Connecting for Children and Families

 

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Name of Organization: Connecting for Children and Families; Wyman's Teen Outreach Program

Address: CCF – 46 Hope St, Woonsocket, RI 02895 (mentor meetings and timesheets/paperwork)

                 Woonsocket Middle School - 60 Florence Dr, Woonsocket, RI 02895 (2x/wk)

                 Woonsocket High School - 777 Cass Ave, Woonsocket, RI 02895 (1x/wk)

Description of the overall mission of this organization:

CCF Mission Statement

Established in 1995 with funding from the Rhode Island Foundation, Connecting for Children and Families (CCF) is a community-based, non-profit organization located in Woonsocket, one of Rhode Island's core urban cities. Our mission, to transform the lives of Woonsocket children through high quality educational opportunities and family support, is accomplished through strong community partnerships and advocacy.

CCF offers high quality programs and initiatives, and the scope of services and numbers of families served has grown to make CCF one of the premier family support organizations in Northern Rhode Island.

How Wyman's TOP Serves

Provide: Wyman delivers proven programs that empower teens with the skills they need to make healthy decisions, and in turn, become productive and engaged adults.

Replicate: Wyman's National Network supports partner organizations in affordably replicating programs to build capacity, and support as many teens as possible.

Advocate: Wyman advocates to improve systems and policies so communities have greater resources to support teens.

Ages of youth served:

There is the potential of working with Middle & High School youth in this particular position; however, CCF does serve all ages.

Name of Mentor: Charlotte Boudreau

Hours worked: (number, days, times)

Regularly you are committing to Tuesday-Thursday 2-5pm. There are also other trainings and meeting that you can attend and Charlotte is very hands-on and ideally likes to meet about once a week.

Description of your role and duties: (include administrative or hands-on or both)

The main duties are to learn and implement the curriculum in the best way that fits the youth you are working while still maintaining its fidelity. The Wyman program is very specific in where it requires strict adherence and where there is room to work. There are monthly "check-ins" to complete to comply with the grant as well as pre and post tests that are to be completed and turned in to the DOH. All of these requirements and guidelines are clearly discussed during the paid training that they supply. The lessons are generally made to last 50 minutes and therefore the other hour+ is where you would need to create and build on your own curriculum. Fun structure is key. In addition, you and the youth are to create and complete a (or multiple) community service projects which adds up to at least 30 hours.

Description of the culture of the place (how many people in the office, dress code, communication style) There are few staff at the actual sites. The dress code is very relaxed – appropriate but very dressed down – jeans and a hoodie or t-shirt are acceptable. The CCF office itself has under 20 staff upstairs and business casual attire is more appropriate when having mentor meetings or interacting there in general.

Additional Requirements: (travel, etc)

No special travel is needed. It really entails the day-to-day being able to get to the sites, to CCF itself for mentor meetings or checking in/turning in time sheets, and getting materials that you will need (ex. Walmart near Woonsocket because that is where they have an account).

Special notes on process of getting this internship:

This is a job that you are committing to for the full length of the year. Teaching this program does require going through a training with the DOH and should be done asap.

Other internship opportunities with this organization:

There are many other opportunities to teach other classes at the middle or high school or just to help the staff out in general. I am sure that there are other placements that I am not sure of. Being able to have Charlotte as a mentor is wonderful – she aligns herself with the Youth Development way of thinking and practice naturally.

What three TAGS would you use to label this internship?

sports, preschool, DCYF, teenagers, administrative, trauma, mentoring, hands-on, art, science, afterschool, dance, curriculum, library, school, leadership, paid,

Your name: Lauren Kelley

Your cohort: 4

Your email address if others can contact you: Kelley.Lauren15 at gmail dot com