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As manager of four schools in Northwest Philadelphia, Foundations has
witnessed firsthand the overwhelming obstacles young people face in
this community. More than 50,000 youth1 contend
with low-performing schools, drug activity, and street violence – deep-rooted
challenges that amplify annually. In 2005, Foundations assembled
a coalition of organizations capable of responding to these challenges
with long-term solutions. This
ten-year Community Initiative, called KidZone Philadelphia,
is designed to restore a sense of community and help each child reach
adulthood safely, equipped with a good education and a promising
future.
KidZone Philadelphia (“KidZone”) is a ten-year community initiative
that seeks to address the challenges underserved children face throughout
their lives. In 2005, KidZone opened its first office in Northwest
Philadelphia.
Working Together, Generating Hope
The KidZone partners are committed to ensuring that children in Northwest
Philadelphia and their families no longer struggle alone, but have
dedicated community advocates that can help them prosper in the
decade ahead. Since 2005, the partners have been working together
to develop a holistic approach that nurtures children from birth
through adulthood by addressing longstanding challenges in three
primary areas: education, employment, and civic engagement. In
April 2006, KidZone celebrated its official launch.
Promoting Total Youth Success
Although disadvantaged youth benefit from assistance at any stage
of life, optimal outcomes dictate the earliest possible intervention. A
recent study reports that children who begin kindergarten healthy,
motivated, and with early literacy skills perform better in the
first two years of school than children without such resources2.
That’s
why KidZone offers services for children starting at birth.
 Infants and Toddlers To give children in Northwest Philadelphia
the best chance at a healthy start, KidZone offers home visitation
programs to more than 47,000 families 3.
During these visits, volunteers and professionals provide prenatal
care, welcome new babies, teach basic parenting skills, and connect
families with community support services.
Preschool
and School-Age Children
KidZone provides training and technical
assistance to afterschool programs and community-based organizations
(CBOs) in Northwest Philadelphia. To prepare and support principals
of schools within the KidZone, Principles for Principals:
the Principals School Readiness Institute was recently launched.
And so children enter kindergarten ready to learn, KidZone also plans
several new preschool and Head Start Afterschool classrooms,
as well as aggressive preschool and kindergarten registration drives.
Teenagers
and Young Adults
To ensure that youth smoothly transition
to college or a “living
wage” job, KidZone is collaborating with local high schools
to assess students’ skills and goals, develop job portfolios,
and help them apply for jobs or select career pathways. Local
businesses and CBOs will provide KidZone youth with opportunities
for employment or internships. KidZone also plans to expand
local mentoring programs, establish a KidZone Youth Council,
and increase youth participation in the Civic Engagement Summit.
Parents
and Community Members
To promote positive civic engagement,
KidZone is conducting an ongoing, interactive campaign and membership
drive for children and families. And, KidZone is encouraging
these new KidZone members and other residents to support each
other through community outreach and volunteer activities.
Looking Ahead, Expanding Our Reach
In ten years’ time, we expect to see great improvements in the KidZone:
healthy, smiling preschoolers, high-achieving students prepared to
enter the global economy, wise civic leaders, and a community working
together to help all its children safely navigate growing up.
1 50,138 youth
(under age 18) live in the seven zip code area of KidZone. From KidZone
Philadelphia Community Report Card 2005, developed in partnership
with Philadelphia Safe and Sound.
2 Kristin Denton
and Jerry West, Children’s Reading and Mathematics
Achievement in Kindergarten and First Grade (Washington,
DC: National Center for Educational Statistics, 2002).
3 47,106 families
live in the KidZone. From KidZone Philadelphia Community
Report Card 2005, developed in partnership with Philadelphia
Safe and Sound.
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