OK2Grow - Engaging and Inspiring Students through Education
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Dropout Prevention Resources


Big Brothers Big Sisters

Stand for Children

Tulsa Public Schools

Junior Achievement

Scholarships to Success

Freedom Schools

Native American Tribal Group

Tulsa Regional Chamber

Center for Family Resilience

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Educare

Community Action Project

Youth Services

Family and Children Services

Global Gardens

Community Service Council

CSC-Tulsa Area Community Schools Initiative

Parent and Child Center

Street School

Tulsa Tech Career Academy

Carerra

Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Youth at Heart

CampFire

City Year

Talent Development Secondary

Reading Partners

100 Black Men Entrepreneurship Job Shadow

Mental Health Association

Schusterman Family Foundation

Dream It Do It

KIPP

Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma

LongWalk Oklahoma

Operation Aware

Tulsa CASA

Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children

Phoenix Rising


Big Brother Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma is a one-to-one mentoring agency with three programs. First, our community-based program is for volunteers with time during the evenings and on weekends to meet with their little outside of school. Next, our school-based program involves volunteers, usually from a corporate partner, taking an hour each week to meet their Little Brother or Little Sister at school. Children in the school-based program or referred by their teacher or councilor. While the match is together they can talk, play games, do crafts, or work on homework. Finally, our Amachi program focuses on children of incarcerated parents. Oklahoma has an estimated 27,000 children with at least one parent incarcerated. Without intervention these children are five times more likely to go to prison than their peers. We are working hard to identify these children and provide them a positive role model as a mentor.We are currently partnered in 10 elementary schools in the Tulsa Public and Union Public school systems.  Matches often move to middle school as the student progresses, but currently we do not make new matches at the middle school level.  Many of our partnered schools have a corporation that we partner with in order to recruit mentors for that school. We are always looking for more corporate partners to help provide the Bigs we need.
Contact name: Shaelynn Haning
Contact email: shaelynn.haning@bbbsok.org

Stand for Children
Stand University for Parents to become more engaged and knowledgable in interactions with school systems in order to better advocate for their children.
Contact name: Brian Hunt
Contact email: bhunt@stand.org

Tulsa Public Schools
Tulsa Public Schools Teachers as Advisors Program develops trained teachers who work with small groups to explore educational and career possibilities. Trained teachers who see the whole student, not just in one class or subject. Trained teachers providing an approved curriculum for academic, social/personal growth and career development. Trained teachers who help students see why education is relevant to their future. Works in conjunction with business coaches.
Contact name: Rana McVay
Contact email: mcvayra@tulsaschools.org

Junior Achievement
It's My Future and other career, work readiness and financial literacy programs.
Contact name: Lisa Kuroye
Contact email: whubbard@jaok.org

Scholarships to Success
Program to encourage entrepreneurship and engage the street smart side of students who may be at risk of dropping out-grades 7-12.
Contact name: Tom Triplett
Contact email: info@ok2grow.org

Freedom Schools
The CDF Freedom Schools program provides summer and after-school enrichment through a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components High quality academic enrichment, Parent and family involvement, Social action and civic engagement, Intergenerational servant leadership development, Nutrition, health and mental health In partnership with faith institutions, schools, colleges and universities, and community based organizations, the CDF Freedom Schools program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. The CDF Freedom Schools model incorporates the totality of the Children's Defense Fund's mission by fostering environments that support children and young adults to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves and in their families, schools, communities, nation, and world.  College age young adults are trained as servant leader interns to deliver the integrated reading curriculum (IRC) and adults are trained as site coordinators and project directors to provide supervision and administrative oversight. CDF Freedom Schools program sites are safe and restorative learning spaces where: children are surrounded by caring adults and college age young adults from their community (at a classroom ratio of 1:10) who share their enthusiasm for learning and reading, and commit to serving them as authentic mentors; children read high quality books and are engaged in learning activities that are appropriate to their developmental needs and interests; each day begins with "Harambee!," a 30-minute activity to celebrate and affirm the value of each participant and prepare for work and learning ahead, children receive two nutritious meals and a healthy snack each day in the summer model and nutritious snacks during the after-school program; parents are engaged as site volunteers and participate in weekly workshops on children’s developmental needs, civic responsibility, and other topics of interest; children are encouraged and supported to dream, set goals for themselves, and cultivate positive attitudes and high expectations; young people whose lives have been interrupted and impacted by crises receive consistent, daily service to better understand themselves, their situations, each other, and their potential; and families have access to free and high quality childcare. In the summer of 2011, CDF Freedom Schools sponsor partners served over 9,800 children at 151 program sites in 87 cities and 27 states. Since 1995, over 90,000 K-12 children have had a CDF Freedom Schools experience and more than 12,300 college students and young adult staff have been trained to deliver this empowering model.
Contact name: Ms. Frances Jordan-Rakestraw
Contact email: francesjordan@greenwoodculturalcenter.com


