Take Stock in Children PBC

The Take Stock in Children program has effectively provided a pathway to success for underserved youth by providing students with the resources they need to achieve academic success. The program accomplishes its success as a result of its innovative multi-year program model that provides wraparound support services to its students throughout their middle and high school years and continues through post-secondary completion. The average length of time for a student in the program is 5 to 8 years. By enrolling students in 6th - 9th grade, the program can provide services at an early stage. Each student is matched with a caring adult mentor who meets with the student weekly, receives continuous academic support throughout the year, and provides ongoing College readiness services through their assigned College readiness coach. Upon high school graduation, each student receives a minimum of a 2-year Florida prepaid College tuition scholarship. Throughout the school year, students and their families attend monthly workshops geared toward aiding in social/emotional issues, overcoming common stressors and system barriers, communication tools, financial literacy, tutoring resources, high school prep plans, etc. Students are also provided with local community service opportunities to provide students with meaningful tasks that aid in developing their interests, skills, and talents, all while giving back to their community. During the student's senior year of high school, they are introduced to the program's College retention specialists and begin to receive services to aid in the transition period between high school graduation and the student's first day of College. Once the student graduates high school, they continue to receive post-secondary academic advising services through post-secondary completion.