Promoting education, healthy lifestyles, and community involvement in public housing neighborhoods.
Providing a safe environment after school and support for educational success.
Teaching essential skills such as conflict resolution, goal setting, personal responsibility, and communication.
Assisting families to break the cycle of poverty.
Mission: The Youth Development Program is a place where school-age youth can go to find support and encouragement. We strive to provide our youth with the opportunity to learn many of the skills needed to become strong community leaders.
Goals
- Provide a safe environment where youth can get help with schoolwork.
- Provide youth with the necessary support to transition into successful community leaders through encouragement, access to resources, and opportunities to talk about what they learn.
- Provide students with classes and seminars that build self-respect, teach conflict resolution, and teach leadership skills.
- Help youth learn personal responsibility, goal setting, communication skills, and the importance of community involvement.
History
The Youth Development Program was started in 1988 by the Social Services Coordinator at the San Marcos Housing Authority as the Kids Against Drugs Program. It began in a small back room located at the C.M. Allen Homes office building. Children came in to find a place where they could do their homework, talk with friends, play games, and find a smiling face to welcome them.
Present
Today, the Youth Development Program serves about 90 youth at two different sites. Each site provides tutors and mentors, homework assistance, Wii or X-Box game consoles, and computer access. The PODER Learning Center at the Allen Woods Homes includes a game room with a pool table, air hockey, and basketball. The KAD Center, at the C. M. Allen Homes, includes a youth room designed for youth.
We provide a nutritious snack at each program. The program includes nutrition education.
Giving vision
Youth in Public Housing, in many cases, have a different vision of their future than that of their wealthier peers. We work to expand the horizons of all the youth that go through our Youth Development program and encourage them to see what is possible through hard work, determination, honesty, and community service. We aim to mold our youth into future leaders who can bring us the best future possible. We partner with The Core, Greater Youth Services, Texas State University, SMCISD athletic department and involve our youth in activities provided by our community partners.
