SCCF 2023 – 2024 GRANT RECIPIENTS

The Amphi Foundation was established in 1983 and serves 12,000+ students in the Amphi Public School District. They strive to make a meaningful impact on students’ success by ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to attend school ready to learn and become the most successful versions of themselves. This is all accomplished through a variety of programs.

The Academic Travel Stipend program offers high risk students in the Amphi School District the opportunity for transformative experiences that foster educational success, self-improvement and personal development. Through this program, students have the opportunity to travel as individuals or as a team and participate in various competitions. The most well attended is Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, but students have also traveled to Music Competitions, Academic Decathlons and various Career Technical Education Competitions.

As stated in the grant, the ability to travel to academic competitions impacts personal development, cultural awareness, and the overall well-being of students. Surveys will be conducted with students, families, educators and principals to understand the students’ experience, their challenges and the impact of the travel stipend on their academic journey.

www.amphifoundation.org

The Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents is a non-profit statewide organization that serves families who adopt children and provide foster and kinship care. Their purpose is to strengthen and encourage those families through education, financial and emotional support, as well as provide the opportunity for a voice throughout their journey.

The organization supported 106 Tucson families/416 children in 2023. Funds requested will be used to continue supporting multiple programs including; Family Connections, Family Camps, Family Day Out, Parents Night Out, Fore Family Fun, School Shoe Shopping Event, Jacket Shopping Event and Holiday Toys. The organization provided families the opportunity to socialize and interact with other families who are facing similar situations. Parents can then share experiences and resources with each other.

Outcomes are tracked by accounting for the number of families and children served, the events/activities the family attends and the geographic location of each family. Evaluation tools are administered after participation in each program.

Generalized outcomes for each family would be:

1. Families received training and support that improved outcomes for the children in their home.
2. Families improved their personal well-being by being able to interact/support each other.
3. Families who received basic needs supplies were able to reallocate funds to other needs.

www.azafap.org

The mission of AFFCF is to promote self-esteem and empower children and youth in Arizona foster care by funding services to enrich their life experiences and ensure their successful transition to adulthood. AFFCF serves children from infancy to age 21.

The program provides children and youth in Tucson foster care with access to normalcy and childhood activities such as extracurricular activities, sports, clubs/groups, camps, lessons, field trips and summer school. Normalcy and childhood activities are proven effective to aid in the positive development and growth of children and youth in foster care as well as help them overcome the trauma of the foster care experience and build resiliencies which also aids in educational achievements.

AFFCF has a long history of working to improve the educational success of students in foster care in Pima County by funding educational support activities and items to enhance the school experiences of children in foster care including tutoring, school program fees and school field trips. Any child currently in foster care in Pima County is eligible to apply for an award through AFFCF. The application is reviewed by a Board and funds are paid to appropriate vendors. The organization undergoes an audit to ensure that every award is accounted for with the required documentation.

• 92% of children will demonstrate improvement in academic performance
• 95% of children will demonstrate increased self-esteem
• 95% of children will demonstrate improvement in behavior

www.affcf.org

Aviva Children’s Services attempts to meet the basic needs of children in the foster care system. The goal of Aviva Children’s Services is the stabilization of families in the foster care system. This is accomplished by creating healthy environments in which children can flourish, leading to greater family stability, wellness and academic success.

Funding will support the purchase of supplies needed for Aviva Children’s Services Back to School Drive, Emergency Closet, Holiday Drive and filling backpacks with school supplies for foster youth in Southern Arizona. The resources can be accessed by DCS workers, foster care licensing workers, foster parents and kinship placements.

No specific data was reported in this grant application. Aviva is constantly attempting to meet the ever changing needs of children and families in the foster care system by reviewing behavioral health case notes, participants satisfaction with programs and audits required by the government contracts.

www.avivatucson.org

The mission of Ben’s Bells is to teach individuals and communities about the positive impacts of intentional kindness and to inspire people to practice kindness as a way of life.

