ABC Provides Creative Support to CPS Children and Families

The spring and summer of 2020 were rough months at Activities Beyond the Classroom. School buildings were closed, extracurriculars were cancelled, funding was down significantly, and we didn’t know if we’d be here when the 2020-2021 school year began.

We sent a plea out to our donors asking for support. We knew that even if we weren’t able to run our programs as we had in the past, we needed to be here, as strong as ever, to support the children of CPS as they and their families navigate the pandemic.

Our donors agreed, and thanks to the support of the Cincinnati community, we are standing strong, ready to serve however we can.

Because of COVID, activities beyond the classroom are no longer limited to extracurricular activities. We are working in creative and critical ways that are unique to the pandemic. Here are a few examples of the programs we’re supporting as we dive head-first into the new school year:

Virtual resource center for student athletes: Created an online community where student athletes could find at-home workouts, stay in touch with coaches, and get encouragement from their peers.
CARES funding for food: Received a $49,800 grant to provide shelf-stable food to families where ABC is the lead agency, as well as families supported by Project Connect.
Care & Collaborate: Provided and coordinated donations of food, personal care items, and cleaning supplies to families at two schools up to three times per week throughout the spring and summer months.
Safe activities for children in foster care: Continue to support children living in foster care through the Kids in School Rule! (KISR) program by finding safe and impactful activities for them to participate in.
School supplies for remote learning: Partnered with the Bengals to provide educational kits to 350 student athletes in CPS.
ACT Bootcamp for student athletes: Through the AAA Pathway program, host weekly virtual ACT Bootcamp classes—with Bengals players joining to provide support and inspiration to the students.

And the following ABC-CPS partnerships are currently under development:

Before- and after-school mindfulness, wellness and physical activities: Sixteen hour-long virtual activities will be available to students in 3^rd to 12^th grade every week, providing opportunities for social emotional learning, self-expression, and physical activities
Before- and after-school tutoring: Virtual tutoring before and after school for students in 7^th-12^th
3E Pandemic Services: Virtual opportunities for all high school juniors to thrive and engage in the world around them by exploring the 3E’s (enrolling in higher education, enlisting in the military, or employing in the workforce after high school graduation.)
Resource Coordinator pandemic services: Support for Resource Coordinators’ efforts to provide additional funding to assist with academic achievement
Academic Coach for Project Connect: Mentorship and guidance to ensure the academic success of young men identified as experiencing homelessness at specific CPS high schools.
Family Enrichment: Outreach and support to families experiencing barriers to staying connected and engaged in their student’s virtual learning
College Credit Plus: Provide students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn college and high school credits at the same time by supporting CPS’s College Credit Plus program

And the list goes on….

We are humbled by the outpouring of community support that made this work possible, and we are proud to stand next to CPS during these uncertain times. And thanks to our supporters, we are standing strong, ready to take on whatever comes our way.

ABC Provides Creative Support to CPS Children and Families

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