Education Enrichment Program
Parent Empowerment is an in-person consultation with parents/guardians for the youth attending the learning centers. The student’s academic history is reviewed and benchmark goals are established between child and parent over a 1 year timeframe. The parents become more involved and also participate in parenting workshops.
EDUCATE uses innovative learning tools and practices to help provide a learning enriched environment for youth K-12 grades focused in the science, technology, engineering and math. This afterschool program is designed to be an extension of the in-class learning in a community related environment. During the EDUCATE day workshops, called “Brain Exchange”, the youth interacts with local leaders and participate in math tournaments and science contests.
Student Achievement: The Resident Service Coordinator, parent, and child create a “Student Intake Portfolio”. The student’s progress is tracked and evaluated by quantitative test scores and previous report cards. The qualitative assessments are maintained in the student’s file.
Self-Builder Program: The child’s self-esteem is increased by setting short-term achievable goals with the student. Once they have completed one goal, another goal is set until the student is able to display measurable progress.
The Family Learning Centers receive help from over 200 volunteers, including residents, community members, graduates, undergraduates and professors from UCSD and USD.
Financial Literacy Program
This program uses the Hands-On-Banking Wells Fargo curriculum for children, youth and adults. The curriculum is a comprehensive approach to improve economic outcomes for the low-income residents and teach young people basic and age-appropriate financial practices. The curriculum includes:
Budgeting & Checking: The center helps residents to balance their checkbooks and budget their money wisely each pay period.
Savings: By encouraging the residents to save for an emergency, the center assists them with opening a savings account.
Anti-Fraud: Residents are informed about misleading checks that come in the mail or email and protecting their credit.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): The center hosts volunteer from VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) that provides tax preparation to residents at no cost.
Computer Skills Training
The computer skills program range from basic to high-level technology, offering comprehensive training in Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets and graphics applications), e-mail creation and internet navigation.
The workshops are taught several times a week and one-on-one training for residents with limited computer skills is also offered. The program is designed to address each resident’s level of proficiency.
Residents also have the opportunity to develop and enhance their keyboarding skills, using Mavis Beacon Typing Lessons. Their time is recorded and progress is evaluated helping them to achieve their desired goal.
The youth learn a higher level digital media program, such as advanced media and technological applications. They are also taught about safe and responsible use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Training & Workforce Development Program
SDCHC has partnerships with Vocational Training Schools, Community Colleges and Universities to provide training and/or higher education programs.
Workforce Development: The program provides work preparedness workshops that are focused in customer service, interview techniques and resume building. The program covers critical labor market information on high demand industries and occupations.
Career Pathway: The program is a comprehensive assessment approach to ensure participant’s success in the workplace. At the pre-training assessment, work readiness strengths and deficiencies are identified through testing, interviews, work and education history, basic skills, financial stability, interests, aptitude, occupational skills, and supportive service needs are addressed individually to determine the scope and need for services. The findings are documented and serve as a working document, being updated regularly to ensure the participant is meeting the goal established.
