School and Community Success - This is the core of IHI's youth program and involves partnering with classroom teachers and school staff, parents, and community organizations to improve the academic success and community engagement of resident youth. Learn more about this program and our success rates.
Read Desire's story to learn more about how Innovative Futures helps children succeed academically.Free Summer Lunch and Activity Programs - IHI provides summer activities and serves healthy free lunches to residents and the public at each of our family sites. In 2010 we served 3,511 meals!
Annual School Supply Giveaway - Starting the school year off on the right note is important and sometimes required supplies can stretch a family's budget. To help relieve this burden, IHI contacts local schools, gets their school supplies list, and puts together a backpack of supplies for every school-aged child in our housing. In 2010 we distributed 230 backpacks.
Coats for Kids - Five years ago a resident contacted IHI to report that her neighbor's children were walking to school in the dead of winter without coats. IHI secured a donation to buy winter jackets for those children - and Coats for Kids was born! Now we fundraise each fall and distribute warm winter coats to every resident child who needs one. In 2010 we gave away almost 250 coats. Thanks to our 2010 donors for their generosity!
After School Activities - This includes weekly after-school homework support (either in a group setting or one-on-one) and academic enrichment activities. We also offer weekly youth activities in a fun and relaxed format. Once a month the activity is focused on empowerment and self-image, either through the creation of a self-portrait or an art project related to expressing the youth's personality (drawing their favorite meal, creating a dream house). Innovative Expressions provides resident youth with a safe and inclusive space to express themselves and build community. Completed Innovative Expressions projects are presented at a community-wide art show each spring.
Youth Mentor Program - IHI staff meets with resident youth individually and in a group setting to discuss college opportunities, job readiness and volunteer work. Every month the group focuses on a new topic such as creating resumes, preparing for job interviews, volunteer opportunities, college scholarships, applications and personal statements. In an effort to expose students to educational and job opportunities, Resident Services staff also facilitate college tours and volunteer/internship opportunities for all participants.
Workshops, Events, and Field Trips - IHI hosts a variety of workshops and events on-site. For example, we invite school principals and counselors to come out and welcome parents to school, encourage their participation in PTA, and talk to them about parent/teacher conferences. We host First AID/CPR trainings, Baby Sitter certification classes, and dinner celebrations before school events - then parents, children, and IHI staff all walk to the event together to encourage participation. We also take kids off-site to fun and educational locations such as the local library, Zenger Farm, and OMSI.
Early Childhood Literacy - In partnership with The Multnomah County Library's Early Childhood Services Department, IHI is developing a program to educate parents about how easily they can help their young children develop critical language and reading skills. IHI and the Library are working together to bring early literacy resources, a fun and easy curriculum for parents, regular classes for parents taught by library staff, and events for tots on-site to IHI's family properties.