MOURNING FAMILY FOUNDATION INC

EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES. PRESENTLY, WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE OVERTOWN YOUTH CENTER AND HONEY SHINE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING OVER 1200 STUDENTS FROM 2ND GRADE TO AGE 25, WHO RESIDE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND ATTEND SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.THE OYC'S PROGRAM SERVICES CONTINUE TO BE BASED ON FOUR HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM COMPONENTS:THE RELATIONSHIP MODEL: OYC'S METHOD OF SERVICE DELIVERY. THROUGH IT, EMPLOYEES ESTABLISH MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT.THE CULTURE OF SUCCESS: THE CREATION OF A POWERFUL ENVIRONMENT WHERE INTERACTIONS ARE POSITIVE AND RESPECTFUL, WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE CULTURE AND FACILITATE THE SUCCESS OF ALL PARTICIPANTS.COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH: AN APPROACH, WHICH ALLOWS OYC TO SERVICE THE "WHOLE CHILD", AND CROSSES ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTS. TO DO THIS, OYC DEVELOPS PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ENGAGES IN THE CONSTANT PROVISION OF SERVICES (24 HOUR CASE MANAGEMENT, IN SCHOOL/AFTER SCHOOL SERVICES AND SUMMER PROGRAM).CONTINUUM OF SERVICE: PROVIDING SERVICES FROM SECOND GRADE TO AGE 25 TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE PHASES OF THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE THEIR LIFE'S TRAJECTORY. OYC MONITORSSTUDENTS' PROGRESS TO ENSURE THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND ARE THEN ENROLLED IN COLLEGE, A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OR GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.WHOLE SCHOOL EXPANSION: OYC HAS ALSO EXPANDED ITS FOOTPRINT IN THE OVERTOWN COMMUNITY; WE HAVE DECIDED TO ADOPT THE WHOLE SCHOOL EXPANSION MODEL IN A DIRECT PARTNERSHIP WITH MIAMI DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND JOSE DE DIEGO MIDDLE SCHOOL. OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO REMAIN ON THE CONTINUUM OF INCREASED GRADUATION RATES, INCREASED ATTENDANCE AND PARENT PARTICIPATION AND ULTIMATELY PRODUCE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS IN THE OVERTOWN COMMUNITY. THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP AND OUR CURRENT PROGRAMMING AT OYC AND HONEY SHINE, WE ARE NOW SERVICING OVER 700 YOUTH IN SOUTH FLORIDA.HONEY SHINE IS MADE UP OF TWO PROGRAMMING ELEMENTS: THE ASPIRE TO SHINE WORKSHOPS OFFERED TO THE GIRLS IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH ARE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED 'HONEY BUGS', ADDRESS LIFE-SKILL LESSONS AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. CAMP HONEY SHINE ALLOWS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF PROGRAMMING BEYOND THE WORKSHOPS. THE CAMP PROVIDES THE GIRLS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON COGNITIVE,SOCIAL, PHYSICAL SKILLS, VALUES, AND CHARACTER BUILDING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO STRIVE FOR SUCCESS. COMBINED, OYC AND HONEY SHINE STRIVE TO WORK WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHILE PROVIDING THEM WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO SUCCEED AND TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTENDING COLLEGE OR SOME FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.