West End House Inc

THE MISSION OF WEST END HOUSE, INC. D/B/A WEST END HOUSE BOYS & GIRLSCLUB OF ALLSTON-BRIGHTON (THE CLUB) IS TO INSPIRE AND ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS PRODUCTIVE, RESPONSIBLE, AND CARING CITIZENS. THE CLUB IS AN INDEPENDENT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AND ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS ORGANIZATIONS IN BOSTON. IT IS THE LARGEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN ALLSTON-BRIGHTON AND ENROLLS YOUNG PEOPLE COMING FROM 23 OF 30 BOSTON ZIP CODES. THE CLUB'S GOALS ARE TO EMPOWER YOUTH AGES 8-24 TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, DISCOVER THEIR ARTISTIC PASSIONS AND SKILLS, ADOPT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS, AND BECOME COMMUNITY LEADERS.

THE CLUB'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE IS SHAPED DIRECTLY BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IT SERVES. CENTERING THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY, THE FOLLOWING FIVE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES HAVE EMERGED TO DRIVE THE CLUB TO A MORE EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND JUST FUTURE:1. EXPAND THE CLUB'S REACH AND DEEPEN ITS IMPACT2. ELEVATE SERVICES FOR DISENGAGED YOUTH3. UPLIFT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN ALL THE CLUB'S WORK4. BUILD A BEST-IN-CLASS TEAM DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING YOUTH5. GROW RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM IMPACTTHE CLUB SERVES 900 YOUTH AGES 8 THROUGH 24 INCLUDING THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, SUMMER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ALUMNI ENROLLED IN THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM. IN ADDITIONAL 160 FAMILIES ARE SERVED THROUGH THE FOOD FOR FAMILIES PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH ANNUAL YOUTH MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE $15, IT IS FREE FOR TEENS, YOUTH RESIDING IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, AND FOR FAMILIES IN THE FOOD FOR FAMILIES PROGRAM. THE CLUB'S CURRENT PROGRAMING INCLUDE: *ACADEMIC SUCCESS: DESIGNED TO HELP AGED 8-18 SUCCEED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND BEYOND. THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SUPPORT (HOMEWORK HELP, ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING), TIMELY ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. SOME OF THE CLUB'S KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDE STEM PROGRAMMING, READING BUDDIES, POWER HOUR AND COLLEGE ACCESS. *COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS: DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING YOUTH AGES 18-24, WITH FOUR FULL-TIME STAFF THAT PROVIDE STRENGTH-BASED COACHING AND CASE MANAGEMENT IN 1-ON-1 AND GROUP SETTINGS FOR CLUB ALUMNI WHO ARE PURSUING A COLLEGE DEGREE AND/OR MEANINGFUL, CAREER-ORIENTED EMPLOYMENT. FOLLOWING A 7+ YEAR TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN GUIDING YOUNG PEOPLE TO EARN COLLEGE DEGREES, INCLUDING MANY FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS. THE CLUB EXPANDED PROGRAMMING TO FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DESIRE EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION. *LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT: THE CLUB'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE IS A UNIQUE, MULTI-YEAR CONTINUUM DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, POSITIONING THEM FOR SUCCESS AS THEY ACHIEVE LONG-TERM CAREER ADVANCEMENT. THE CLUB'S PROGRESSIVE EMPLOYMENT PIPELINE SUPPORTS YOUTH AGES 14-24 TO BOLSTER CAREER READINESS SKILLS, ENGAGE IN ON-SITE AND EXTERNAL EMPLOYMENT, AND COMPLETE CAREER-ALIGNED PAID INTERNSHIPS OF UP TO $5,000 PROVIDED BY THE CLUB TO BOLSTER INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC SKILLS.*VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: WORKSHOPS DELIVERED BY FULL AND PART TIME STAFF WHO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC, VISUAL ARTS, MEDIA ARTS, AND DANCE THAT HELPS YOUTH DEVELOP MASTERY-LEVEL SKILLS VIA PROGRESSIVE LEARNING. YOUTH LEARN THE BASICS THEN DEVELOP HIGHER SKILL LEVELS WHICH CULMINATE IN A FINISHED PRODUCT OR PERFORMANCE TO SHARE WITH THEIR PEERS. IN ADDITION, THE CLUB'S ARTS CLASSES OFFER EXPERIENCES THAT FOSTER CRITICAL THINKING AND NON-COGNITIVE SKILL DEVELOPMENT.