The grant request is a continuation of the 2023 SCCF grant to “grow kindness” in Tucson. 2023 funding paid for 2 murals and assemblies at elementary schools and 1 at a middle school. The current funding request is to continue the program, adding 4th and 5th graders into the “Growing a Kind Community Program.” The program has been shown to influence positive emotional growth for K-12 students.

Quantitative measurements of how many assemblies are facilitated or how many Kindness Coins are distributed. Ben’s Bells will work directly with each school to conduct pre and post surveys to help measure the qualitative results of kindness. Scientific research is growing in support of the physical and mental health benefits of practicing intentional kindness, gratitude and self compassion.

www.bensbells.org

The mission of Big Brothers/Big Sisters is to create and support one to one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth so that all youth achieve their full potential. In 2023 BBBS was able to serve 900 youth and their family members. Demand for the mentoring services has grown 20%, with appointments for new enrollments extended out two months.

Once matched, the Bigs and Littles spend 2-3 hours at least 2 times a month at outings designed especially with the kids in mind. Bigs are encouraged to offer experiences Littles are not otherwise exposed to. Bigs offer opportunities such as free or low-cost educational outings to local museums, parks, walk in nature and other experiences where a Little can begin to trust in their Big. BBBS also organizes and hosts group outings each month for these Bigs and Littles. There has been a substantial increase in referrals because of the past issue of social isolation as a result of the pandemic. SCCF funds will help support the cost of recruiting new volunteers, matching mentors with youth in need, catch youth up in school and provide them with new and effective ways to stay connected to their mentors in the coming year.

BBBS evaluates the impact of the mentoring program through a pre-test/post-test outcome survey, administered when youth enter the program and then again annually each year. The survey measures academic performance, educational expectations, emotional regulation, family connectedness, school connectedness, social competence, depressive symptoms and risky behaviors. Below are results of the 2023 Child and Youth Outcomes Survey:

• 97% improved/maintained educational expectations
• 92% improved/maintained academic performance/school grades
• 92% improved/maintained social competence
• 83% improved/maintained emotional regulation
• 80% improved/maintained school connectedness
• 77% improved/maintained depressive symptoms
• 74% improved/maintained family/parental connectedness

Youth improved/maintained avoidance of risky behaviors such as juvenile justice contact 100%, bullying 89%, school discipline 93%, status offenses 89% and substance abuse 96%.

www.soazbigs.org

BGCT is a leading youth development organization offering quality after school care at six Clubhouse locations across Tucson for youth ages 7-17. Their mission is to provide young people in the Tucson community, especially those at risk, with a clear path to reach their full potential and pursue their dreams. BGCT provides after school and summer programs that instill strong core values and life enhancing skills in a safe environment, while working to promote three primary outcomes; academic success, good character and healthy lifestyles.

The 2023, support from the SCCF increased the Excel Program by 33%. BGCT was able to increase the number of participants in the Excel program by approximately 300 additional youth.

Boys and Girls Clubs believe the most effective program for keeping youth on track to graduate high school is their Excel program. Excel stewards any participating youth across four years of high school by rewarding academic performance. Students must produce a report card each quarter and if the GPA is all B’s and A’s, they are rewarded with a gift card. This incentive program has played a critical role in contributing to the statistic of over 90% of members being on track to graduate high school.

No measurable data was presented in this grant, however the grant does state that numerous studies support the effectiveness of incentive-based programs in positively influencing educational outcomes for at-risk youth. These studies were conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

www.bgctucson.org

The mission of BTMT is to strengthen our communities by nurturing intentional spaces for boys, men and masculine-identified folks to practice honest and mindful relationships. The vision is for every boy to have access to safe and loving men in their lives.

Funding in 2023 provided program support in one school for the 23/24 school year. Each circle has 15 participants and is held weekly for nine months, for more than 36 hours of group mentoring for each participant. The current grant request is for continuation of this program. The restorative circle approach incorporates holistic, intergenerational, asset-based group mentoring that encourages self-reflection, positive critical thinking, self-accountability and healthy masculinity modeling.

