Blog, Press Releases

Grant will help give at-risk students a hand up to academic, life success

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 7, 2016) – Family & Children’s Place, the leading agency in Louisville helping children and families injured and impacted by abuse, received a $40,000 grant from the Gheens Foundation. The funds will support at-risk students in the Collaborative Learning After-School Program (CLASP) at Meyzeek Middle School.

This is the latest in a series of gifts from the foundation, which has provided nearly $1 million to the agency, including a $100,000 gift to the capital campaign that provided for construction of the Fifth and Kentucky streets campus.  The foundation was established in in 1957 by C. Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens to provide support in the community for education, religious programs and human services.

“We are thrilled to have the continued support of the Gheens Foundation, and to continue to be able to provide structured, evidence-based and family centered support for students who need a hand up to succeed,” said Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place.

CLASP is a 12-month out of school time program for students referred by teachers or school administrators based on truancy, academic performance or behavioral challenges. Managed by the Family & School Services (FSS) team, efforts are aimed at improving academic success and parent engagement.

Emphasis is on character building, learning, social competencies, and building a core support team for the student comprising FSS caseworkers, school administrators, parents and family members. CLASP programming occurs immediately after school and in the evenings, peak times for juvenile crime and risky behaviors for youth in this age demographic.

“This is especially critical since Meyzeek is located in Smoketown, which the FBI declares as the 14th most dangerous community in the United States,” said Jo Cruz, director of the Family & School Services team.

The program provides positive alternatives and solutions to the negative environment through highly structured interactive hands-on activities that help students develop positive values and self-worth and improve social competencies, all aimed at giving students the support and skills they need to succeed.

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About Family & Children’s Place
Family & Children’s Place protects Kentuckiana children, families and communities from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and helps move them from hurting to healing.  We serve nearly 5,000 children and families annually through trauma-informed and impact-evident services.  For more information about Family and Children’s Place, visit www.famchildplace.org or call 502-893-3900.