$300,000 to Expand Teen Services!

California Department of Education Issues Two Grants to BGCGG

The California Department of Education announced the recipients of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Program today. The need funding will allow the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove to expand After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens.

With the first grant, the Club will begin an afterschool program on-campus at Hare Continuation High School. Hare is dedicated to students who are not successful at their "home" high school. By offering quality after-school programs at this school, assistance to these youth in their academic progress, high school exit exam preparation and improve their social/life skills and development can be provided.

Currently, there are no other afterschool programs offered to Hare Continuation High School students (other than ROP job training). Activities to be offered include academic, enrichment (college preparation, community service, fitness and recreation, etc.), individual counseling and family literacy services.

The second California Department of Education grant is for expanded services at Santiago High School. The Santiago program serves incoming freshman graduating from existing afterschool programs at surrounding/feeder middle schools as well as sophomores, juniors and seniors. Santiago serves not only low-income families, but a local homeless shelter and some families living in motels from Garden Grove and a portion of Santa Ana. The area nearby Santiago has been the scene of multiple gang-related homicides in the past few years.

Standardized test scores reflect poor student performance thus adding to the need for quality after-school programming and a safe place for students to spend their afternoons. By expanding quality after-school programs at this school, as a continuation of the programs currently provided at the intermediate level, will allow greater long-term impact on the students and families from these disadvantaged areas. Similar to Hare's program, activities to be offered include academic, enrichment (college preparation, job readiness, community service, fitness and recreation, etc.), individual counseling and family literacy services.