Youth Stay In School
 
The United Way has funded the Stay In School program through People's Commuinity Services this year.  This program will be run at both the Hamtramck Neighborhood Center and Delray Neighborhood House and will focus on making a difference in children's lives through tutoring, classes and counseling.  We will be measuring some of the improvements that we see with the children along the way so that we can accurately report this information to the United Way.  This reporting is essential to ducment how we are helping our youth stay in school and reach their full personal development.
 
Key Benefits
 
  • Increase in Grades
  • Increase in Life Skills
  • Better peer and adult relationships
 

Recreation and Leisure

Recreation is a key component of a community's health and socializing is an important influence, positive or negative, of social development. PCS provides many opportunities for recreation and socializing for our community's youth.

 

Open Recreation: Youth have the equipment and facilities to participate in pick-up games and open recreation.

Able to Play:  PCS is proud to house a Boundless Playground at the Delray Neighborhood House.  This Playground allows all children to play regardless of their physical challenges.

 

Team Sports: PCS sponsors teams in mini-leagues. Group sports conducted include basketball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and hockey.

 

Leisure Activities: PCS common rooms are cozy places to socialize and enjoy a game of ping-pong, pool, foosball, air hockey, or any number of board games. The children also get quality interaction with adult PCS staff in a structured manner. Last year, PCS provided recreation to 1,934 neighborhood youth at the various sites.

 
Academics, Technology, Literacy & Arts
Developing young minds is central for creating well-rounded, contributing adults. Even when schools can do their job, we provide these exposures in a relaxed atmosphere that can be more conducive to learning.
 
Tutoring: Staff and college volunteers are available to help youth with homework and problem areas every afternoon.
Computer Labs: Each computer lab has eight state of the art computers with high-speed Internet connections (monitored for inappropriate material) and are provided for students to do homework, use learning software, or just explore their own interests on the Web.
 
Arts & Crafts. This component attempts to be more than busy work, but also an exposure to beginning techniques and history and to be an outlet for youth's feelings. Activities for the 6 to 12 set include painting, modeling, and trips to the museum.
 
Hamtramck Mural Project:  At the Mayson Center in Hamtramck, a professional artist worked with the Center's kids, as models and painters, to create a 160 foot mural depicting the history of Detroit.
Children and Youth  Counseling
 
For youth who experience behavior problems or are at risk of developing problems, PCS offers:
 
Group Sessions:  Youth work through individual problems, set goals and build group unity.  This method is a strong antidote to the pulls of peer pressure, gang membership and a lack of self-esteem which leads to substance abuse.  In the last program, year, PCS serve 2,534 youth.
 
Conflict Resolution Training:  Trained counselors teach youth to deal realistically with differences and conflict through literature, excercises, and role play.
 
Summer Lunches:  While not counseling, it is certainly a fact that children who go hungry have trouble concentrating and coping.  Through the City of Detroit Health Department, we are able to provide lunches to community youth during the summer when there is no access to school food  programs.