AG 2000 08 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The percentage of children in Cabarrus County below the poverty level is 9.73%. At J. N. Fries, the percentage of children receiving free and reduced lunch is 15%. At Mount Pleasant Middle School, the pementsge is 22%. At Concord Middle Sohool, the percentage receiving aid is 35%. As can be. seen, the economic need of after school care is great at the two additional schools. Even though the after school program began midyear at Mount Pleasant Middle School, enrollment quicldy grew tO 35 students. This reflects a real need for supervised care of students that had not been met previously. 3. COMMUNITY NEEDS. Current trends reflect the critical need to offer after-school programs targeting "latch key" children who may be experiencing suspensions, Iow grades, delinquency, and Iow self-esteem. Youth, who are 9-15 years old, ara often the overlooked group at a time in their lives when they are subject to intense peer pressura, parantal expectation, confusing health issues, intensified school work, as well as developing adolescence issues. According to the U.S. Census, Cabarrus County is above the North Carolina average in the percentage of mothers in the work force (80.3%) and the families with two working parents (78%). School system research indicates that 53% of our middle and high school students only occasionally have someone at home when they arrive from school. The teen birth rate in Cabarrus County is 62%. Research has shown that the unsupervised after school hours are when middle school girls are more likely to get pregnant. In the nineties in Cabarrus County, suspensions have incraased over 500%, juvenile petitions have increased over 50%, calls for police service at schools have increased 150%, juvenile crime has increased 80%, and abuse and neglect cases have increased 67%. Cabarrus County also has a high rate of teenage deaths-ranking 12th in the state. Eight hundred and eighty-two students in K-5 are served by the KidsPlus program which provides after-school enrichment and racreation for all Cabarrus County Elementary School students. Any student can participate. However, when students enter the sixth grade, services are available on limited basis. 4-H SOS Goldminers fills this void. Prior to beginning this program, a parent's needs assessment was distributed to all parents of Fries Middle School students (1,348). Parants rasponded that 320 youth wera going home alone and 180 wera caring for younger siblings. The 4-H SOS Goldminers is structured to identify the needs of members of the program, coordinate the school day activities with the after school academic responsibilities, and provide trained, professional staff members who are capable and eager to interact with students of the middle school age. Close cooperation with parants, school administrators, teachers, and guidance counselors assists in being able to meet needs of the students. The curriculum parallels the basic school curriculum, gNing students reinforcement and enrichment. 4-H curriculum and staff training is research based by NC State University and A & T University. Computer skill building activities are an integral part of the weekly experience. Recraational and social skill building activities ara part of each day. Youth participate in music and arts experiences as it fits with weekly theme activities. 2