O.C. CHILDREN'S THERAPEUTIC ARTS CENTER 7 - 2006

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The Santa Ana \Vorkforee Investment Billard/Youth Council The Youth Serviee Provider Network RFI' 2005/2006 Orange County Children's Therapeunie Arts Center for DC educationaL artistic ,md technology training of our youtb in a safe and nurturing community enVlJTonment that inspires creativity and learning. About Your Organization Desc,ription of the Proposer 11"" lung has v"or organization bee Ii "'f"\'ing Sant;, Ana \lIIlIth" OeCTAC has been serving Santa Ana vouth close to 5 years. OeCT AC'S mission fulfills a high meed in the community of Santa Ana by lnte?ating parents, childml and youth with and without disabiiilties in a nurturing community-based enve-onment that teaches respect, cultural diversity, disability mwareness, and inclusion. Six days per week we offer a wide variety of classes (arts.. literacy, teclmoJ0 g::y , parenting & counseling) in the momings, after-school and evenings to enhance the educational levels of our students, and provide a vehide for self-empowerment. Of critical importance to our miSision is to provide youth with access to the ans. literacy and technology training to enhance their self-eSiteem, accelerate student learning. building leadership skills, and divert youth from negative activin)' and influences to positive expecJences that can bring about positive changes in their life. amd further their education and training. Wh:>, kind of impact has your seryices made to the youth in the eommunity? Our ::nost important accomplishn1ent with youth has been expamding the level of services we provide to ther::. and their family in the Santa Ana community. Having expmnded tremendously in four years, OCCT AC can now serve close to 400 families on a weekly basiIS (six days per week)! OeCT AC prov.jdes services to many families of extremely limited resourc~s (including educational and financial reso.sces). Our families value the opportunities to engage their .vouth in our after-school classes bec21~se it provides youth a nurturing and safe environment for tfuem to learn, enhance their creative skiEs. and support their academic and emotional development. hvlost of our fan1ilies can't afford to pay for Dese services or have limited access. Without an access to tillese programs the potential for each yoUT~' s development is limited. Access t(1 these programs is es,sential to strengthening our cOmBunities at-risk. By providing our underprivileged families access to after-school programs we enab'" youth to probe their individual potential, gain their confiuience to emer a healthy environment, and ::1revent youth from engaging in negative activity that is self-destructive. OeC1Ae fulfills to our up C,ClSt capacity the foundation's priorities in youth education :llnd human services. Finally, of critical impu1ance to our mission is to also partner with youth in these c~fforts. by exploring the challenges facir:,,, young people in our community, valuing their contributimns. exploring solutions together, and pro' ',,:ling youth with access to the arts. literacy and teclmology to bring about social changes in their COTTc.L~lunl1\'. !J,,", tlCI 'Oll t,'aek you,' outcomcs" We track outcomes in a vanell' ofwavs. Program outcomes are mc",c;Jrcd througb quantitative and qualitative infonnation thm '" colleClcd from teachers. parents and stucI"nlS. OCC1 AC staff monitors students progress across time: and assessments is always ongoing' Mo,,: programs are assessed through criterion-referenced asseso:,ments that are connected to the specific clas:~;:::s and/or curriculunl. SOll1e student outc0l11eS are measured throu~h pre-post tests. and others are basc'c on guali\a(ive information gathered through questionnaires. parem surveys. student literacy and! or "'-Journals. and others.