Native American Tribal Group
Cherokee College Preparatory Institute-The Cherokee College Prep Institute is a weeklong college-readiness program that connects high school juniors and seniors with university representatives from across the nation.
Contact name: Heather Sourjohn

Tulsa Regional Chamber
In 2004 the Tulsa Regional Chamber launched an additional component to the Partners In Education program called Oklahoma Scholars. Oklahoma Scholars is an intensive education program that encourages eighth grade students to enroll in a more rigorous high school curriculum. The coursework will better prepare them for post-secondary education and training, providing more opportunities as they begin work. HOW CAN YOU HELP? We need business leaders to present the Oklahoma Scholars program to eighth grade students by demonstrating a real-world monthly budget based on a $32,900 annual salary. The presentation illustrates that their job supports their lifestyle, and their career possibilities are directly linked to the training or education they receive when they graduate from high school.
Contact name: JoAnna Jeffries

Contact email: jjeffries@tulsachamber.com


Center for Family Resilience
The Juntos program is a 9-month evidence-based initiative to engage Latino youth and families in educational success.  Juntos has been implemented in 53 communities in 6 states; it is lead by local members of the community and consists of three major components.  The first component is a 6-week Family Workshop Series.  Each workshop session is 2.5 hours and they bring together partners from high schools and the community to help families gain the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to effectively engage in their adolescent’s academics and make college access a realistic family goal. Each lesson targets youth and parent self-efficacy through the liberal use of reflection points, role–plays, and activities designed to help participants integrate advocated practices into daily life. The second component is a monthly family fun night, where families come together (frequently around a "covered dish" type of meal.  These family fun nights build a sense of community and social connection among the families and they offer an informal opportunity for families to interact with school officials.  The third component is a success coach who provides one-on-one support based on personal plan resulting from a needs and assets assessment.
Contact name: Dr. Joe Grzywacz
Contact email: joseph.grzywacz@okstate.edu

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Student Summit.
Contact name: Fransisco Trevino
Contact email: execdirector@tulsahispanicchamber.com

Educare
Educare is a research based program with a foundation in the best of early childhood practices that ensure school readiness of children most at risk for school failure. It is in a specially designed place that nurtures early learning and sends a clear message that we must invest in early childhood education because children are born learning. It is an innovative partnership between private philanthropists, Head Start/Early Head Start, Tulsa Public School officials and community partners dedicated to narrowing the achievement gap for children in their communities. Everyone works together on this compelling platform to raise awareness and drive change among policymakers, business leaders and early childhood providers of the vital importance of learning during a child’s first five years of life on long term success.
Contact name: Caren Calhoun
Contact email: carenc@tulsaeducare.org

Community Action Project
CAP early childhood education programs build solid foundations for success for children and their families.  It’s available for FREE to eligible children ages birth through 4-years-old. We offer center-based and home-based services for qualifying families, all designed to prepare your child for kindergarten with reading, writing, math and problem-solving skills.
Contact name: Heather Duncan

Contact email: hduncan@captulsa.org





Youth Services
Counseling, Delinquency Prevention, Homeless services and youth development programs.
Contact name: Liz Neas
Contact email: lneas@yst.org

Family and Children Services
Children's counseling and recovery programs.
Contact name: Tina Wells
Contact email: twells@fcsok.org

Global Gardens
Dedicated to empowering students and their communities through hands-on science education.
Contact name: Heather Oakley
Contact email: heather@global-gardens.org

Community Service Council
The P-20 concept is a way of thinking and acting that promotes systematic aligning of multiple education, health, and social support resources to best advance human capital development from prenatal through post-secondary and employment, and on to sustained lifelong well-being. The focus is on assuring successful transitions at critical points along the developmental growth pathway. Conexiones Program
Contact name: Phil Dessauer
Contact email: pdessauer@csctulsa.org

CSC-Tulsa Area Community Schools Initiative
What is a community school? The community schools approach is based on a new mindset about achieving success for students and their families. The challenges today’s families and students face in their daily lives often become serious barriers to student success. To overcome these barriers by addressing the needs of the “whole” child demands a purposeful partnership involving the entire community, families, and the schools, in order to assure the best opportunities for all children. A community school is both a place and a network of supportive partnerships between the school and the community. It provides a web of support that nurtures the development of children and adults. By sharing expertise and resources, schools and communities act in concert to educate the whole child--academically, emotionally, physically, and socially.
Contact name: Phil Dessauer
Contact email: pdessauer@csctulsa.org

