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PROPOSAL NARRATIVE 1. ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND. · 4-H SOS (Support Out Students) Goldminers provides a safe, caring, and enriching environment for middle school students after school. It operates all school days from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m. Students are provided homework and tutoring help, physical activities, opportunities to learn new hands-on skills, a place for positive interactions with peers and adults, and nutritious snacks. The program is designed to serve an enrollment of 60-75 students, with a daily adult to child ratio of 1:12. The summer program, PACK (Positive Activities for Cool Kids) offers a weekly theme-based day camp with an enrollment of over 120 from 6:45 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for seven weeks. The Program design is based on the Seven Developmental Needs of Young Adolescents, concentrating on the needs of physical activity, self definition, positive social interactions with peers and adults, and meaningful participation. The objectives of the program are to (1) reduce the number of unsupervised students after sch6ol, (2) improve academic performance of the participants, (3) meet physical, intellectual, emotional, and social needs of the participants, and (4) improve the attitudes and behaviors of the participants. Daily contact is made with parents or guardians to give the opportunity to assess activities of the day and to provide support to the family. Staff members serve as a liaison between the school, the child, and the family. Opportunities for the entire family to interact with program members are promoted. 2. PURPOSE FOR WHICH FUNDS ARE REQUESTED. In 1996, Cabarrus County 4-H applied for a grant to begin a middle school after-school program at the largest middle school in the county, J. N. Fries. Beginning in January 2000, Philip Morris USA awarded a grant to expand the program to the rural Mount Pleasant Middle School for the Spring 2000 semester. In 2000-2001, the focus will be to extend the program at Mount Pleasant Middle School and to expand after school care to students at Concord Middle School. 'rh]s will allow the addition of 75 spaces to those presently at J. N. Fries. Also, there will be an increase in the number of days the program is offered by 10 days. Hours of operation will be from school dismissal until 6:00 p.m. This will provide time for the long commute from work many parents have today. Youth served will be ages 10 to 13. The cost of the program is $25.00/week or $6.00/day. Scholarships based on financial need are provided. During the1998-99 school years, the enrollment in the 4-H SOS Goldminers program of females was 76% White, 21% African American, and 3% Latino. The enrollment of males was 74% White, 14% African American, and 12% Other. The percentage of students enrolled by ethnic/race in Cabarrus County Schools is 81°.~ White, 13% African American, and 6% Other. Past records reflect a higher enrollment of boys than girls possibly reflecting the fact that girls may be deemed more mature by parents in after school behaviors than boys.