Neighborhood House Of Milwaukee Inc

TO INSPIRE AND CONNECT BY STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY. FOUNDED IN 1945, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE IS A FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE TRADITION, SERVING 4,167 PARTICIPANTS LAST YEAR. PER OUR PROUD TRADITION, WE SERVED INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT ALL STAGES OF LIFE, REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR BACKGROUND. THAT SERVICE NUMBER WAS FOR A FISCAL YEAR AGAIN AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CHALLENGES RESTRICTED PROGRAMMING, BUT IT WAS UP SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE PRIOR YEAR AND ON PAR WITH PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM (ECP): NH'S STATE-LICENSED, YOUNGSTAR 5 RATED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL CARE WORKING PARENTS CAN RELY UPON. ECP SERVES CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS AND RANKS AS ONE OF THE BEST PROVIDERS IN MILWAUKEE. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMMING FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN (UP TO AGE 3). USING PLAY-BASED LEARNING AND EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA, ECP HELPS YOUNGSTERS DEVELOP COGNITIVELY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. FURTHER, IT HELPS LITERACY AND MATH SKILLS AND SUPPORTS SCHOOL READINESS. PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT IS ALSO A CORE COMPONENT.

THE INTERNATIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM (ILP): ILP IS THE STATE'S LARGEST AND LEADING CENTER FOR ADULT REFUGEES, OFFERING ADULT ESL AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS TRAINING DIRECTLY TO MORE THAN 300+ REFUGEES AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION TO ESL EDUCATION, ILP OFFERS MATH, PRE-GED, SPECIALIZED VOCATIONAL ESL AND WORKFORCE READINESS SKILLS, PARENTING AND CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. ILP ALSO PROVIDES A PRESCHOOL, REFERRALS FOR TRAUMA COUNSELING AND MEDICAL NEEDS AND OFFERS JOB AND SCHOOL SUPPORT.

COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS: NH FOOD PANTRY. THE NH FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS TO ALL NH PARTICIPANTS. WITH THE SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP OF HTF, NH SUCCESSFULLY OPENED THE PANTRY IN JULY 2020 AND SERVED 2,945 UNDUPLICATED PEOPLE WHO MADE 9,954 VISITS JUST IN THE FIRST YEAR RATHER REMARKABLE NUMBERS AS THE PANTRY IS OPEN ONLY ON WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. THE NH FOOD PANTRY IS UNIQUE AS IT IS A FULL CHOICE FOOD PANTRY. THIS ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO SELECT ITEMS THEY PREFER FROM A WEEKLY MENU OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS.FAMILY PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM FEATURES FREE OR VERY LOW COST EVENTS DESIGNED TO INSPIRE, EDUCATE AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES. IT INCLUDES WEEKEND FAMILY ADVENTURES ACTIVITIES AND OTHER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ALL FAMILY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT THAT EMPOWERS PARENTS TO SERVE AS THEIR CHILDREN'S TEACHERS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, NH ALSO OFFERS A VARIETY OF EVENTS SPECIFICALLY SERVING NH FAMILIES THAT CELEBRATE HOLIDAY, CULTURAL AND PROGRAMMING BENCHMARKS. THESE EVENTS GIVE PARENTS MORE RELAXED OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH STAFF AND SEE THEIR CHILDREN'S WORK. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF FROM ECP, UKC AND TEEN PROGRAMS CONSULT WITH AND SUPPORT PARENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (EE). ONE OF THE OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MILWAUKEE, EE OFFERS ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES USING A NH-DEVELOPED CURRICULUM WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING SCIENCE-BASED EDUCATION AND DIRECT ENGAGEMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THAT INSTILLS A SUSTAINABLE APPRECIATION FOR URBAN AND RURAL NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE MANY OF OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES HAVE LIMITED INTERACTION WITH NATURE DUE TO RESTRICTED ACCESS TO SAFE, PUBLIC GREEN SPACES, URBAN DANGERS, AND LACK OF ACCESS TO CAMPS AND OTHER NATURE-BASED ENRICHMENT. EE IS INTERWOVEN THROUGHOUT NH'S OTHER PROGRAMMING AREAS AND INCLUDES OUR INNOVATIVE LEAD & LEARN CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM THAT OFFERS 14 PAID INTERNSHIPS, JOB READINESS TRAINING AND NATURAL RESOURCES CAREER EXPLORATIONS TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED, URBAN, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. LEAD & LEARN INTERNS GAIN THE SKILLS TO DEVELOP CURRICULUM AND TAKE THE LEAD ON PRESENTING INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION LESSONS AND HANDS-ON CONSERVATION PROJECTS FOR HUNDREDS OF LOW-INCOME MILWAUKEE YOUTH AGES 6-19. COMMUNITY EDUCATION. UNDERSTANDING THAT A STRONG COMMUNITY CONSISTS OF HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, NH OFFERS HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENTS AND INITIATIVES AS WELL AS ENGAGES IN COMMUNITY-WIDE HEALTH PROGRAMS. SPECIFIC OFFERINGS INCLUDE OUR ANNUAL HEALTH RESOURCE FAIR AND FALL FLU IMMUNIZATION EVENTS; WOMAN 2 WOMAN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM; WORKSHOPS AND HEALTH SCREENINGS. NH ALSO OFFERS REFERRALS TO IMMUNIZATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. OUR ANNUAL HEALTH EVENTS SUCH AS THE HEALTH RESOURCES FAIR, WERE POSTPONED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT WILL RESUME IN OCTOBER. MOST RECENTLY, THIS PROGRAM RECEIVED A GRANT TO HELP INCREASE IMMUNIZATION AMONG PEOPLE OF COLOR. OUR FIVE MONTH VACCINATION OFFERING RESULTED IN MORE THAN 450 IMMUNIZATIONS.

YOUTH AND TEENS PROGRAMS: SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH PROGRAMS (AGES 6-12). YOUTH INITIATIVES INCLUDE UNIVERSITY KIDS' CLUB (UKC), A STATE-LICENSED, BEFORE- AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AND OUR ANNUAL 11-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAMMING. THESE INITIATIVES PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT USING A DYNAMIC STEAM/L (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATH AND LITERACY) FRAMEWORK OFTEN LACKING IN SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. THESE ARE ALL DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND STRENGTHEN LIFE SKILLS. SAFE PLACE AT STORY SCHOOL, CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM OFFERED AT STORY ELEMENTARY LOCATED IN THE MILLER VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD. SAFE PLACE PROVIDES ACADEMIC SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT AND RECREATION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND THROUGH AN 8-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM.TEEN PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13-19. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS TEENS TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF EDUCATION, MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES, AVOID OR REDUCE DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND MAKE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR PROGRAM OFFERS ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES, PROMOTES ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL PREPARATION AS WELL AS PROVIDES FINANCIAL LITERACY ALONG WITH RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS IMPORTANT PROGRAM COMPONENTS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SAFE & SOUND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE ADDRESS CRIME AND HELP IMPROVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ADDITIONALLY, ORGANIZED SPORTS HELP YOUTH DEVELOP ATHLETIC SKILLS, PROMOTE TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.