Data is collected from schools on grades, attendance and discipline of student participants. The program saw a 25% increase in GPA including improvements in school attendance and decrease in disciplinary referrals.

www.btmtucson.com

Casa de los Ninos offers services that have been strategically chosen to support at-risk, low-income families of all ages, races and genders every step of the way – by providing child abuse prevention programs, assisting families when crisis arise and offering treatment through therapeutic services.

The Kelly Early Education Center is committed to providing high quality early education that will not only prepare students to be successful in kindergarten, but to also be socially and developmentally prepared to form healthy relationships and social connections to build a solid foundation for themselves as they grow. About 80% of households attending the Kelly Early Education Center use DES subsidies. The EEC has dedicated a specific focus to families who live in poverty whose children may exhibit disruptive or challenging behaviors that can lead to expulsion from other early education programs.

The Kelly Education Center uses two evidence-based assessments to ensure that the program is effective and impactful. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) tracks communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal-social skills and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Social Emotional (ASQSE-2) tracks social and emotional development.

www.casadelosninos.org

The Girl Scouts Leadership Experience promotes enthusiastic exploration of four core programmatic pillars (STEM, entrepreneurship, the outdoors and life skills) while equipping young girls with vital skills to be independent and successful adults.

2023 SCCF funding was used to provide STEM programming to an increased number of Girl Scouts during school hours and after school programs. This year’s grant request is to continue this program in 21 schools in Tucson. The Girl Scouts STEM curriculum augments classroom learning with engaging activities that promote critical reasoning, problem solving, research capabilities, tech literacy and more. Girls gain direct experience with coding, robotics, cybersecurity, space science and other STEM-related activities in a positive and stigma-free environment.

There was no measurable data presented in this grant. Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona is working with Social Venture Partners of Tucson to create and pilot a more extensive and refined evaluation process.

The pilot is currently being done in one of the school-based programs. They have also retained Visible Insights, a data analysis company, to better identify and evaluate activities and their success.

www.girlscoutssoaz.org

Higher Ground is the first to implement a Community School model in Arizona. They created Restart SMART, a research driven, data focused and relationship centered approach to reaching individualized community sustainability. Each school site has trained specialists focusing on elementary and middle school student wellness, family wellness and community relationships.

The Restart SMART program is an adaptation of the community school model. A Restart SMART team is deployed to each school that partners with Higher Ground. Each team has a Student Support Specialist, Family Support Specialist, and Site Director. These specialists receive 160+ training hours throughout the school year. The specialists get to deeply know the school community including students, their families, school professionals and community members. They are trained in life tracking technology that documents strengths, triggers, goals and struggles for the student and their family. The specialist then uses this information to lessen the gaps for the student and get them connected with the appropriate resources when needed.

Higher Ground utilizes the David P Weikart Center Youth Program Quality Assessment, which evaluates the quality of youth programs and identifies staff training needs. They also use Lean Six Sigma methodologies, which evaluate increasing efficiency, improving processes and identifying gaps/service barriers. No measurable outcomes were presented in this grant request.

www.higherground.me

The mission of Imago Dei Middle School is to break cycles of poverty through education, by giving children impacted by poverty in Tucson a quality, private school education during the critical middle school years. They serve up to 80 Tucson boys and girls in grades 5-8 from low-income families, without regard to race, faith or perceived academic potential.

The program focuses on supporting current middle school students and recent graduates now in high school, achieve on time high school graduation. Imago Dei Middle School is looking to expand this already existing program. Statistics have shown that with the support provided from this program, Imago Dei alumni are graduating from high school at a much higher rate. In the last 5 years, 100% of Imago Dei alumni have graduated high school in four years. The GSP program works actively with current middle school students providing them high school readiness classes on how and why education is key to future success, as well as high school visits and shadow days. The program helps students and families discern and apply to the right high school and critically helps them to navigate the complex financial, academic and social systems required to attend their chosen high school.

