Programs | Schedule | Fees | Safety | Expectations
KCUYC provides out-of-school time programs for 4th through 12th grade students, including:
- Homework help/tutoring
- Academic/literacy curriculum
- Keyboarding and computer programs
- Daily physical activity and recreation
- Health education and healthy choices
- Student leadership team
It is the belief of the KCUYC staff that a young person’s likelihood for success in all areas of life increases in correlation with the number of adults who take a genuine concern in the young person’s well-being. Therefore, mentoring relationships developed with volunteers and staff are at the core of all after-school programming, including:
Our students participate daily in our Literacy and Tutoring programs. Our literacy program engages our students in one hour of reading each day using the Accelerated Reader program. While using this program we have seen 100% student reading levels increase -- some as dramatically as three reading levels in six months! For our tutoring program, skilled community volunteers and certified teachers are brought to our center to help with homework and give specialized instruction to students. We also tutor and teach students in math, art, and composition.
The Healthy Choices Program works within the after-school program to
provide family health events as well as nutrition education, cooking classes, and daily fitness opportunities to students. The Center's award-winning community garden is a highlight of this program focus, as youth, staff and volunteers learn about growing cycles, plant the seeds, nurture the garden, and then harvest and distribute the crops to community members who lack access to fresh produce.
All KCUYC participants are challenged to be leaders in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Those students who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and potential are encouraged to apply for the Student Leadership Team program. This core team of student leaders goes through various training modules that are designed to prepare high school students for college and career. Each semester the students work to understand and bring about change on one community issue. This process of listening to the community, brainstorming solutions, and connecting to key decision makers leads our students to engage in community level action. In the past, projects have included researching and developing community action around the issues of food security and high school drop out rates.
Play Therapy
Students at the Troost location have participated in a new pilot Play Therapy program. Led by trained therapists, these groups encourage students and staff to engage in playful activities designed to build self-esteem, give care to students, and improve relationships. Each 30-minute group is packed with age-appropriate activities that are challenging, encourage teamwork and are a lot of fun. Students are motivated to try challenging activities and to succeed, and the small adult-to-student ratio allows KCUYC to give very focused nurturing attention to students. Attention is given to both how students improve during play therapy group time and to how they improve outside of group time.
For a copy of KCUYC's program schedule, please e-mail info@kcurbanyouthcenter.org.
The programs and services of KCUYC are funded through the generous support of individual donors, faith-based and corporate partners and local foundations. There are currently no fees associated with the Center's services. Click here to learn how you can help support the work of KCUYC.
The safety of youth participants, staff and volunteers is of utmost priority to KCUYC. To this end, the Center has established certain rules and regulations to ensure the safety of its sites, including mandatory background screenings for all staff & volunteers, required orientation and training prior to engaging students, clear behavioral expectations for students and adults, and no tolerance for weapons of any kind on its premises. For more information on the safety policies of KCUYC, please call 816-221-1002 or e-mail info@kcurbanyouthcenter.org.
KCUYC strives to be a place of fun and learning for the community's youth. To this end, KCUYC expects volunteers, student participants and volunteers to fulfill certain expectations, including:
1. Respectful Behavior: Live by the Golden Rule, "Treat others as you would want to be treated."
2. Acting Honestly: Treat the property of KCUYC and other participants in an honest manner. Be truthful.
3. Taking Responsibility: Be responsible for your own actions. Clean up after yourself. Report unsafe or dishonest behavior of others.
4. Showing Compassion: Strive for fairness and equality, and show kindness to those around you. Respect each others' differences.
5. Engaging in Self-Discipline: Follow the rules posted at each Center. Listen to the adult staff and volunteers when they make requests or give instructions.
