Learning is Just the Beginning

Children generally enter the program between the ages of 9 and 14 and live in our homes through high school graduation. Placement is voluntary on the part of the child and his or her parent(s)/guardian, and the program facilitates regular contact and counseling when appropriate with the child's family.

The Boys Hope Girls Hope residential program offers:

• Education in quality college-preparatory elementary and secondary schools
• Value-centered, family style homes focusing on moral and spiritual development
• Professional, live-in residential counselors who provide structure, guidance, and nurturing
• Medical, dental, and optical services
• Professional therapeutic counseling if needed
• Summer enrichment programs
• Extended services for program graduates

Continued Support
All children admitted to Boys Hope Girls Hope receive on going support designed to meet their individual needs upon completion of the residential program, usually at the time of high school graduation. These include:

• Financial assistance for college tuition, room, and board
• Emotional support and mentoring while on campus
• Assistance in securing internships and employment
• Follow-up contact to access a youth's reintegration into the family
• Extension of counseling services where needed
• Support and guidance for the primary caregiver
• Assistance with referral services

Family Services
Though Boys Hope Girls Hope is not a traditional family service agency, many parents and guardians benefit from services provided by the program, including information on and referral to community resources, parenting guidance, crisis intervention, and informal counseling.

Partners in Parenting
One of the most important aspects of Boys Hope Girls Hope is our close association with our scholars' parents. As parents are the first and most important teachers of their children, their involvement in our programs is highly valued. Parental participation in the child's activities and special events within program, as well as support of program goals and values, ensures the best possible experience for the child.

• The parent or legal guardian of the Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar is a partner with the program in the parenting of the child.
• Parents maintain guardianship and custody of the youth.
• Boys Hope Girls Hope maintains regular contact with the scholars' families through scheduled conferences and telephone contacts. The staff meets briefly with the parent/guardian before and after family visits.
• Youth typically visit families according to their service plans, once or twice per month and perhaps more, depending upon the particular situation of the child. Extended visits occurs during winter and summer holidays, and special visits can be arranged outside the established visiting schedule.
• Parents are welcome to communicate with program staff regarding their child's needs or services rendered by Boys Hope Girls Hope.

The mission of the Boys Hope Girls Hope Community Based Program is to enroll economically disadvantaged children in an intensive multi-year program of academic preparation and character building. Each scholar will receive full scholarships to a private college-preparatory school. Currently, the Community Based Program is working with St. Francis DeSales School and Purcell Marian High School in East Walnut Hills.

The goal of BHGH is to ensure graduation from a private, college prep high school and admission to college for students who have no other means by which to get a higher education. Our ultimate objective is to help each child reach their full potential.

Like the Boys Hope Girls Hope residential program, the Community Based Program is committed to caring for the whole child and as a result adopts a holistic approach to caring for the child – this includes providing a quality education, personalized tutoring, mentoring, psychological counseling, and exposure to a myriad of educational and social opportunities.

The Community Based Program provides the following:

Early Intervention:
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Cincinnati accepts students the summer before their 4th, 5th, or 6th grade year, and commits to them through their senior year in high school.

Summer Program:
Our scholars are exposed to a world of academic challenges and cultural enrichment in a summer program that prepares and gives them a competitive edge that will help them succeed in school and in life. The six week summer program exposes our scholars to academics in a fun and exciting manner, as well as provides them with the opportunity to see their community more in-depth and all of its wonderful opportunities.

After-School "Launch Pad":
Each scholar attends an after-school academic and enrichment program on a daily basis. During the program scholars participate in a structured study-time. For the duration of the study-time scholars may complete homework, study for tests, receive remedial help in subjects they are struggling with, receive tutoring, participate in enrichment learning opportunities, and strengthen their inner character/spirit.

Mentoring and Tutoring:
On-going individual mentors partner with the scholar's family and Boys Hope Girls Hope of Cincinnati to encourage success and provide support. The mentor forms a trusting, caring relationship with an emphasis on academic performance and personal development. The mentors are excellent role models who expand the student's world and stimulate the student's mind by exposing them to enriching experiences.

Tutors are a valuable resource provided to Boys Hope Girls Hope. Our scholars benefit from the additional academic assistance which ensures success in the classroom and beyond. All of the Community Based Program tutors come from an accredited-level teaching program. This means our scholars will be receiving services from highly-qualified individuals.

Partners in Parenting:
The Community Based Program Director and staff find that in order for a scholar to reach his/her fullest potential both the parent(s) and staff need to work together to support the scholar's success. This means that parents and staff are in constant communication, and are partners in the quest to guide the scholar to college. There are several responsibilities that a parent must meet when their child is accepted into the CBP.

They are:

• Support your child's academic success by always expecting your child to put their education first, and by doing their best work daily.
• Ensures that your child attends school regularly and on time.
• Ensures that your child attends the summer program academic/enrichment program as well as the After-School Launch Pad, daily and on time.
• Commit to making your child's success a priority within your home setting.
• Work closely with your child's mentor to ensure a successful and on-going relationship between the mentor and child, yourself and the child's school.
• Work closely with BHGH to ensure a successful and ongoing relationship between the program, your child, and yourself.

Potential Scholars/How to make a referral:
To qualify for a BHGH Community Based Program Scholarship, students must:

• Be intelligent, ambitious, hard working students
• Be respectful to adults and peers
• Possess a strong desire to graduate from high school and attend college
• Be willing to make a significant commitment of time and effort
• Have a strong parental support for this commitment
• Display a need for the services

Any adult, including a parent, teacher, social worker, coach…etc. can refer a qualified child to be considered for the Community Based Program Scholarship. To make an official referral, please contact the Community Based Program Director, Chelsea Blazer, at 721–3380. Referrals are accepted from September 1st through January 31st for the following school year. Scholars are selected and accepted in April, and all new scholars will be expected to participate in the Summer Program. Only six new scholars will be selected every year.

Some example activities that the scholars in the CBP participated in during the 2008 Summer Program were:

• They wrote, edited, and performed their own puppet skits.
• They practiced following the scientific method with several science experiments.
• They created their own pointillism paintings, and learned about several artists.
• They applied their math skills to predict the best way to compete in a sporting event.

Some of the community outings the scholars participated in were:

• Cincinnati Reds Game
• MadCap Puppet Studio
• Matthew 25 Ministries
• Gorman Farm
• Winton Woods – hiking and boating
• Laser Tag
• Cincinnati Art Museum
• Xavier University