Imago Dei relies on a variety of metrics to validate the effectiveness of the GSP program.

• The four-year graduation rate from high school
• The rate of high school students who go on to post-secondary education and training
• Alumni attendance at GSP classes and events
• The number of GSP-related classes and programs offered to current 5th-8th grades
• Student participation in high school and college visits
• Rates of contact calls and emails with all alumni

www.imagodeischool.org

ICS is a social service organization whose mission is to help people achieve stable, healthy and independent lives. ICS programs and services meet essential needs for some of the most vulnerable in our community. They provide children of low-income families the opportunity to gain access to educational support and enrichment activities that would otherwise be unattainable.

2023 SCCF funding supported 114 children and youth and was mostly utilized in the areas of sports registration/fees/uniforms (31%), school supplies including needed technology (29%) and summer camp fees (23%).

ICS is again seeking funding to provide children of very low-income ICS parents with access to academic tutoring, technology and after school enrichment programs to help students improve academically so they are on track for graduation. Parents and caregivers apply for support from the YES program, which will then provide services for tutoring, technology or extra-curricular activities.

ICS utilizes the Self-Sufficiency Matrix to gauge a child’s involvement in academic support activities. The matrix is utilized as an annual pre and post assessment. ICS is also working with the Aspen Institute to develop an assessment tool that will measure increased school attendance, participation and overall academic success.

www.icstucson.org

JA of Arizona’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. They do this by giving students the knowledge and skills they need to manage their money, plan for their future and make smart academic, career and economic choices. Delivered by volunteer mentors, the programming focuses on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.

2023 SCCF funding allowed Junior Achievement to reinstate their programs at the Pueblo High School post pandemic, launch programming for every student at San Miguel High School, Catalina High School and continue programming at Sahuaro high School. New programming has been launched at the Edge School this past fall. Students are offered JA Personal Finance, JA Take Stock in Your Future, JA Inspire and JA career Speaker to start them on career paths. The 2024 grant request is for continuing these programs. JA programs are proven to increase student graduation rates, increase critical thinking skills and prepare the most vulnerable students to earn more in the workforce.

The primary objective is to prepare students for the workforce while motivating them to graduate from high school, minimize drop-out rates and maximize lifelong financial security.

Key measurable outcomes are:

• Demonstrate an average knowledge gain of at least 20% at the conclusion of the program
• Learn the skills, attitudes and behaviors needed to be successful in both work and life
• Demonstrate an understanding of critical financial literacy and workforce readiness

www.jaaz.org

The programs at Literacy Connects coach children in reading so they don’t fall behind in school. Other programs teach parents the importance of reading to their children, help young people experience the power of words and ideas through the arts and put books in the hands of people who need them. 2023 SCCF funding was vital in enabling Reading Seed to rebuild the volunteer corps in the wake of the pandemic. Literacy Connects was able to recruit 129 volunteers to the program. 886 students were served in 23 Title 1 elementary schools. This is a 46% increase in students served compared to 2021-2022. Funding also helped distribute 19,630 free books to children in this program.

This project pairs children in grades K-3 who are reading below grade level with high school students in career and technical education programs. Teens receive professional training and experience while children receive research-based, one to one reading support. Through the Reading Seed Interns Project, elementary school children increase their reading proficiency and develop healthy identities as readers and learners, while high school students receive high quality career training and practical workforce experience. The program is currently partnering Desert View High School with Los Ninos Elementary School. An integral part of the program is the distribution of new books at the end of each coaching session.

Funding would allow Literacy Connects to purchase 2000 new, quality and culturally appropriate books for the high school mentor to use and give to the children they coach.

