CONNECTING GENERATIONS

CREATIVE MENTORING IS OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM. CREATIVE MENTORING PARTNERS WITH 100 SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN DELAWARE IN ALL THREE COUNTIES. MENTORING OCCURS DURING SCHOOL HOURS, AND WITHIN DESIGNATED TIMES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE MENTOR RECRUITMENT, APPLICATION PROCESSING, CRIMINAL/CHILD ABUSE BACKGROUND AND REFERENCE CHECKS, MENTOR TRAINING, TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO ALL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, CONNECTING GENERATIONS HAS TRAINED OVER 16,000 ADULTS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. OUR CREATIVE EDUCATION DIVISION PROVIDES 6 SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS IN KN -8TH GRADE - SEASONS OF RESPECT (EXPLORATION AND JOURNEY) (SOR), PEER MENTORING - CHARACTER CLIMB, POWER OF WATER, SUMMER BREEZE AND RESPECT THROUGH THE ARTS. SOR IS A SET OF FACILITATOR-LED SESSIONS FOR CLASSROOMS AND SMALL GROUPS THAT TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS, IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM, BUILD CONFIDENCE, MANAGE EMOTIONS, MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, AND ENHANCE ACADEMIC SUCCESS. OUR 4TH-GRADE PROGRAM, "EXPLORATION RESPECT," INTRODUCES CHILDREN TO THE BASIC TENETS OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING. IN "JOURNEY OF RESPECT," 5TH-GRADE STUDENTS EXAMINE THEIR EMOTIONS AND IDENTIFY VALUES THAT REINFORCE RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR. WE ALSO OFFER RESPECT THROUGH THE ARTS (RAP) AS AN ART PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. POWER OF WATER IS A 10-WEEK CHARACTER-BUILDING WORKSHOP SERIES CENTERED AROUND THE THEME OF WATER THAT HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE AND ADAPT TO CHANGE AND PROCESS TRAUMA. POW SEEKS TO PROMOTE STUDENTS' POSITIVE COPING MECHANISMS AND ADAPTATION SKILLS IN A CHANGING WORLD. STUDENTS LEARN STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH DIFFICULT TIMES, HOW TO MANAGE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, HOW TO ADAPT TO CHANGE, HOW TO MAKE POSITIVE DECISIONS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. OUR SUMMER PROGRAM - SUMMER BREEZE IS ACTIVITY BASED AND CENTERED ON EXPLORING EMOTIONS, RESILIENCY AND MANAGING STRESS. ALL OF OUR SEL PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON TEACHING STUDENTS THE CORE COMPETENCIES OF SEL SELF-AWARENESS, SOCIAL AWARENESS, SELF-MANAGEMENT, RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING.OUR CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS DIVISION PARTNERS WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT YOUTH IN SPECIALIZED POPULATIONS.SIBSHOPS ARE HIGHLY RECREATIONAL WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL HEALTH, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS. WE INTEGRATE CORE CONCEPTS OF SEL INTO HIGH AND LOW-ENERGY ACTIVITIES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SIBLINGS TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION, NETWORK WITH OTHER SIBLINGS, EXPLORE WAYS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS, PLAY, AND BUILD SEL SKILLS. BY COMBINING THE SIBSHOP AND SEL CURRICULA, CHILDREN WILL BECOME MORE AWARE OF THEIR OWN EMOTIONS, STRENGTHS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, PERSONAL INTERESTS/QUALITIES, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY/ADVOCACY. THEY WILL ALSO DEVELOP AN AWARENESS OF OTHERS' EMOTIONS AND PERSPECTIVES, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO MAKE HEALTHY DECISIONS AND MAINTAIN POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. IN ADDITION TO SIBSHOPS, CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS PROVIDES MENTORING TO YOUTH IN AND AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AND THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JACK CARNEY FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A READING INITIATIVE JACK'S KIDS THAT PROVIDES TUTORS AND MENTORS TO YOUTH WITH A GOAL TO ENSURE READING PROFICIENCY AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL FOR ALL YOUTH BY 4TH GRADE.