Kingsbridge Heights Community Center Inc

KHCC PROVIDES RESOURCES TO EMPOWER BRONX RESIDENTS FROM CRADLE TO CAREER TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING FOR A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. WE ACHIEVE THIS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS ACADEMIC MILESTONES, LITERACY, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, NUTRITION, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE ARTS.

EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES: OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMSINCLUDING EARLY HEAD START, EARLY LEARN, HEAD START, UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN (UPK), AND FAMILY CHILDCARE NETWORKPROVIDE MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN, BIRTH-5, WITH NURTURING, EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY CAN LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE. WE HELP PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE DEVELOP SKILLS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE CAREGIVERS AND CREATE NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENTS.

YOUTH SERVICES:WE PROVIDE A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT DURING AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS WHERE OVER 500 YOUNG PEOPLE CAN SOCIALIZE, LEARN, AND GROW. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER DAY CAMP, TEEN CENTER FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, COLLEGE DIRECTIONS FOCUSED ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SUCCESS, AND A RESPITE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, UP TO AGE 25, WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES: WE PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO ADULTS AND FAMILIES THAT HELP BREAK GENERATIONAL CYCLES OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND POVERTY. AT THE HEART OF THIS DIVISION IS CHANGING FUTURES, AN INTERVENTION FOR 300 SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ANNUALLY AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING FAMILY MEMBERS, AND PARENTING JOURNEY THAT HELPS STRUGGLING PARENTS AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR CHILDREN PLACED IN FOSTER CARE LEARN SELF-CARE AND PARENTING SKILLS. OTHER OFFERINGS INCLUDE ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) CLASSES AND RECREATION.NUTRITIONAND FOOD ACCESS SERVICES: PARTICIPANTS IN ALL PROGRAMS RECEIVENUTRITIONEDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD IN OUR THRIVING COMMUNITY GARDEN. WE OFFER A DIVERSE ARRAY OF PROGRAMING SUCH AS INTERNSHIPS, COOK SHOPS AND CHEF BATTLES, INTERGENERATIONAL GARDENING, AND FAMILY COOKING CLASSES. TO FURTHER SUPPORT FOOD ACCESS, WE OPERATE A SEASONAL FOOD PANTRY AND OFFER 30 GARDEN PLOTS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GROW THEIR OWN VEGETABLES.FOOD INSECURITY HAS BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM: WHILE 34% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS LACKED ADEQUATE FOOD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, NOW OVER 75% ARE STRUGGLING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. THE REACH OF OUR FOOD PANTRY HAS GROWN TENFOLD, FROM 20 FAMILIES SERVED PER WEEK PRE-PANDEMIC TO NOW OVER 200 FAMILIES EACH DAY.KHCCONNECT:OUR UNIQUE CASE MANAGEMENT UNIT, KHCCONNECT SCREENS ALL PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAMS FOR UNADDRESSED NEEDS AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS IN THE FORM OF REFERRALS, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES/WORKSHOPS. SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT TWO YEARS AGO, KHCCONNECT HAS BECOME A CRITICAL PART OF THE WORK WE DO AND HAS HAD A DEEP IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.