|
|
 |
Homeys
Programs
 |
|
|
In 1994, with the generous support of the National Council of
Jewish Women, Homeys launched San Diego's first Home Instructional
Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), an internationally
respected, home based training program that helps parents prepare
their preschool children for academic success. HIPPY works with
children in the year before kindergarten and during kindergarten
itself. Each week specially-trained tutors from the HIPPY program
explain and model HIPPY's curriculum to the parents, who then work
with their children on daily assignments. Once a month, groups of
parents and trainers meet at local schools to hear speakers and to
discuss issues of concern to the parents. HIPPY has been shows to hear
speakers and to discuss issues of concern to the parents. HIPPY has
been shows to be especially effective with parents who did not have a
positive experience when they were in school, giving confidence and
encouragement to become and to stay involved in their children's
education. Homeys HIPPY program has exceeded our expectations:
 | Over 300 families have participated - and more than 120 children
have graduated from the two-year program |
| We have expanded from one to five schools in Loan Heights and
Southeasters San Diego |
| Our Support base has widened to more than 10 agencies and
foundations providing more than $270,000 in funding for the program. |
These accomplishments have resulted in Homeys being named the lead
agency for HIPPY California.
California HIPPY State
Office
The purpose of the State Office is to create a
strong infrastructure at the state level that works closely with HIPPY
USA. This localized support protects the integrity and quality
of State HIPPY program operations, and directly supports the
sustainability and growth of local programs. Fundraising for the State
Office is essential in order to continue its operations and state
level activities. The activities of a state office includes but are
not limited to the following:
| Supporting the role of State Director
(in conjunction with HIPPY USA) |
| Maintaining a system for staying in
regular contact with HIPPY USA |
| Working with and developing a State
Advisory Group |
| Networking all state stakeholders |
| Providing technical assistance in
writing and via phone |
| Organizing Coordinator
training/meetings |
| Organizing Paraprofessional training |
| Organizing a statewide yearly
conference |
| Producing a state HIPPY news letter |
| Conducting advocacy in the state on
behalf of HIPPY programs |
| Producing and disseminating
information on funding and legislative efforts |
| Establishing state collaborations
with organizations outside of HIPPY |
| Performing a self assessment/yearly
review of sites |
| Organizing and conducting in-state
site visits |
| Providing start-up support to new
programs |
| Ensuring local use of the management
Information System (MIS) and providing training and
technical assistance on the MIS. |
| Collecting and analyzing state MIS
data |
| Supporting local grant writing
efforts |
| Initiating statewide research efforts |
| Assisting HIPPY USA with national
HIPPY activities such as the national conference,
trainer's retreat and the preservice training. |
Our second new project, the House of Potential (HOP), is located at
Sandefur Neighborhood Center in Southeastern San Diego. Ultimately, we
see the HOP becoming a one-stop shop where we will provide childcare
services; seminars and support groups; and positive cultural, social,
educational and leadership activities. Currently, the HOP is home to
the Homeys Youth Leadership Team, a dynamic group of students from
secondary schools who are engaged in fun activities aimed at:
| Developing leadership skills |
| Serving and improving their community |
| Learning how to launch business and prepare themselves for the
workplace |
| Planning safe positive group activities |
Youth team members select the projects they want to work on,
develop plans for implementing the projects, and perform all the work
to make their plans successful. The HOP also plans to launch an
Outreach Team to work on projects of concern to the parents in the
community - such as starting their own businesses, finding low-cost
sports and recreational programs for their children, and setting up
ESL classes.
Even Start
Family Educational Services
As we had hoped, the children who have completed the HIPPY program
have started school prepared, confident, and eager to learn. Their
parents have also gained a lot (enhancement of their parenting skills,
an awareness of the power of educations, and a sense of their own
potential as individuals and community members). Many of the HIPPY
parents have sought additional ways to get involved in their community
and in the schools, and quite a few of them have requested additional
training and education. In response, we created Family Educational
Support (FES), a division of Homeys devoted to family literacy. Using
an Even Start Family Literacy Program grant from the state, we have
opened an FES program at Johnson Magnet School. Participants in FES:
| Take part in the HIPPY program's in-home curriculum |
| Attend weekly parenting classes |
| Engage in organized parent-child activities |
| Take adult education courses to help them advance their careers
and reach their personal goals-offered in collaboration with the
Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) |
We hope to expand FES to other schools and families who need
supportive literacy programs.
|
|
