Education

Public Policy:

GKUW mobilizes the caring power of our community to improve lives by strategic use of money, volunteers, key relationships and networks of partners.  Engagement in public policy is another strategy GKUW uses to fulfill mission and vision.  Public policy is crucial, because public sector decisions greatly affect the nonprofit sector’s capacity to address community needs.  GKUW has a responsibility to educate policymakers about how their decisions can help improve health & human service systems and the quality of life for Kalamazoo County residents.

The GKUW Board’s Public Policy Agenda for 2010-12:  Support for high-quality, lifelong education and training for Kalamazoo County residents of all ages.  

Policies relevant to the agenda in the area of education include:  childcare subsidies, Head Start, early learning programs, K-12 schools funding.

Cabinet Grants:

Kindergarten Readiness--Kalamazoo County Ready 4s
GKUW granted $50,000 to support development of a system to make high-quality prekindergarten accessible to all Kalamazoo County 4-year olds.  The grant supports a) assessment of kindergarten readiness countywide, b) quality assessment, mentoring and training of child care providers likely to participate in the Kalamazoo County Ready 4s pilot, and c) helping high-quality preschools adapt to offer a State-approved curriculum model for a half day, 5 days per week for a school year, as required for KC Ready 4s.  GKUW serves as fiduciary for KC Ready 4s.  

Positive Behavior Intervention Support—KRESA
To increase positive behavior of youth in community programs and at home, GKUW granted $17,245 to the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA).  The grant helps KRESA pay for a coordinator to train and assist agencies and families to use a research-proven approach called Positive Behavior Intervention Support.  Because school districts in Kalamazoo County use PBIS, use of the same approach in community youth programs and at home will give youth a consistent framework for positive behavior

Technology Program—Boys & Girls Clubs
A grant of $15,000 from GKUW has purchased software and equipment as well as additional staffing for the Tech Lab at the Lake Street site of the Boys & Girls Clubs.  The Tech Lab engages children and youth with current technology, and allows them to do homework and projects.  The added staffing makes the lab available to more children and youth because it can stay open for more hours.  

Success Academy—New Genesis
GKUW granted $15,000 to New Genesis for out-of-school enrichment activities for students of  Woodward School for Technology and Research (elementary school).  Purpose is to help a specific group of children increase academic achievement in a safe, supportive environment that may also engage their families.

Youth Program—Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Resource Center
GKUW granted $10,000 for staffing and equipment for a youth drop-in center with an audio and video studio.  The program will create a safe space that will attract and engage lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgendered youth and youth who are their straight allies.

After-School Outreach in Comstock—Girl Scouts
To increase after-school scouting in Comstock, GKUW granted $3,500 to the Girl Scouts for staffing.  Funds will support after-school scouting at the Comstock Community Center’s Community Learning Center, as well as financial assistance for starting traditional troops for girls not already served in the Comstock area.

Childbirth Prep and Parenting for Teens—Catholic Family Services
A grant of $2,500 from GKUW supports 6 offerings of a 6-week series of classes for expectant teens.  The program aims to foster healthy pregnancies, good childbirth experiences and appropriate parenting.


Initiatives:

Kalamazoo County Ready 4s
GKUW facilitates this effort to make high-quality prekindergarten available to every child in Kalamazoo County, so that every child begins kindergarten ready to succeed.  The Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community (ISAAC) chose high-quality early childhood education as a key issue in 2008 and gained support from a wide range of community organizations and leaders.  A broadly-based planning committee has designed a system that capitalizes on and enhances existing early care and education, draws on research-proven models, and builds family strengths.  GKUW has obtained grant funding for a baseline, countywide kindergarten readiness assessment, quality enhancement of existing providers, and a 2-year pilot of the KC Ready 4s system during 2011-13.

Kalamazoo County Great Start Collaborative    
The GSC is a community-based, outcome-driven, public-private partnership of individuals and organizations that share and work toward a common vision:  All Kalamazoo County children (0-5) have the social, emotional, physical and intellectual foundation to be successful in education and life.  GKUW provided the original funding of $60,000 and staffing to support the convening of the group that is now the GSC. GKUW worked with Kalamazoo/RESA and other partners to secure $160,000 from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation for the first year of the GSC, and currently provides in-kind staffing of the GSC to complement the paid staffing at Kalamazoo/RESA.  The GSC has active committees for Health, Parenting Education & Support, and Quality Child Care.

Kalamazoo Youth Development Network (KYDNet)
KYDNet increases the capacity of youth-serving organizations to provide high-quality programming to Kalamazoo County youth.  KYDNet offers assessment, training, technical assistance and support to youth programs, youth-serving agencies and their staff and volunteers using quality standards for youth development from the High/Scope Foundation for Educational Research.  In 2011, KYDNet added a focus on community collaboration to address gaps in efforts to make middle and high school youth ready for success in adulthood.  GKUW houses, manages and writes grants to obtain funding for KYDNet.  

Education ReConnection
This pilot project connects youth not in school and unemployed to education and/or employment through GED preparation, credit recovery and help with employment.  GKUW housed and managed the project for its 2-year research and planning phase, and now participates in the Education ReConnection advisory committee.

Youth United Way
Youth United Way is an opportunity for area high school youth to learn philanthropy by doing it.  Housed and managed at GKUW, Youth United Way is supported by funds from endowments at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation.  Youth from Kalamazoo County school districts engage in service learning and conduct a grant-making process, granting $25,000 annually to programs that serve youth.  

Local Interagency Coordinating Council    
The LICC is a network of early childhood providers, parents and other stakeholders with a mission to mobilize support for all families in Kalamazoo County to ensure our children 0-5 are nurtured in safe environments and will meet their full potential individually, and as members of the community. GKUW participates in the council.

Balanced and Restorative Justice Network    
This networking group shares information about and promotes a balanced and restorative
approach to offenders, victims and their communities.  This approach involves responsibility, restoration, training and community safety.  GKUW participates in the network.