In today’s society all youth, no matter what their socio-economic standing , are "at risk."  At risk of being lonely. At risk of becoming isolated. At risk of feeling that they are not worthy of happiness or love.  A Company of Girls+ award-winning programming fills afterschool hours with acceptance, learning and mentorship rather than emptiness, isolation, and negative influences.  

 

At ACOG+ we hold space for youth to feel encouraged and hopeful about their futures, and take a holistic approach that follows the four best practices for impactful out-of-school time programming as identified by the Afterschool Alliance:

 

1) intentional and strong program design - Our arts-based curriculum allows youth to develop their inner voice while employing hands-on, active engagement in creative expression.

 

2) high quality staff mentors - Our program staff act as mentors and role models, creating an environment in which students feel safe and supported, and cementing positive adult relationships. 

 

3) effective partnership - ACOG+ collaborates with the key players in a student's life: parents, teachers/ administrators, social workers, and other out-of-school time providers. 

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4) continuous program evaluation and improvement - through surveys, observation, and feedback, we monitor progress not only of our participants well-being and our impact on their success in school, but also of ourselves, ensuring we maintain top quality, effective programming.  

 

As a result, students build resilience to overcome challenging circumstances and are poised to succeed both in school, and (eventually) in the workplace.