Grace Place For Children And Families Inc

GRACE PLACE PUTS FAITH INTO ACTION BY PROVIDING PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY.

SCHOOL AGE PROGRAMS ENROLLED STUDENTS FROM 5 GRADE SCHOOLS, GOLDEN GATE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. K-5 STUDENTS MEET ON-CAMPUS, WHILE THE OLDER STUDENTS MEET AT THEIR SCHOOLS. EACH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LITERACY, TARGETED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP, WELLNESS AND CAREER AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION. READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY 3RD GRADE IS A CRITICAL MILESTONE; STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE 100 MINUTES OF SPECIALIZED READING CLASSES PER WEEK. IN A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM, CHOICE ACADEMIES, STUDENTS EXPLORE AN AREA OF SPECIAL INTEREST AND PRESENT A FINAL PROJECT FOR JUDGING, HONING THEIR RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION SKILLS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIORS AND SENIORS VISITED 12 COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND 4 EMPLOYERS. 100% OF GRADUATING SENIORS WERE ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE WITH $2.36 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS.FREE SUMMER PROGRAMMING SUPPORTS RETENTION OF SCHOOL-YEAR ACHIEVEMENTS AND MAINTAIN FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION. THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES LITERACY ACTIVITES, AS WELL AS SWIMMING LESSONS AND FIELD TRIPS BEYOND THE SMALL GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY.

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN-PERSON AT NIGHT, FOR ANYONE EVEN IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A STUDENT ENROLLED AT GRACE PLACE. SPANISH IS THE PRIMARY OR ONLY LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN MORE THAN 50% OF GOLDEN GATE HOMES AND HAITIAN-CREOLE IS SPOKEN IN 5%. WE ENROLLED 110 STUDENTS IN ESL (ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE), 38 IN FINANCIAL AND DIGITAL LITERACY AND 28 STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION COURSE. 95% OF ESL STUDENTS SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN ENGLISH READING, BASED ON YEAR-END ASSESSMENTS. 103 STUDENTS RETURNED THIS YEAR, AFTER BEGINNING COURSEWORK THE PRIOR YEAR. CLASSES HAD BEEN SUSPENDED TWO YEARS AGO DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM ENROLLS PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, AGES 3 MOS TO 5 YEARS. THE GRACE PLACE FAMILY LITERACY MODEL IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM. IT IS A LICENSED, COPYRIGHTED PROGRAM WITH A STRUCTURED, TESTED CURRICULUM TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED TEACHERS. 100% OF GRADUATING 4- AND 5-YEAR OLDS WERE DEVELOPMENTALLY READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. PARENT ENROLLMENT IS A UNIQUE REQUIREMENT OF BRIGHT BEGINNINGS. THE ADULT EDUCATION PORTION OF THE PROGRAM CULTIVATES ENGLISH LITERATE AND SKILLED PARENTS WHO CONFIDENTLY GUIDE THEIR CHILD THROUGH THE CRUCIAL YEARS OF EARLY DEVELOPMENT. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHE CURRICULUM BUILDS A CULTURE OF EDUCATION WITHIN THE HOME. "PARENT AND CHILD TOGETHER" TIME REINFORCES PARENTING SKILLS AND INCORPORATES LITERACY ACTIVITIES IN DAILY PLAY TIME.STUDENT ASSESSMENTS ALLOW TEACHERS TO PLAN LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS, TRACK PROGRESS, AND MAKE EARLY INTERVENTION REFERRALS AS NEEDED. WE PARTNER WITH MORE THAN 30 LOCAL AGENCIES TO EXPAND THE CURRICULUM AND CONNECT FAMILIES WITH LOCAL RESOURCES FOR HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT, CITIZENSHIP, MENTAL HEALTH, AND WELLNESS SUPPORT.

STUDENTS WHO ARE HUNGRY ARE UNABLE TO FOCUS ON LEARNING. GRACE PLACE IS THE LARGEST PERMANENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITE IN COLLIER COUNTY. THE FOOD PANTRY PROVIDED 533,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 400 FAMILIES EACH WEEK, EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A GRACE PLACE STUDENT. WE OPERATE AS A "CHOICE PANTRY" ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO SELECT FRESH PRODUCE, MEATS AND SHELF-STABLE PRODUCTS THAT WILL NOURISH THEIR FAMILY. TWO SHIFTS OF VOLUNTEERS SORT AND DISTRIBUTE THE FOOD EACH WEEK. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN ADDITION TO THE PANTRY, STUDENTS IN ALL PROGRAMS RECEIVE MEALS WHILE IN PROGRAM AND K-5 STUDENTS RECEIVE FRESH PRODUCE TO TAKE HOME.GRACE PLACE ALLOWS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AGENCIES ACCESS TO OUR AWARD-WINNING GRACE PLACE FAMILY LITERACY MODEL BY PAYING AN ANNUAL LICENSE FEE PLUS THE COST FOR ON-SITE TRAINING AND PROPRIETARY MATERIALS. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE BARBARA BUSH FOUNDATION FOR LITERACY.