Programs
The Community After-School Program (CASP)
The Community After School Program (CASP) is a high quality
after-school program that provides a safe place for children in
kindergarten through sixth grade who live at or below the poverty
level. At the CASP, children do homework, engage with positive role
models, and find companionship in a nurturing environment. Thirty-three children are currently enrolled in the CASP and
there is a waiting list of families needing after-school care. All of
the children are from diverse cultural, religious and ethnic
backgrounds and all are from low-income families. In fact, based on
current HUD guidelines, 70 percent are considered very low income
or worse. Without CASP, their families could not afford quality
after-school child care. The CASP charges a fee of $30 per child, $10
per additional child in a family, and never more than $50 per family. Our program develops learning skills, promotes positive
youth development, and offers shelter from the risks these children
would otherwise face on the streets. Children are provided nutritious
food, homework assistance with tutors, instruction in our computer lab,
and special events such as music and dance demonstrations. In 2004 -
our fourth year of operation - we built on our original child care
program by initiating a volunteer/mentoring component and growing our
all-day summer program. We enjoy an adult-to-child ratio of one-to-six. Children
work in small groups of six with one adult. The small groups make it
easier to supervise children and provide individual attention. Our
program is founded on the principles of effective after-school care.
These principles include:
- a highly-trained staff;
- enriching programs of arts, outdoors and daily activities; and
- appropriate physical space for children, including attractive, right-sized, and accommodating furnishings.
Our program does not take the place of the school programs. Instead, it
reinforces school time and provides children a balance between
structure and freedom. Principles of our program are highlighted in a
study called Critical Hours,
funded by the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. In the study,
after-school participation can be linked to greater engagement in
learning: "increased school attendance, improved work habits and
behavior and positive attitudes toward school, as well as better
emotional adjustment, positive relationships with peers and adults, and
a greater sense of belonging in the community." Governor James McGreevey supports the benefits of after-school
programs, as well. In his January 2004 address to the New Jersey State
Legislature, Governor McGreevey announced a new statewide initiative
that would keep some New Jersey elementary schools open for
after-school programs run by community organizations during the 2004-05
school year. The success of Governor's McGreevey's plan will take
20,000 New Jersey school students off the streets between the afternoon
hours of three and six o'clock, and place them in productive
after-school activities. The CASP has big plans for the future. In addition to
continuing to grow our programs, we are focusing efforts on improving
our physical plant to accomplish three things: (1) separate the older
11-14 year olds from the 6-10 year olds; (2) installing coat hooks,
shelves and carpeted rug; and (3) reorganizing the entrance so that
children walk right into an arts area where music is playing and a
weekly activity is taking place. The computer room will remain a hive
of activity. And, thanks to improvements made possible through last
year's grant from Morris County Community Development, the play yard is
once again the place where children meet, play, jump and run! Community Summer Program Recognizing that the need for
affordable, quality child care is even greater during summer months,
the CDC launched its Community Summer Program in 2002. The summer
program, coordinated with the Boonton Recreational Department and
School District, provides low-cost, all-day care for children from
low-income families in the Boonton community. The summer program
provides a secure, enriching experience for children. During its first
summer, 38 children took part in the activities. The summer program operates from seven-thirty in the morning to
six-thirty in the evening so that parents are able to drop off and pick
up their children as their work schedules require. Working in
conjunction with the Town of Boonton summer program, the summer program
is held at the local public school where we are able to use all of the
available facilities. Summer program activities include indoor and
outdoor play sessions, arts and crafts projects, and supervised
computer access and training. |