The Launch Model
Empowering schools for the success of our students by removing barriers and leveraging resources.
ELECT Program
Program Description
ELECT Teen Parent Classrooms (TPC) assist pregnant and/or parenting students (females and males) in the completion of their high school education or equivalency so they can make successful transitions into self-sufficiency and parenthood. ELECT Site coordinators provide intensive case management; parenting and child development training; health and nutrition seminars; academic and social service supports; life skills development and home. ELECT Fatherhood Initiative (EFI) is the program component dedicated to young men who are parenting.
History and Background
In 1993, Communities In Schools of Philadelphia, Inc. (CISP) submitted an ELECT proposal to the Department of Education (DPE) and the Department of Welfare (DPW) and opened programs at Ben Franklin, Simon Gratz and William Penn High Schools. Presently, CISP serves 28 schools and Educational Options Program (EOP) programs. ELECT currently sits in the Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) at the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). SDP is the ELECT state grantee and then contracts with CISP and four other provider agencies to work directly in and with schools to provide administrative supervision, professional staff development, coordination and management of day-to-day implementation program components to a targeted 800 expectant and/or parenting teens. CISP is contracted for services to 355 teens.
Each site has a designated ELECT Site Coordinator (SC) responsible for the coordination of services including: access to credit recovery; tutoring/homework assistance; child development/parenting; fatherhood resources; health and nutrition education; homebound instruction access; home visits; individual planning for attendance, academic and social service supports; Motivational Interviewing; life skills; mentoring; post-high school options including vocational and career planning; summer service delivery; enrichment activities for students and their children; and Transition Component services for up to 120 days after graduation. All students are required to have a social security number and must present a valid form of social security verification due to Department of Human Services (DHS), (previously known as the [Department of Public Welfare (DPW)] regulations.
Out of School Time/ Access Center
Program Description
Traditionally, the Afterschool Licensed Child Care Centers served children in grades K-5, Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the William Dick Elementary School, 2498 W. Diamond Street, 19121 and the Thomas May Peirce Elementary School, 2300 W. Cambria Street, 19132. These non-school hour programs were designed to increase children’s safety and security; interrupt the attraction of harmful behaviors such as: smoking, drinking, drug use, and sexual activity; improve graduation rates and improve interest in and connection to school. They targeted youth that was involved with, or the potential Department of Human Services’ clients. The overall focus of the program was to reduce and prevent future involvement with social services, reduce delinquency and violence.
History and Background
Communities In Schools of Philadelphia, Inc. provided engaging and quality-based after care centers and six-week summer camp programs since 2003 to the William Dick Elementary, 2498 W. Diamond Street, 19121 and the Thomas May Peirce Elementary School, 2300 W. Cambria Street, 19132. The schools are located in the North Philadelphia 19121 and 19132 zip codes, which includes the Allegheny West Strawberry Mansion and Allegheny West areas.
Currently
In August 2020, the City of Philadelphia (City) Office of Children and Families (OCF) the umbrella agency which provides oversight to the Department of Human Services (OHS) modified the Scope of Work and Operation for the Afterschool program due to the COVID-19 city wide policy on limiting public meetings and large gatherings. To ensure compliance with the Centers for Disease Control, Philadelphia Department of Public Health and promote a healthy physical, social, educational, and emotional development, all afterschool programs were given the option to operate an Educational Access Center at one of the city’s designated locations. All previous Standard Operating Procedures and Awards were declared null and void. Centers are housed in city owned locations such as recreation centers, public libraries and public housing facilities. City employees and Community-based organization partners staff Access Centers, which operate daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM providing breakfast and lunch.
The centers aim to supervise children in Kindergarten to 6th grade during digital learning time and provide supplemental enrichment activities, meals, and social and emotional support. Policies, resources, and services for children and families at the centers are aligned and coordinated in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia. Our assigned Access Center is the Martin Luther King Recreational Center, 2101 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121.
Urban Technology Project
Urban Technology Project. In Partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, Launch developed a program to address digital inclusion issues within Philadelphia. The Urban Technology Project provides youth with opportunities for meaningful access to information technology tools and education, promoting ownership of knowledge, problem solving, and self-reliance. The Urban Technology Project includes the Digital Service Fellows and Computer Support Specialists described below.
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Digital Service Fellows
Digital Service Fellows (DSF). DSF is a full-time AmeriCorps information technology pre-apprenticeship program for recent high school graduates who have an interest in both serving their communities and in pursuing the information technology field. DSF participants learn under the guidance of a School District of Philadelphia information technology professional and actively apply the skills learned by installing new equipment or repairing existing equipment in schools and by leading school-based technology programs and workshops.
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Computer Support Services
Computer Support Specialists. Launch and the School District of Philadelphia have also partnered to create the Computer Support Specialists program. Computer Support Specialists provide technical support to 56 schools and 4 central offices of the School District of Philadelphia. This program complements the DSF initiative and allows recent graduates the opportunity to serve a one-year apprenticeship with master technicians in the School District.
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Pre-Apprentice Digital Service Fellows
WIOA Pre-Apprentice Digital Service Fellows. In partnership with the existing AmeriCorps Program that provides opportunity youth with a high school diploma or GED with the hands on occupational and soft skills training. WIOA participants would need to be unemployed at the time for enrollment and for eligibility must have one or more of the following barriers: high school dropout; one subject to the juvenile or adult justice system; homeless/runaway/in or aged out of foster care; pregnant or parenting; disability; or low-income. WIOA Pre-Apprentices are offered a stipend $3,890.00 for attendance, certifications and completion of soft skills trainings over the course of the program year.
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Main Office
5407 Grays Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone: 267.386.4600
Fax: 267.299.2519
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2021 Launch of Philadelphia.