" Executive Team

Contents

Page

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

INTRODUCTION 5

Purpose, Scope, and Limitations 5

Sources and Methods 5

WHAT IS "LATCHKEY TO SUCCESS?" 6

Mission Statement 7

Goal Statement 7

High-Level Operational Objectives 7

Performance Appraisal System 7

EXECUTIVE TEAM OVERVIEW 8

Location and Building Information

Demographic Information

"LATCHKEY TO SUCCESS" PROGRAMS 10

Mental 10

Physical 11

Emotional 11

Spiritual Emphasis 1

FUNDING EFFORTS 1

Keystone Contributors 1

Government Assistance 14

MARKETING OVERVIEW 15

Feedback Opportunity 15

SAFETY & LEGAL AFFAIRS 16

CONCLUSION 17

WORKS CITED 18

APPENDICES 1

Executive Summary

This report analyzes LatchKEY to Success' after school program. Our goal is to receive funding in order to provide a safe and wholesome atmosphere for the children of our community.

Why is LatchKEY to Success needed in our community?

Research has shown that in our community, approximately 0% of our families have children left after school with little or no supervision. Of that 0%, nearly 70% are single parent families that struggle daily to make ends meet. LatchKEY to Success will play an important role in our community because we offer a rewarding atmosphere for the children of these families free of charge. Even more devastating, 1% of American children under eighteen years of age live below poverty level, 15% live in households receiving cash assistance or food stamps and 1% of children live with a parent or guardian who has not graduated from high school.

What will LatchKEY to Success do to improve this standard in our community?

In all facets of programming, every young person is treated as one of God's children. We strongly believe the most important job a person can have is to teach or influence another in a positive direction. The goal of "LatchKEY to Success" is to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with each young person by ministering to their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual being. Students in our program will receive assistance with homework, build academic skills, and work with caring adults whose special help and encouragement builds self-esteem. Physical activity helps to build strong bones to last a lifetime and provides a positive outlet for play and stress relief. The mental and spiritual side of our program will provide positive encouragement and the opportunity to have someone to talk to when tough decisions need to be made.

What end result can be expected from LatchKEY to Success?

We are hoping to look back on this experience and as an end result, see our community enhanced by an increase in students graduating from high school, a reduction in crime rate, and improved self esteem in our youth.

Building an Effective Non-Profit Youth Program

Introduction

Today, more than 8 million school-age children have parents who work outside the home. An estimated five to seven million, and up to as many 15 million "latch-key children" return to an empty home after school. When the school bell rings, the anxiety for parents often just begins. They worry about their children being safe, and whether they are susceptible to drugs and crime.

Purpose, Scope, and Limitations

The purpose of the "LatchKEY To Success" program is to provide an affordable place for "latch key" kids to go after school that would enhance their lives. We hope to implement this program community wide. The limitations of the program are the size of the facility and the dollars we have to spend at this time.

Sources and Methods

In preparing this report, our team analyzed data relating to existing youth programs. We spoke with current employees of these programs to find the "best practices" at each facility and incorporated those practices into our plans. Additionally, we met with psychologists to gain a better understanding of the "latch key" child's mindset.

What is "LatchKEY To Success?"

"LatchKEY To Success" is a program built around the concept of providing opportunities. Our vision is to create opportunities for our community's youth, and opportunities for businessmen and businesswomen to support a wholesome project.

We have a gap in youth services in our community. It is a gap our team believes we can fill. Each day, a substantial number of our area's kids leave school and come home to an empty house, often without a parent or guardian around for hours. Simply put, they are "latch key" kids. What our program will succeed in doing will be to provide Monday Friday after school care for our community's youth, for grades K 1, free of charge. We are launching a non-profit, multi-disciplined program designed to be a place for kids to go and spend the after school hours playing and learning, instead of heading home or out to the streets, unsupervised.

One might ask what "multi-disciplined" means. It means that the "LatchKEY To Success" program will not merely be a big room with toys where kids come and play. Our agenda will contain several choices of activities each day that the youths may participate in. From sports to reading, from art to music, the "LatchKEY To Success" program will allow the kids to decide what they would like to do each day while providing a safe, wholesome place to do it.

Mission Statement

The "LatchKEY To Success" Program is an after school organization, which aims to provide safe, wholesome personal growth opportunities to the youth of our community free of charge.

