Step By Step Inc

Programs: National vista the wv dreamers collaborative, brings together community leadership and education non profits, school systems, universities and a grass roots community fund raising collaborative to serve economically challenged communities in the southern coalfields of west virginia. Vista members focus efforts on developing and sustaining programs targeting young people ages 12 to 18 and the adults who support them. Project goals center on preventing school dropout, incerasing student engagement, delaying and preventing risk-taking behaviors, as well as deepening infrastructure for core programs and increasing the capacity of community institutions to serve and support adolescents through the transition from childhood to independent adulthood. Vistas also work on gardening and food security initiatives and support for children and youth facing challenges of child welfare, juvenile justice and racial justice.

west virginia dreamers after school program (21st century) and school partners we support students and their families living in the poorest communities of lincoln and logan counties during out of school time by meeting their academic, social and emotional, health and wellness, prevention, and community leadership needs. Our sites also offer service opportunities for all ages, family education events and community celebrations. Our school partners have verified that 80% of our participants improved in grades and/or mastery levels on school assessments.

we have several other programs, west virginia dept of ed. , office of child nutrition to feed children during after school programs, wv dept of health and human resources, developmental disability council; greater kanawha valley initiative, united way of the three rivers, and toyota foundation all supported our anti bullying initiative, and greater kanawha valley and other state and local programs funded our arts, music and youth programs for after school and summer, as well as local foundations funding our grow appalachia program in big ugly and other partner areas.

child and adult care food program step by step also works with communites to organize and expand after school food programs including arranging for transportation, recruiting staff, and coordinating the ordering of office of child nutrition approved food. Each of the involved sites expanded recruitment and transportation and provided supper and snack to the communities with the highest rate of free and reduced meals in their respective counties. We are also piloting farm to after school programs in partnership to provide fresh, local food to students and their families.