Literacy Connects will evaluate the project through surveys and interviews of the interns and teachers in the Spring of 2024. No current statistical data was reported in this grant application. Based on previous data of the children in the Reading Seed Program, students served will experience an average of 30% greater gains in assessed literacy compared to the general student population. Literacy Connects also expects 85% of the children served will demonstrate improved attitudes about reading, increased engagement in classroom/learning activities and increased interest in books as reported in teacher and intern year-end surveys.

www.literacyconnects.org

The mission is to empower low to moderate income students to achieve the dream of a college education. The model is anchored by a matched savings scholarship program, serving to make college financially affordable for students who may not otherwise be able to afford the cost of higher education.

SCCF funding will support coaching programs that assist students in building financial wellness, promote college readiness and provide workforce development training opportunities. Live the Solution is seeking funding to serve low to moderate income students in the Tucson area who are choosing multiple post-secondary pathways with a special emphasis on some of Arizona’s highest-risk populations, including students experiencing homelessness and foster youth. The program will provide multiple resources to this population of students, focusing on how to cover unexpected costs that can contribute to students dropping out of school. Live the Solution partners with 4-year institutions and Community Colleges to offer students personalized guidance and resources to successfully navigate post-secondary education, attain a post-secondary credential and improve their economic opportunity, security and mobility.

Earn to Learn uses an electronic management system to track, monitor and report student outcomes. This data management system enables them to measure and evaluate funding sources, monitor participant activity and savings, track services and referrals provided to participants and identify characteristics of participants who successfully complete the programs.

www.earntolearn.org

MWFB’s mission is to promote early literacy in limited resource areas of southern Arizona by providing children (birth-5 years) with an opportunity to fall in love with books and reading. The vision is that all children will enter school with the early literacy skills necessary to be successful.

Story School is an innovative, two-generation program through which children and parents learn together simultaneously and both gain critical skills. Families join small Story School cohorts every week to share stories and literacy activities focused on building children’s skills and parents’ knowledge, strategies and confidence to support their children’s early literacy development. As part of the Story School, families receive 20 high quality books and access to the Make Way for Books bilingual App, with activities, books and tips they can access anytime.

• 98% of children in the program gained emergent literacy and language skill
• 85% of children developed social and emotional intelligence skills
• 81% engaged in cooperative interactions with other children
• 94% have increased focus and sustained attention
• 94% of families in the Story School shared more books as a result of their participation
• 98% reported they gained skills, confidence and tools to support early literacy
• 97% stated they felt more connected to other families as a result of Story School

www.makewayforbooks.org

The mission of Our Family Services is to eliminate homelessness and strengthen our community. They achieve this by providing stability in times of crisis, linking people to support resources and supporting social connectedness. Our Family provides a diverse array of programs and services to achieve their mission including services for homeless youth and families. Support from SCCF provided life changing housing, shelter and case management for 801 youth last year. This includes 73 runaway, homeless and abused teenagers who found safety at the Reunion House shelter and 74 homeless youth who accessed case management and support services through the Street Outreach program. Some 85% of the runaway and homeless youth who called Reunion House home were enrolled in school during their stay. SCCF funding not only has a direct, major and positive impact on the lives of local youth, but also allows Our Family Services to leverage additional government match funds to broaden the SCCF contribution’s impact even further.

This program will provide a comprehensive continuum of services that offers homeless teenagers an unbroken path from the streets to long term stability, including street and community outreach, emergency shelter, case management, counseling and support services. Funding will also support Reunion House, which is a 20 bed temporary crisis shelter for children ages 12-17. Housing services are supported by case management, counseling and skills training, each of which work together to prepare young people to achieve their goals and experience healthy adulthood.

• 100% of the sheltered teens will have basic food, clothing and health care needs met
• 85% of teens will be enrolled in school during their stay at Reunion House
• 80% of teens will transition to safe and stable living arrangements
• Other indicators of success include improved school attendance, access to medical/behavioral healthcare, increases in youth’s financial security, life/parenting skills, employment opportunities and better family stability and cohesion.

www.ourfamilyservices.org

The Painted Sky PTO fosters collaboration amongst parents, teachers and the school community. They provide educational resources and opportunities for parent/community involvement within the school. The Thunderbird Resource Center serves students at Painted Sky that need additional learning support.

