HEART (Homework, Enrichment, Acceleration, Recreation, Teamwork) is an after-school program sponsored and administrated through Pro-Youth, a non-profit agency serving the youth of Tulare County. HEART complements the learning day in the after-school hours by providing homework assistance, literacy and math training and project-based enrichment activities, free of charge, for children in grades kindergarten through 12th every day that school is in session.

Pro-Youth opened the after-school doors of the HEART program in 1998, starting at three schools with 16 employees and 220 students. Initial funding was provided solely through community support. HEART is now operating at [an error occurred while processing this directive] schools with [an error occurred while processing this directive] staff and serves over [an error occurred while processing this directive] children every school day.

HEART operates throughout Tulare County and serves communities in Visalia, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Goshen, Porterville, Strathmore, and Woodville. The program runs Monday through Friday, from the end of the school day until 6:00 pm (approximately 2 pm – 6 pm) every day that school is in session.

The HEART program has three components: homework assistance, literacy, and enrichment. Each HEART school site includes all three components. In addition, all HEART sites have an assigned Literacy Coach and Math Coach. Typical enrichment activities include art, cooking, crafts, science, health and physical education, cooperative games, group and team sports, drama, dance, music and movement, cultural and holiday themed activities, field trips, nutrition, gardening and environmental education, among others. Each year, students, staff, and parents are surveyed to determine the need for additional classes and activities. As needs are identified, staff or parent/community volunteers are sought to facilitate activities.

While at HEART, the children also receive a snack as part of HEART’s participation in the USDA snack program, providing the children with nutritional support as they transition into the after-school day.

The academic program is closely coordinated with the California state standards taught during the regular day. HEART program leaders exchange assessment and instructional information with the HEART student’s school-day teachers to provide a seamless learning environment.

HEART provides a unique model of successful collaboration in after-school programs. Its success is based on a combination of factors, including program coordination through a non-profit agency, partnerships with the Tulare County Office of Education, local school districts, the Kaweah Delta Health Care District, and the county, city, and other public agencies, and strong involvement from the private sector.

 

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HEART Supports Students Who Are Struggling Academically

The HEART program at Annie Mitchell is a great program that offers our students several benefits. It provides our students with additional support in core academic areas, develops leadership skills and encourages participation in the arts. The HEART program also supports students who are struggling academically by supporting the HEART Reads tutoring program on campus and by providing and monitoring students with a reading intervention program. The HEART program also provides students with an assortment of activities including organized sports and fieldtrips. Many of our English Learners are enrolled in the HEART program and this provides them with an opportunity to practice their English communication skills. The HEART program is a great afterschool program that offers our students a variety of experiences and opportunities that they might not otherwise experience due to budget cuts in our education system or limited family resources. Students who participate in this program are provided with many skills to help them succeed academically.

Blanca Martinez-Ramirez
Curriculum Coach

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HEART student surveys produced the following results:

• Students like the HEART Program – 81%
• Students are learning new things in HEART – 79%
• Program Leaders help students with homework – 83%
• HEART Program teaches students about how to avoid gangs – 67%

 

HEART parents were surveyed and over 97% agreed:

• Their child talks to them about what he/she does in the HEART Program
• The HEART Program helps their children complete their homework
• Their child likes his/her Program Leader
• Their child’s Program Leaders are helpful to the parents
• Their child enjoys attending the HEART Program
• They would recommend the HEART Program to others

 

HEART principals were surveyed and over 93% agreed:

• HEART is having a positive academic impact on their school for students who participate in HEART
• They communicate with their Site Director on a regular basis
• School teachers believe HEART is having a positive impact on students who participate in the Program
• They have confidence in the leadership and management skills of the Site Director
• They are committed to supporting the alignment between the regular school day and HEART (academics, enrichment, site council, special events)