Goal Statement

To enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well being of our community's youth.

High-Level Operational Objectives

Ø To have a membership level of 100 youth in the first year of operation.

Ø To receive $50,000 in the first three years through private and corporate donations.

Ø To have at least four activities available per day to meet the holistic needs of each youth member.

Ø To receive at least 5% parental/guardian rating of very good or excellent of all parents/guardians surveyed.

Performance Appraisal System

We will mail out quarterly quality surveys to our membership to gain feedback on the quality of our program. Every quarter, a unique 5% of our membership will be mailed a one-page survey soliciting their feedback regarding the "LatchKEY To Success" program.

Executive Team Overview

Our executive team is helping to shape the future of "LatchKEY To Success." Todd Sheldon, our Executive Director, is the top executive accountable to the community and contributors for the legal, moral, and ethical decisions made in the name of ""LatchKEY To Success"." Basically, the "buck stops" with Todd. His priorities include the high level oversight of all our programs, as well as building quality relationships with our parents and contributors.

Maria Biggerstaff holds our Director of Funding position. Her position's main tenet is to drive the effort to procure monetary and non-monetary donations for the "LatchKEY To Success" program. Additionally, Maria is responsible for insuring that moneys and items collected are used responsibly.

Sherrie Stevens holds the position of Program Director. Her team develops and implements wholesome, life affirming programs that allow for a child's individual growth, while focusing on the community's needs.

Our program's Director of Marketing is Cortney Sweeney. Cortney's team creates and implements innovative and impactful methods of informing others inside and outside our community about the goals and accomplishments of the "LatchKEY To Success" program.

As Director of Safety and Legal Affairs, Darin Hobbs rounds out our executive team. Darin's team strives to set the industry benchmark for the highest safety standards. Also, Darin spearheads the team responsible for representing the "LatchKEY To Success" program in all litigation.

Everyone working at "LatchKEY To Success" is part of one team. However, each discipline within the program, whether it be working with young children on math questions or teaching a seventh grader how to play the guitar, will have individual training requirements. Some are "in-house" training requirements, such as the proper method to "lock up" at night, while others are governmentally mandated, like CPR certification for all employees.

Location and Building Information

"LatchKEY To Success" has secured the use of two buildings, rent free, on the grounds of Community Christian Church. The first building is a 000 sq. ft. facility with several rooms, a kitchen, and bathrooms. This building connects to a gymnasium with a large basketball/volleyball court. It is already handicap accessible. The building is fully insulated with central heating and cooling. The building also has a fenced in area that surrounds the north and east sides of the building. Inspection and licensing has been done for the facility of "LatchKEY To Success".

Demographic Information

We conducted demographic research in our area to find out if there is even a need for a service such as "LatchKEY To Success". The conclusion of our research shows that there are no non-profit organizations within a 10-mile radius of our center's location at Community Christian Church. There are daycare centers that provide after school care to young children, but also charge on average $15 per week. Our program neither restricts youth because of the children's age nor charges families for our services. Research also revealed that 0% of the families within that same 10-mile radius have children with inadequate or no supervision at all once the school bell rings. Of that 0%, nearly 70% are single parents. Because we offer after school care to youth free of charge, the "LatchKEY To Success" program will be a great benefit to the majority of the population.

It is important for us to understand the backgrounds of our students and how we can meet their needs. Following is a list of facts regarding our target group of youths

1) Poverty 1 percent of American children under age 18 lived in families with incomes below the poverty level.

) Welfare Dependence 15 percent of the nation's children were in households receiving cash assistance or food stamps.

) Both parents absent In the late 0's 4 percent of children lived with neither parent, up from percent in 170. The number of children living with grandparents, with neither parent present, jumped from less than 1 million in 10 to 1.4 million in 000.

4) One-parent families In March 001, 8 percent of children live in one-parent families.

5) Unwed mothers In April 001, percent of children live with a never married mother.

6) Parent who has not graduated from high school 1 percent of children live with a parent or guardian who has not graduated from high school.

This is a bar graph that demonstrates how these risks can play a major factor in a 16 to 17 year old youth.

Times can be hard for many families and we are excited to begin a program that will provide a safe environment for the kids after school, free of charge.

