Blog, Press Releases

Resilience, Community Services grant benefits at-risk students at Meyzeek Middle School

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2017) – Family & Children’s Place announced today that it had received a $35,000 grant from the Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services External Agency Fund.

For 135 years, Family & Children’s Place has been working to build communities where children are safe, families are strong, and our child victims of abuse and neglect become children again.

Programs focus on the most vulnerable children while aiming for the safety and well-being of all children, and last year the agency provided help, hope and healing to more than 6,200 children and family members.

The grant will support CLASP – the Collaborative Learning After-School Program – for at-risk students at Meyzeek Middle School in downtown Louisville.

A magnet school, Meyzeek draws students from outside the neighborhood to its excellent math, science and technology programs, but it’s also a neighborhood school, serving young people living in poverty in the Smoketown and Shelby Park communities, where more than 52 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The out of school experience, delivered through the agency’s Family & School Services (FASS) program, provides highly structured activities that help students develop positive values, social competencies and positive identities. Activities include homework help, life skills development, enrichment activities and service learning projects.

“The impact of this program is significant,” said Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place. “Students these funds will help, and in turn their families, face real life challenges every day – social, emotional, economic – pressures that directly impact their opportunity to succeed.

“This grant gives them the support, tools, training, and resources they can use to create their own success.”

In the last year, 86 percent of participating students improved social competencies and life skills. and 81 percent improved their grades. Scores on satisfaction surveys – by students and parents – are consistently high, with both citing the program as effective, staff as genuine, helpful and hard working, and relationships with teachers and schools better than they’ve ever been.

Louisville Metro External Agency Funds are Louisville Metro General Funded grants awarded to non-profit organizations offering programs or services that advance the long-range vision and goals established by Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government.

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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 more than 6,000 children and family members 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.