Teens

Working to Keep Teens in School Longer & Increase Graduation Rates

Historically, teens have been the most under-served population in the after-school space, but their needs persist. There are few, if any, choices in after-school and summer programming to help teens beat the odds. The Club is addressing this need by expanding teen programs and opening dedicated Workforce Readiness Centers to ensure teens graduate from high school with a plan for the future including post-secondary educational opportunities, a workforce certification program or the military. The Clubs’ teen programs, designed specifically for ages 13-18, provide meaningful experiences today so teens are ready to pursue their dreams tomorrow. Many incoming college students are unprepared for the rigor of college-level study and are then referred to remedial courses. Black, Hispanic and students of a low-income background are disproportionately placed into these courses.

To prepare our youth for future success, the Clubs provide experiential workforce readiness and college readiness programming that introduces a myriad of career paths in high growth industries including healthcare, STEM, the construction trade and culinary arts.

60% of incoming community college freshman, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, now require remedial courses 93% of our graduating seniors progressed to either college, the military, or a certification program from skilled employment. Over the past nine years our Clubs have increased annual teen participation by 488% from 500 to 2,900

Programs

JUNIOR STAFF PROGRAM

An educational program which provides teens with information on obtaining and retaining employment covering items such as filling out an employment application, resume writing, dressing for success, skill training and work ethics. Youth who successfully complete the program are eligible for employment with the Clubs as junior staff throughout the year or the summer.

SMART GIRLS

Smart Girls is a small group health fitness prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of girls ages 8-12 and 13-17 through dynamic sessions, field trips, mentoring opportunities with adult women. Club girls explore their own societal attitudes and values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good health care, and developing positive relationships with peers and adults.

PASSPORT TO MANHOOD

Passport to Manhood promotes and teaches responsibility in Club boys ages 11-14. Passport to Manhood consists of 14 sessions, each of which concentrates on a specific aspect of manhood though highly interactive activities. Each Club participant receives his own passport to underscore the notion that he is on a personal journey of maturation and growth.

SMART MOVES

S.M.A.R.T. stands for Skills Mastery and Resistance Training. This is a nationally acclaimed comprehensive prevention program that helps young people resist alcohol, tobacco, and other drup use, as well as premature sexual activity.

YOUTH OF THE YEAR

The Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. The program recognizes and celebrates leadership, academic success, civic responsibility and engagement.

KEYSTONE CLUB

Keystoning is the Boys & Girls Club Movement’s most dynamic teen program. It affords teens an opportunity to gain valuable leadership and service experience. They conduct activities in four key areas: academic success, career exploration, community service and teen outreach.

IMPACT ON OUR YOUTH

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County has provided a wide variety of nationally recognized and impact driven programs throughout the years and partners with numerous other service providers, such as the Palm Beach County Health Department, Literacy Coalition, local universities, and many others to enhance the learning opportunities of the youth served.

To become a partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and support our Healthy Lifestyles programs, please contact us at info@bgcpbc.org or (561) 683-3287.