"LatchKEY To Success" Programs

The focus of the staff at "LatchKEY To Success" is our programming. In all aspects of programming, every young person is treated as a child of God. We believe the most important job a person can have is to teach or influence another in a positive direction. Our holistic approach seeks to address the whole person mind, body, and spirit. The goal of "LatchKEY To Success" is to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with each young person by ministering to their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual being.

Mental

Tutoring will be offered as an enrichment program designed to provide a safe, positive, and stimulating environment to explore learning and experience academic success. Tutoring centers provide an environment where students are able to

· Get assistance with homework

· Build academic skills

· Work with caring adults whose special help and encouragement builds self-esteem and motivates them to succeed.

For those who do not need tutoring, a quiet environment is provided with work stations and reference material so homework can be completed. This setting will take the frustration aspect out of doing homework and in-turn, make homework a natural, stress-free part of each young person's daily routine.

Physical

Our physical activity program is two-fold. According to Department of Health and Human Services, regular physical activity improves strength, builds lean muscle, and decreases body fat. Physical activity helps to build strong bones to last a lifetime. Secondly, it provides a positive outlet for play and stress relief. Our facility houses an indoor basketball court, volleyball court, and walking track. In addition, exercise programs will be offered on a daily basis rotating yoga, kickboxing, Pilates, and aerobics. Competitive as well as noncompetitive activities will be scheduled. Physical activity promotes an environment of teamwork, peer support/encouragement, and good health.

Emotional

Persons with good emotional health feel good about themselves and have good relationships. It is the goal of "LatchKEY To Success" to provide the tools needed so each young person can learn how to control their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Young people with good emotional health have learned ways to cope with stress and problems (Mental Health Keeping Your Emotional Health).

Providing emotional support will be done formally and informally. Formal aspects of emotional growth opportunities include classes on dealing with emotions. Examples include (1) Learning how to express feelings in appropriate ways. The class would teach how keeping feelings of sadness or anger inside takes extra energy and can cause problems in relationships and at school; () Think before you act. Before you get carried away by your emotions and say or do something you might regret, consider the possible positive and negative consequences; and () Strive for balance in your life. Learn not to obsess about problems at school or at home. Focus on positive things in your life and make time for things you enjoy.

Informal aspects include one-on-one mentoring. Having a mentor is an opportunity for a young person to learn faith through watching and walking alongside a person of faith. They watch how a Christian works through issues, makes decisions, and lives a life of spirituality and discipleship. They see faith being integrated into life. They are challenged to do likewise in their own life. Having a mentor also helps a young person develop healthy self-esteem and confidence. It gives a forum where the young person can talk about their problems and concerns, where they can be challenged, nurtured and supported as they make decisions about their lives now and in the future.

Spiritual Emphasis

Although all programs are Christ-centered, through this aspect of the programming, special attention will be given to the spiritual well being of each young person. Our goal will be to teach spirituality, not denominational religion. The main purpose will be to show that there is only one way to have everlasting life. The way to the Father is through Jesus. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to earth to pay the price for our sins and make a way for us to live forever with Him. We will show that receiving the gift of salvation is simple. It basically involves 5 steps

· You Must Believe in Jesus Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 161

· You Must Confess Your Sins. You must acknowledge that you are a sinner and you want Jesus to wash your sins away. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1

· You Must Repent "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 115

· You Must Confess Jesus Before Men "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10-10

· You Must Accept the Gift of Salvation "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 8

These truths will be taught via Bible study, skits, music, prayer, and testimonies.

Kindergarten through 6th grade will have a structured schedule

15 Healthy snack

0 400 Homework/tutoring

400 40 Physical Activity (basketball, jump rope, exercise classes)

40 500 Emotional Health (stress management, mentoring)

500 50 Spiritual Awareness (skit, praise music, Bible study)

50 600 Free time

Recognizing that 7th 1th grade young adults desire control and prefer a less structured setting, they will have the opportunity to pick and choose which programs are of interest to them. All programming will be available (mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual). It is our hope that the strength of our programs will attract their attention and participation.

Funding Efforts

Keystone Contributors

The following donations from local merchants have been acquired.