The Painted Sky Thunderbird Resource Center promotes educational success by providing a specialized academic environment for struggling students. The Center provides support for students in grades Kindergarten – 5th in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics. Children are referred to the Center by their teachers and are students who would not qualify for standard intervention services. The students engage in 30 minute lessons tailored to their needs based on teacher input and assessment results.

Specific data was not presented in this grant application. The Thunderbird Resource Center uses school-wide assessment data to validate effectiveness. The students are tested at the beginning, middle and end of each school year. The data is used to track progress and adjust each student’s tutoring needs.

www.amphi.com/paintedsky

Project Access’s mission is to be the leading provider of vital onsite health, education and employment services to families, children and seniors living in affordable and workforce housing communities. They operate family resource centers in low to moderate-income communities to help cultivate strong communities, positive changes and hopeful futures.

Project Access’s programming is guided by evidence-based models of programs that combat the detrimental effects of poverty on youth education. By increasing the likelihood of high school graduation, after school programs increase the salary potential and ultimately the earning power for low-income youth. The after-school programming provided by Project Access fills a tremendous opportunity gap in low-income neighborhoods by providing underserved youth with comprehensive out of classroom education enrichment services that lead them on a path towards academic achievement and beyond. Each program component addresses the holistic needs of the child and establishes a strong foundation for success in the classroom and beyond. The programming is free and available year-round to students.

• Project Access engaged 492 youth with out of classroom enrichment.
• Youth participated in STEAM learning activities one to two times per month.
• 97% of the students increased their knowledge, skills or access to resources.
• 99% of the students reported that they plan to put these learning skills into action
• 97% of the students reported increased knowledge of college/trade school, eligibility requirements and financial aid options.

www.project-access.org

San Miguel High School exists to create a learning community where students from limited financial means have the opportunity to develop to their full potential, regardless of religious affiliation. At San Miguel, students take a full college preparatory course load while simultaneously holding internships, working in corporations and earning nearly 35% of their school tuition. 2023 SCCF funding supported essential components of the College Counseling Program. 69 seniors graduated from San Miguel in 2023 having submitted 394 college applications and were awarded a total of $1,405,363 in merit scholarships and institutional grants.

The College Counseling Program helps low-income students set post-secondary education goals and then helps them to achieve those goals. Students are aided in completing college applications, organizing college visit trips, filling out financial aid and scholarship forms and researching various college and summer enrichment programs. SCCF funding will be used for the following activities, which prepare students for college admittance and provide training for college counseling staff:

• Access to Naviance software, used by both students and staff for researching colleges, applying to colleges and applying for scholarships
• Financial aid nights for Seniors
• Standardized test preparation and testing
• Financial assistance with advanced placement testing
• Provision of emergency funds to assist students with application fees
• University visits for each grade
• Application celebration
• Decision Day Celebration

• Mandatory that every senior student will apply to several universities and colleges to reflect their individual needs, including applications to all 3 in-state public universities and Pima Community College.
• Collectively the senior class will receive a minimum of 2 college acceptances per student and 100% of graduating seniors will be accepted to college.
• Every senior student will complete and apply for at least 2 scholarship applications and collectively earn a minimum of $2.5 million in financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships.
• Every student will attend a minimum of one in-state college visit per year.
• All counseling staff members will attend a minimum of 2 workshops during the 2023-2024 academic school year.

www.sanmiguelcristorey.org

SARSEF works in classrooms and online providing hands-on activities challenging students to investigate real-life problems, building critical thinking and problem-solving skills in K-12 grade levels. SARSEF also works directly with teachers, modeling how to integrate student led inquiry-based learning into lesson planning, activities and direct instruction. Last school year, SARSEF served over 20,000 students and teachers, including 1559 science and engineering projects from 5908 students at the 2023 Fair. 53% of all students served were female, 55% were non-white and 71% were from Title 1 schools. Students who participate in SARSEF programs score higher on standardized state science and math tests, attend college at higher rates and choose STEM career paths more often than their peers.

