Hortons Kids Inc

Programs: Academic supports serve children of all ages so they can graduate from high school prepared for post-secondary success. Academic supports and literacy supports in particular are an urgent need for the children we serve. Reading on grade level by third grade is one of the most important predictors of long-term success, but meeting this benchmark is a challenge for wellington park children. By the time they enter kindergarten, our participants have heard, on average, 30 million fewer words than their more affluent peers, putting them at a significant disadvantage. This gap only widens as children grow older: in fact, many of our participants come to us three or more years behind in reading. Aligned to the common core, our programming includes one-on-one tutoring and homework help for children in grades k-12 to strengthen their literacy skills; older youth programming for children in grades 7-12such as college tours and sat/act preparationto prepare them for post -secondary options; and educational advocacy services to connect families with high-performing schools and support children with special needs. All of these supports result in tremendous outcomes for children: in fact, children in hortons kids are twice as likely to graduate from high school.

health and basic needs supports ensure that children are healthy and prepared to learn. The children we serve live in a community with one of the highest rates of violent crime in dc, where the average family income is less than $10,000 per year. Our community resource center, open six days a week, is located just steps from childrens homes, allowing us to be a consistent and trusted resource for the families we serve. We provide a wide range of services, including daily afterschool meals, mental health supports, diaper and toiletry distribution, coat and backpack distributions, and connections to partner organizations that empower families.

youth development activities help children develop practical and social-emotional skills, habits, and behaviors that are critical to lifelong success. This includes everything from the ability to look someone in the eye to managing a checkbook to writing a resume to controlling your emotions. Additionally, key character strengths such as perseverance, optimism, and self-control are closely tied to life-long success. Our activities that foster these skills and habits include field trips, team and individual sports, mentoring, life skills lessons, discussion forums, and enrichment activities.