· Dell Refurbished PCs

· Wal-Mart Beverages

· Target 15 Boxed Games

· The Playhouse A 6-seat swing set

· Cherished Dreams A Small Monkey-Bar set

· Kinko's All Copies and Faxes

· Tom Thumb $600.00 Gift Certificate

· Kroger $800.00 Gift Certificate

· Albertson's $50.00 Gift Certificate

· Office Depot $00.00 Gift Certificate

· Office Max $00.00 Gift Certificate

· Toy R Us $00.00 Gift Certificate

· Academy Sports Equipment $50.00 Gift Certificate

Government Assistance

We have also submitted applications to the government for the following grants

· Department of Education

o Funds may be used for youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, art, music, and recreation programs.

· Department of Health and Human Services

o Funds may be used for mentoring, counseling, and other activities that promote positive behavior.

· Department of Agriculture

o Funds may be used for training, after-school and summer programs, mentoring, computer hardware, technology training, and Internet connections to provide access to low-income youths.

· Department of Justice

o Funds may be used for providing individual and peer counseling to prevent and to reduce the participation of youth in the activities of gangs.

· Department of Labor

o Funds may be used for youth development opportunities in activities related to leadership, development, decision-making and community service.

To continue the process of procuring financial funds, "LatchKEY To Success" must have investors. "LatchKEY To Success" has estimated the original startup expenses and one year's budget. (Please see Appendix A)

This program will be a great asset to the community and a wonderful opportunity for a tax-deductible investment.

Marketing Overview

Our next step is to make the community familiar with the program we have to offer. Our main targets will be middle schools and high schools, local church youth groups, shopping malls and centers, and local businesses. At each of these locations flyers will be distributed, advertising "LatchKEY To Success". Inexpensive ads in newspapers and community newsletters will be placed that will provide an overall picture of the opportunity we are offering our community's youth. Web banners will also be placed on certain websites such as school districts, churches, and the city's website. We also hope that once our organization is established, word of mouth by our participants will provide positive encouragement for others to attend our program. The content of the media we will be distributing will include information about the following

· Free licensed counseling

· Tutoring and homework help

· Games designed to enhance teamwork skills

· Transportation provided to and from our facility

· Exercise programs

· Mentoring programs

In addition to the advertisement "LatchKEY To Success" receives from our marketing program, our sponsor's logo will appear on each flyer and brochure we produce, giving our sponsors free advertisement in return for their generous donation.

Feedback Opportunity

Once we reach our target goal of 100 members within the first operational year, it will be imperative that we maintain that membership level by providing good customer service and provide our member's families comfort in knowing that their feedback makes a difference in our organization. Each member's family will be given the opportunity to participate at least once a year in a survey designed to allow the family to rate the quality of our program. (Please see Appendix C) The surveys will be mailed out quarterly to a unique 5% of our membership population. In addition to a short question/answer survey, space will be provided for feedback on anything that might not be covered in the questions listed. Here are a few examples of questions that we be placed on the survey

· How would you rate the quality of our tutoring program?

· How satisfied are you with the center's staff members?

· How would you rate the overall effect our program has had on your child mentally, physically and spiritually?

· How satisfied are you with the spiritual guidance your child receives when attending our program?

Each of these questions will be rated on a scale ranging from Poor/Dissatisfied to Excellent. The goal of "LatchKEY To Success" is to receive a "very good" or "excellent" rating from at least 5% of those surveyed. The benefit our sponsors will receive from the constructive feedback we receive from members is continued positive advertisement for your company. We feel that we are not only representing ourselves, but also representing our sponsors in the way that we portray ourselves.

Safety & Legal Affairs

A successful program will meet licensing requirements, address liability issues, carry adequate liability insurance, maintain appropriate records, regularly review health and safety practices, and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. We have filed for and received our licensing through the Child Care Licensing Division of the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (PRS). Only the Parent's Acknowledgement for the Parent's Guide to Day Care and the Parent's Guide to Registered Family Homes Form are required by PRS for providers to use with parents.

Like other small business owners, childcare providers need life, health, and disability insurance to protect us from losing our program. Because we work with children we are faced with unique legal risks. The greatest risk is the injury or death of a child or a client. If an insurance company or jury holds us responsible, we could lose great amounts of money. It is imperative that we are prepared for the worst when it comes to a possible injury to a child. There are three types of possible financial loss 1) If a child is injured we may have to pay the victim's hospital and doctor bills, ) If there is a lawsuit, damages may be awarded to the victim or the victim's family, and ) A provider could have to pay court costs and attorney fees. Commercial liability policy premiums range from $50 to $500 or more per year for $00,000 liability limit (the recommended minimum). Total premiums for both a liability and an accident insurance policy may be $650 or more per year. We have also have been able to negotiate with the churches' insurance provider to help protect with any accident that occurs with the use of the facility.