SARSEF’s theory of change contends if you can introduce students to STEM learning before stereotypes and biases are formed, you cn create a more representative STEM workforce. SARSEF programs, held in class, out of class, during the school day and after school, directly connect students with STEM learning and skills. Funding requested is for the STEM Education and Outreach Program. SARSEF partners with classroom teachers to support K-8 students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to make a difference using science and engineering. Through hands on workshops, students are challenged to investigate real-life problems and find solutions that matter. To accommodate teachers’ schedules and needs, outreach programs and workshops are offered throughout the school year.

No specific data was presented in this grant. SARSEF uses participation in elementary and high school as an indicator of future success. The goals of the program are to improve the students’ attitude toward STEM learning and careers and increase their perceived and expressed ability to succeed in STEM activities.

www.sarsef.org

The mission of SAAVI is to cultivate growth and opportunity for blind people through non-visual skills training; demonstrating that all challenges have solutions, while fostering self-efficacy through empowerment and confidence. Funding from SCCF in 2023 supported the purchase 50 Braille books for the SAAVI library.

This funding will support SAAVI’s signature program REAL, which is a highly interactive and participatory program that provides education and hands on experiences for blind children in grades K-12 and their parents/families (175 in total). The ultimate goal of REAL is to increase the number of blind/visually- impaired youth that will go on to post-secondary education and become independent members of society. Through this program, blind children engage in activities to increase their learning potential, independence and self-esteem. This year’s funding would be specifically used to expand and improve the Tucson center’s library with the purchase of 60 Unified English Braille books and 5 Braille keyboard writers.

Clients are tracked from kindergarten through high school graduation/post-secondary education until they move into their careers. Success is evaluated by pre and post program surveys, monthly evaluations, staff observations and feedback. No specific data was presented in this grant.

www.saavi.us

STEP educates and empowers low-income students with the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills to successfully transition to college and attain a 4-year degree. STEP began in 2005 providing wilderness leadership expeditions to low-income high school students. Since 2011, STEP has grown and developed into a full-service College Prep Program. 2023 SCCF funding was used to help guide Tucson area high school students through the process of preparing for, applying to and transitioning to college. Funding provided:

• Outreach and recruiting presentations to sophomore high school students
• Workshops on topics ranging from college readiness to standardized test prep and narrative essay writing
• 1:1 advising throughout the year on high school course selection and performance, as well as school and community involvement
• Workshops on mental health wellness and stress reduction techniques
• Guidance in applying to pre-college summer programs and scholarships
• Workshops with admission directors nationwide
• Coaching on the “non-cognitive” dimension of college readiness
• 1:1 advising with seniors on creating a compelling college application
• Financial workshops for students and parents
• Alumni led workshops on successfully navigating the transition to and through college

STEP College Prep Programs Tucson Class of 2023 received 86 acceptances from schools nationwide and were offered $3.7 million in first year scholarships and grant aid.

STEP College-Prep Program gives students from low income and underrepresented communities the tools they need to close Arizona’s postsecondary educational attainment gap. Students enter the program in their sophomore year of high school and receive one-on-one advising throughout their sophomore, junior and senior years of high school. Topics include: high school courses to take to prepare for the rigor of college, time management, presentation skills, resume writing, building a college list, finding a college that is a good fit, components of a strong college application, applying for on-campus summer programs, mastering the college admission interview and demystifying the financial aid process.

• 96% of STEP graduates are in college or have earned a college degree
• 10% are pursuing advanced degrees
• 50% of STEP graduates have matriculated at Arizona schools
• 50% of STEP graduates have matriculated from highly selective out of state schools able to meet their full financial aid needs

www.stepexpedition.org

The Edge School serves students with substantial credit deficiencies. Eighty-five percent of students who enroll at Edge have math skills at 4th grade or lower, while 65% enroll with English Language Arts skills at the 6th grade or lower. Most enrolled students have experienced trauma at the hands of an adult who was entrusted to care for them.