Parent and Child Center
To prevent child abuse and neglect through education, treatment and advocacy.
Contact name: Joe Rodanski
Contact email: jrodanski@parentchildcenter.org

Street School
Unique to our program is our dedication and approach to the dropout problem. Street School is the only alternative education school of choice in the Tulsa metropolitan area. Our comprehensive program includes both education and counseling; two critical ingredients for success that turn students around and move them in a positive direction. We give hope to the hopeless. We provide a safe environment in which youth are allowed to explore possibilities, identify their passions, and where their dreams are realized without fear of reproach. We help youth to reconnect and to become excited about school by providing full wrap around services to fill the gap missing in their lives. We're a successful program because of our approach to our students' needs through our individualized services; students feel they "belong." Our program focuses on the whole person by filling a void of education and emotional support traditionally provided by family.
Contact name: Lori McGinnis-Madland
Contact email: mcginlo@tulsaschools.org

Tulsa Tech Career Academy
The Tulsa Tech Career Academy is a comprehensive program that seeks to recover Tulsa-area high school dropouts and those at risk of dropping out. This collaborative, community effort alongside TPS intertwines high school credentials/GED preparation and occupational training experiences to disconnected youth.
Contact name: Rick Palazzo


Contact email: Richard.palazzo@tulsatech.edu





Carrera
The model includes seven fundamental components: Education: Daily engagement includes one-on-one or small group tutoring, PSAT and SAT preparation, and college trips. Individual academic plans for participants are developed; Employment: Weekly Job Club class is a full introduction to financial literacy and the "world of work," including opening bank accounts, exploring career choices and providing summer and part-time jobs. Participants are paid a stipend and make monthly deposits in their bank accounts; Family Life and Sexuality Education (FLSE): Weekly medically and scientifically comprehensive sexuality education sessions are taught in an age-appropriate fashion;Mental Health Services: Weekly discussion sessions called Power Group are led by certified social workers. 24 hour counseling and crisis intervention as needed;Full Medical and Dental Care: No cost, comprehensive medical and dental services are provided in partnership with local providers;Self-Expression: Multiple exposures to music, dance, writing and drama workshops are led by theater and art professionals, where children can discover talents and build self-esteem; andLifetime Individual Sports: Multiple exposures to a program emphasizing sports that build self-discipline, impulse control and can be enjoyed throughout life, including golf, tennis, squash, swimming, and bowling.The Carrera program is the only 3-year fully evaluated teenage pregnancy prevention program with statistically proven effectiveness in the country, yielding a 50% reduction in birth rates in communities served.Read more about the Carrera program's pregnancy prevention success A multitude of other positive youth development outcomes include: increased likelihood of high-school graduation and college admission; increased employment experience; more bank accounts; and increased use of private physicians instead of emergency rooms.Children's Aid is launching a national expansion of its Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program that will directly impact the lives of thousands of young people across the country, while influencing public attitudes, the policy environment, and the overall delivery of youth services.
Contact name: Alice Blue
Contact email: ablue@csctulsa.org

Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Tulsa Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy answers the question “Why do we need such a program in Tulsa?” Oklahoma has the fourth highest teen birth rate in the country, up from fifth the year before. The 2010 national teen birth rate is 34 per 1,000, but the rate in Tulsa County in 2012 was 46.8 per 1,000. In four Tulsa zip codes, teen birth rates are twice the national average. The 2011 Oklahoma Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicates 50% of female high school students and 51% of male high school students in Oklahoma reported ever having had sexual intercourse, compared to 46% of female high school students and 49% of male high school students nationwide.
Contact name: Kim Schultz
Contact email: kschutz@csctulsa.org

Youth at Heart
Youth At Heart is a leader in providing programs in education, recreation and social development to youth living in Tulsa. Since 1976, YAH has provided youth living in Tulsa’s socio-economically challenged neighborhoods a variety of after-school and summer programs that include tutoring, character training, youth mentoring, health and fitness training, sports leagues, career exploration, community service and summer camp. Each year, these programs reach over 3,000 children and teens, giving them an effective alternative to idleness, vandalism, drug use and gang activities that so often plague their communities.
Contact name: Rodney Gray
Contact email: rgray@youthatheart.org

