Daniel-Cox to perform at Taylor on MLK Day — Page 2
Book recalls Venture for Victory — Page 6
Children ’ s Corner : The first people in Indiana — Page 7
The SEGway News
Serving South East Grant County
Volume 1 , Number 13 A Good News Ventures publication January 5 , 2017
Lift Eastbrook Afterschool uses Community Foundation grant
Lift Eastbrook Afterschool recently received a $ 10,000 grant through The Community Foundation of Grant County , Indiana , Inc . Thanks to this grant , Lift is able to provide the financial resources to maintain three teams of children and its employment growth in the 2016-17 school year .
Lift is a Christian based afterschool program that emphasizes whole person growth , academic achievement , and spiritual nurture . It was founded in 2014 by Lisa Sells and Dianne Biehl and functions in cooperation with Eastbrook South Elementary School .
It meets three afternoons a week ( Monday , Tuesday , and Thursday ) from 3:00-5:30 whenever Eastbrook schools are in session . All students ( graders 2nd-4th ) come to Lift by direct referral from Eastbrook South .
This year Lift will provide approximately 75 afterschool sessions for 36 students for approximately $ 2,000 per student . Funding for Lift has come from in-kind contributions of volunteer staff and facilities , grants , and individual donors . Lift currently operates as a non-profit under the comprehensive fiscal sponsorship of Upland Community Church .
Each year since Lift started in 2014 , it has expanded its reach into this community . The first year the program consisted of twelve 2nd grade students and around 10-15 staff and volunteers . The following year it expanded to serve two grades and subsequently added more staff and volunteers . This year Lift added its third and final grade , attaining the original vision of reaching 36 students between the grades of 2nd-4th . This exciting expansion of the program has resulted in a need for employment growth .
“ One strength of the program is its high studentto-adult ratio ,” says Sarah McLeester , Program Coordinator for Lift . On an average day at Lift , there are between 25-30 adults working with 36 students . Each of the three teams of students is led by a Team Leader who oversees 12 students . According to Dianne Biehl , Director of Lift , “ The Team Leaders are the backbone of our program as they each plan the daily activities for their kids , connect with their student ’ s families , and lead their kids during daily programing ,” To sustain this program , upon the suggestion of an established afterschool program in Chicago , Lift pays its team leaders a stipend for their work . This 2016-17 school year , with three Team Leaders , the annual budget has grown accordingly as each Team Leader costs around $ 15,000 each .
Another addition to the employment growth has been the hiring of Sarah McLeester as Program Coordinator . Lift was founded by Lisa Sells and Dianne Biehl who had the ability to volunteer their time as Executive Director and Program Coordinator . When Lisa moved out of state , Lift hired Sarah , a Taylor University 2016 graduate in Social Work , to run the daily operations , recruit and manage and develop the 60 plus volunteers . Sarah had been doing a Social Work practicum through Lift , during the spring of 2015 and had been involved with Lift almost from its inception . Her creativity , compassion and professionalism added strength to every aspect of Lift .
Lift was modeled off a sustainable best-practice afterschool program in Chicago called By the Hand .
Photo submitted
Sarah McLeester ( Program Coordinator of Lift ) and Jerry Cramer ( Advisory Board Member and full time volunteer ) receiving $ 10,000 grant from the Community Foundation
With the influence of that program , Lift has adapted some unique and sustainable afterschool distinctives that makes Lift stand out as a new organization in Upland , Indiana . Below are several characteristics that have shaped the success of Lift , and support the sustainability of this program .
A strong local school partnership . All Lift students come to them from the direct referral of Eastbrook South . Principal Miriam Dalton is a pro-active administrator with a practical interest in creating and maintaining outside partnerships that benefit her students . She is our champion in the school and with parents . Lift is the first stop of the afternoon for an Eastbrook school bus that delivers the children to their door , which is one simple indicator of the Lift / Eastbrook partnership .
A strong community partnership . Program space is provided at no cost through Upland Community Church . Taylor University sends volunteers , and has provided multiple levels of enrichment program assistance . This fall semester Lift has four TU student interns who have been learning how to work with children , understand the community outside their campus , and contribute their skills to a local nonprofit . Retirees , college students , high school students , middle schoolers , and other caring adults all volunteer so that the Lift experience works at a fraction of the cost to run a program of this size . In addition , our community supports Lift financially . Lift launched its first year with funding from three sources . In its second year , Lift greatly expanded that donor base to include a large number of individual donors . There are an additional 35 individual donors to date . Last spring , for the second year in a row , Taylor students held a benefit yard sale that ended up raising enough money to scholarship two kids to attend this year ’ s Lift program . Through Promising Ventures at Taylor , Lift has been able to staff two interns who have contributed significantly to the organizational mission . Through grants , individual donors , and fundraising Lift has been able to sustain itself as professional and successful organization .
Relational learning . One foundational aspect of Lift is the strength of mentoring . The staff is committed to fostering the ability for each child to develop and maintain personal relationships . A goal is for all Lift students to experience the warm presence of a caring adult at every juncture of the Lift day — from reading side-by-side during the literacy block , to jumping rope , to learning how to cook during enrichment .
Measure progress & evaluate impact . Parents release all access to student scores and grades to Lift staff , and they develop goals based on specific academic and classroom needs . But the staff also measure relational impact based on staff relationships with students and their families . They work to develop other goals for increasing each student ’ s relational and emotional maturity . The staff monitors classroom behavior and listens carefully to teachers goals and plans for each student ’ s academic success .
Expect cooperation . Parents understand that Lift is not a “ drop-in ” program . Student attendance is monitored ; absences followed up . Enrolled students are expected to be at Lift at least 80 % of the time that Eastbrook is in session . A student discipline policy is also clearly stated , and expected compliance is a requirement to participate .
Maintain connections with the family . The Lift staff wants to know what home life is like for their students , and what needs and opportunities are present in each home , so they work to develop and maintain connections with students ’ families . This year a retired pastor joined the staff with the aspiration for family connection to be his focus . This semester he has made a couple home visits with the Lift families .
Target literacy . If students fall behind in reading in the early grades , their academic trajectory is often set for failure . Lift exists to help struggling readers succeed . The literacy block is developed and structured by experienced classroom teachers .
Stay with it . Effective whole child nurture requires longitudinal follow through with vulnerable children and their families . The original goal set by the founders of Lift was to see it carry through the 4th grade . This would give recommended students three years of focused literacy intervention . This year the staff is seeing that goal be completed as it now serves all three grades . In addition , Lift is now seeking additional ways to “ stay with it ” for the current fourth graders who will graduate from the program in the spring . Discussions have begun with the idea to offer graduates the option of having a Lift mentor in 5th grade , with the goal of having some of the kids return to volunteer when they reach 6th grade .
Make it someone ’ s job . Salaried ( even if part-time ) Team Leaders and staff help raise the bar for professional standards at Lift , and it requires garnering enough community support to fund the program .
Referring to the grant , Colleen Yordy , 4th grade Team Leader and retired Eastbrook South Elementary Teacher says , “ We are so grateful we can fulfill our vision with the quality staff that these kids need !”
If you would like more information about Lift Eastbrook Afterschool , please contact Dianne Biehl ( dianne . biehl @ yahoo . com 765- 618-3403 or visit our website : www . lifteastbrook . com
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