The Stay in School program focuses on reducing barriers in students’ lives related to mental health that will allow them to continue in their education. The self-paced program is designed to work with students who need additional academic and social emotional support. The program includes:

1. Identification of barriers to education at enrollment
2. Connection with an on campus licensed social worker
3. Daily monitoring of students’ attendance
4. Crisis counseling intervention
5. Home visits
6. Partnering with other Tucson nonprofits to get the student connected

• Students will stay enrolled in school. A 73% attendance rate was achieved in the 2023 school year and currently that rate has improved to 77% (for 2024)
• Increase the number of students served by counselors;
  67 students were seen in 2023 school year for a total of 198 sessions
• Increase the number of students who stay connected to counseling organizations
• Increase the number of students who participate in partner agency programs
• Increase the number of high school credits per year in school.
• In the 2023 school year, 33% of the students were on track to meet 5.5 credits

www.edgehighschool.org

The Tucson Children’s Museum provides fun, play-based, interactive, hands-on learning experiences for children and their families. The vision is to inspire children and their families to reach their full potential through discovery, creativity and learning. SCCF 2023 funding provided museum visits and outreach trips to 378 children attending Head Start Programs in Oro Valley and surrounding areas.

The ALTO program makes museum learning accessible for students in under-represented communities in Southern Arizona. The museum is seeking funding to provide this programming to Head Start pre-school programs in Oro Valley. Tours provide transportation and underwrite admission for children in Head Start programs to attend in-person field trips at the downtown museum location. Museum educators also have the capabilities to bring the Mobile Outreach Vehicle to local Head Start programs. ALTO programs impact educational success, quality of life and development for children by helping them develop cognitive, physical, creative and emotional skills through hands-on interactive play-based activities at their level.

No specific data was presented in this grant. Programs are evaluated through an outcome-based evaluation model. The model measures the following, qualitatively and quantitatively:

• On-site tracking of attendees
• Feedback surveys by educators
• Observation of engagement in activities by children

www.childrensmuseumtucson.org

YOTO exists to help address barriers and mitigate the impact of homelessness on students’ education. Operating in 100+ middle and high schools across Pima County, YOTO’s mission is to support the high school graduation and continued success of homeless youth by providing financial assistance, basic human needs and guidance. YOTO serves youth in grades 6-12. 2023 SCCF funding supported 437 YOTO youth with academic stipends, holiday gift stipends, task incentive stipends and bill assistance. YOTO saw a 12% increase in students needing assistance from 2022.

The program provides accountability-based financial assistance, basic human needs and guidance to Pima County’s homeless students working towards their high school graduation.

• Financial Assistance: Youth may earn a monthly stipend up to $350 during the nine-month school year by maintaining A’s, B’s or C’s and consistent attendance.
• Basic Human Needs: YOTO students may obtain material assistance including food, clothing, school supplies and hygiene items weekly at no cost from the YOTO mini-Mall.
• Guidance: YOTO Program Coordinators and volunteer School Liaisons build trusting, individual relationships with students. They provide ongoing academic support and guidance to homeless youth.

SCCF funding will provide direct student support via monthly stipends, bill assistance, mini-mall material items, transportation assistance and/or gift cards for approximately 120 YOTO students enrolled. These client services are designed to help provide some stability for YOTO students and help to mitigate the impact of homelessness and poverty on their education.

YOTO is focused on students’ consistent attendance and ability to maintain passing grades. 12 problematic targets related to service delivery and youth engagement are measured monthly to enable real time corrective action when needed. Examples of 2023-2024 targets measured:

• 1% of youth have dropped out due to non-attendance (goal was <10%)
• 76% of youth achieve at least an 85% monthly school attendance record (goal was 75%)
• 32% of youth who missed a stipend re-engaged with the program the following month (goal 30%)
• 84% of youth submit for Academic Stipends each month (goal was 80%)

www.yoto.org