*SPORTS, FITNESS, AND NUTRITION: PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING LIFELONG, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS. THIS INCLUDES PROVIDING DINNER AND SNACK MADE FROM SCRATCH DAILY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND LUNCH DURING THE SUMMER WITH ACCESS TO WHOLE GRAINS, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AND LEAN PROTEINS. THE CLUB ALSO ENGAGES YOUTH IN A WIDE RANGE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO KEEP THEM MOVING FOR 60 MINUTES A DAY, AND OFFER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FITNESS CLASSES, COOKING CLASSES AND FITNESS/ANATOMY INSTRUCTION.*TRAUMA-INFORMED WELLNESS: PROGRAMS EMBEDDED IN ALL THE CLUB'S PROGRAMMING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE CLUB HAS ADDED THIS CRITICAL ENHANCEMENT TO ITS SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. IN 2023, THE CLUB EXPANDED ITS TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMMING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS' EDISON K-8 SCHOOL. PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED ON SITE AT THE EDISON SCHOOL FROM THE CLUB'S MANAGER OF THERAPEUTIC ART PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS.*FOOD FOR FAMILIES: PROVIDES GROCERIES ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 2020, THE CLUB LAUNCHED A FULL-SCALE GROCERY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK, SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN MARCH 2020, THE CLUB HAS PROVIDED FAMILIES WITH GROCERIES TOTALING OVER 1,000,000 POUNDS OF FOOD. SURVEY DATA FROM FAMILIES INDICATED THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF ENSURING EQUITABLE FOOD ACCESS FOR ALL.OUTCOMES AND EVALUATIONTHE CLUB CONTINUES TO TRACK AND MONITOR YOUTH PROGRESS TO MEASURE INDIVIDUAL AND PROGRAMMATIC SUCCESS WITH THE FOLLOWING TOOLS:*NATIONAL YOUTH OUTCOMES INITIATIVE (NYOI): A SURVEY TOOL CREATED BY THE CLUB'S NATIONAL AFFILIATE, BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA, WHICH USES A COMMON SET OF RESEARCH INFORMED INDICATORS TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE CLUB IN SEVEN PRIORITY AREAS: SENSE OF BELONGING, EMOTIONAL SAFETY, PHYSICAL SAFETY, FUN, ADULT CONNECTION, STAFF EXPECTATIONS, AND RECOGNITION.*YOUTH PROGRAM QUALITY ASSESSMENT (YPQA) AND YOUTH PROGRAM QUALITY INTERVENTION (YPQI): METHODS OF MEASURING THE QUALITY OF YOUTH PROGRAMS AND IDENTIFYING STAFF TRAINING NEEDS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, CAMPS, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE YOUTH IN GRADES K-12 HAVE FUN, WORK, AND LEARN WITH ADULTS. ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS INCLUDE SAFE ENVIRONMENT, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, INTERACTION, ENGAGEMENT, YOUTH-ORIENTED POLICIES AND PRACTICES, HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUTH AND STAFF, AND ACCESS. THIS SELF-ASSESSMENT PROCESS FACILITATES BUILDING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES BY EXAMINING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PROGRAMS.*SURVEY OF ACADEMIC YOUTH OUTCOMES (SAYO): AN EVIDENCE-BASED TOOL THAT MEASURES IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOR. SAYO RELIES ON STAFF OBSERVATIONS AND YOUTH SURVEYS TO ASSESS IMPROVEMENTS IN BEHAVIOR, INITIATIVE, ENGAGEMENT IN LEARNING, PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, PEER RELATIONSHIPS, AND READING LEVEL. IT RECOGNIZES DIFFICULT TO MEASURECAPABILITIES SUCH AS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND LEADERSHIP.*MEMBER TRACKING SYSTEM: A DATABASE THAT IS USED TO COLLECT AND REVIEW QUARTERLY ACADEMIC PROGRESS REPORTS AND REPORT CARDS OF ALL YOUTH. THIS INFORMATION HELPS TO IDENTIFY YOUTH IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL TARGETED SUPPORT AND ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL INTERVENTION PLANS TO ENSURE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MEETING CRITICAL EDUCATIONAL BENCHMARKS. BEGINNING IN 2023, THE CLUB TRANSITIONED ITS DATA TO MYCLUBHUB, A SALESFORCE BASED PLATFORM LAUNCHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA.*SALESFORCE: A CUSTOMIZED DATABASE USED BY THE CLUB'S COLLEGE SUCCESS STAFF THAT TRACKS KEY DATA POINTS INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION; COLLEGE ENROLLMENT RATES; GRADES, CREDITS EARNED, COURSE COMPLETION; COACHING INTERACTIONS; VERIFICATION OF FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID COMPLETION; PERSISTENCE AND GRADUATION RATES; AND CAREER INTERESTS.