CampFire
Camp Fire Green Country, headquartered in Tulsa, currently serves over 3,000 boys and girls ages 3 to 18, and their families.  Members learn how to play together, work together, and appreciate their similarities and differences in a constructive and positive manner.  
Contact name: Mary Alice Ahlgren
Contact phone: 918-592-2267 x211

City Year
At City Year’s 24 locations across the United States, teams of diverse young people called corps members serve full-time in schools for 10 months working to improve student attendance, behavior and course performance in English and math. As tutors, mentors and role models, corps members are uniquely able to help students and schools succeed through: Academic Support: Provide one-on-one or small group tutoring before, during and after school Attendance and Positive Behavior Encouragement: Lead energetic morning greetings, make attendance and positive phone calls home and lead mentor groups Community and School Improvements: Organize and lead activities, celebrations and projects to improve the community and school environment which includes performing physical service such as: painting murals, planting community gardens, renovating schools and refurbishing community centers.
Contact name: Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio
Contact email: nryemofio@cityyear.org

Talent Development Secondary 
With 15 years of experience in low-performing schools and a research base developed at Johns Hopkins University's School of Education, Talent Development Secondary brings engaging instruction, solid organization and student, teacher and administrative support to schools that may have more challenges than resources. Please explore our site to discover how Talent Development Secondary could be a strong partner with your school and staff. We look forward to working with you.
Contact name: Donnette Hall
Contact email: dhall@jhu.edu

Reading Partners
Reading Partners is a nonprofit literacy organization that recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-on-one reading tutoring to students in under-resourced schools across the country. Our highly effective program has helped thousands of children master the fundamental reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Be a hero. Become a volunteer tutor. You can make a difference in a child’s life with just one hour a week. Become a Reading Partners tutor and spread the gift of literacy, the gift of opportunity. Learn more.
Contact name: Barry Maxwell
Contact email: volunteerTUL@readingpartners.org

100 Black Men Entrepreneurship Job Shadow 
The 100 Black Men of Tulsa, Inc., is an organization dedicated to positive youth development, mentorship, gang intervention and violence prevention, educational scholarship, youth team building activities, and the positive transition of incarcerated individuals back into the community. Information about the national organization, 100 Black Men of America, Inc., may be found on its website at www.100blackmen.org.
Contact name: Eddie Evans
Contact email: eevans@yst.org

Mental Health Association 
Our Youth Outreach Services plays a critical role in our community by increasing youth awareness about the importance of maintaining good mental and physical health through identification of possible issues with vision, dental hygiene or hearing. In addition, we help them identify issues with depression, eating disorders and alcohol / substance abuse. As part of our outreach, we distribute free literature, participate in health fairs, and train students on topics such as healthy relationships, anti-bullying and suicide prevention. We empower youth to support each other, and recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness and suicide.
Contact name: Kelli Cobb
Contact email: kcobb@mhat.org

Schusterman Family Foundation 
Communities in Schools, working to bring STRIVE consultant in, supports KIPP, Stand for Children.
Contact name: Michael Dupont
Contact email: mdupont@schusterman.org

Dream It Do It
Promoting manufacturing in schools.
Contact name: Stephanie Cameron
Contact email: scameron@apscopower.com

KIPP
To empower all students with the academic, character, and life skills necessary to succeed in high school, college, and the competitive world beyond.
Contact name: DeAnn Cooks
Contact email: dcooks@kipptulsa.org

Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
Contact name: Jackie Bensen
Contact email: jbensen@gseok.org

LongWalk Oklahoma
Provide an opportunity for young adults to learn leadership through wilderness adventure and character development by serving others in the community.
Contact name: Mike Morris
Contact phone: 918-906-1814

Operation Aware
Equips youth, through prevention education, with the knowledge and skills to make positive life choices. 
Contact name: Mari Fry
Contact phone: 908-582-7886

Tulsa CASA
Tulsa CASA, as authorized by Oklahoma law, is organized to speak for the best interest of abused and neglected children in court. We promote and support volunteer representation for the children in an effort to provide each child a safe, permanent home. 
Contact email: tulsacasa@tulsacasa.org

Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children
Improve the lives of abused and neglected children in Tulsa County through advocacy, resource development, best practice service provision and community outreach.
Contact phone: 908-728-6726

Phoenix Rising
Phoenix Rising provides an educational, skill building and behavioral treatment day program for youth on probation. This program works collaboratively with Tulsa Public Schools and utilizes the Big Picture Model School guidelines.
Contact name: Mary Kevin McNamara
Contact email: mmcnamara@tulsacounty.org

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