Conclusion

LatchKEY to Success has the potential for unlocking the door to opportunity for the youth of our community. We believe this endeavor is an opportunity for local businesses and volunteers of our community to support our youth. As the old adage goes, it takes a village to raise a child. We will provide a safe, healthy environment for our children. "LatchKEY to Success" is an after school program that students can attend and have opportunities to work on their homework, play games and sports, participate in arts and crafts, and have a nutritious snack. Our main messages are as follows

1. Funding- The program is free for participants and we are a non-profit organization. All of our financial support will come from donations and grants.

. Programs- The staff will provide positive, wholesome programs to children in grades K - 1.

. Marketing- The team will focus our advertising in conjunction with the local schools, churches and businesses. We will provide a survey once a quarter to 5 percent of our clients for input on how the program is meeting their needs.

4. Safety and Legal Affairs- The business has filed all proper documents to the state for licensing and we have acquired proper insurance for our facility.

"LatchKEY to Success" needs your help. Any donation or grant that you can provide for our program will be greatly appreciated, and it can be used as a tax write-off. We have an opportunity to make a difference in our community. Thank you for taking the time to review our proposal. We look forward to having a quality, productive partnership with you for many years to come.

Please see Appendix B for our executive team's contact information.

Works Cited

"How to Get Money." 1st Century Community Learning Centers. http//www.afterschool.gov/cgi-bin/htgmview.pl?pid=1

"How to Get Money." Abstinence Education. http//www.afterschool.gov/cgi-bin/htgmview.pl?pid=

"How to Get Money." Children, Youth and Families At Risk Inititive (CYFAR) State Strengthing projects (STST). http//www.afterschool.gov/cgi-bin/htgmview.pl?pid=1

"How to Get Money." Gang-Free Schools and Communities Community-Based Gang Intervention. http//www.afterschool.gov/cgi-bin/htgmview.pl?pid=54

"How to Get Money." Youth Opportunity Grants. http//www.afterschool.gov/cgi-bin/htgmview.pl?pid=10

Mental Health Keeping Your Emotional Health. July 00. American Academy of Family

Physicians. 5 Jan. 00 http//familydoctor.org/handouts/58.html.

United States. Dept. of Commerce. Americas Children at Risk. Washington GPO, 17

United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity and Health. Washington

16

Appendix A

Budget for the period September 00 to August 004

Expenses Income

Item Amount Item Amount

Salaries $ 00,000 Government grants $

Equipment $ 7,000 Foundations $

Supplies $ 500 Corporations $

Training $ 10,000 Religious Institutions $

Phone $ 40 Personal contributions $

Electric $ 1800 Fundraising $

Gas $ 600 Miscellaneous $

Internet $ 600 Miscellaneous $

Postage $ 50 Miscellaneous $

Marketing $ 10,000 Miscellaneous $

Insurance $ 15,000 Miscellaneous $

Total Expenses $ 46,170 Total Income $

Balance

Appendix B

CONTACTS FOR "LatchKEY to Success"

www.latchkeytosuccess.org

1-800-LATCHKEY

Todd Sheldon-Executive Director

tsheldon@latchkey.com

14-555-14

Sherrie Stevens-Program Director

sstevens@latchkey.com

14-555-15

Maria Biggerstaff-Funding Director

mbiggerstaff@latchkey.com

14-555-16

Cortney Sweeney-Marketing Director

csweeney@latchkey.com

14-555-17

Darin Hobbs-Safety and Legal Affairs Director

dhobbs@latchkey.com

14-555-18

Appendix C

We are excited to introduce LatchKEY to Success to the community. We are a non-profit organization providing after-school care to our community's youth free of charge! Here are a few of the benefits your child will receive by attending our program

v Homework help

v Mentoring programs

v Teambuilding activities

v Christian atmosphere

v On-site licensed counselors

v Arts and Crafts

v Exercise programs

Proudly sponsored by

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