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Our Program

Evidence-Based Program Model

Finish Strong programs are designed around five evidence-based resilience-building practices that support the holistic development of all youth, and specifically those affected by trauma: exposing participants to healthy relationships with peers and adults, promoting self-esteem and self-efficacy, creating safe spaces that reduce risk of harm, offering exposure to new learning opportunities, and presenting opportunities for problem-solving and critical thinking.
Research on youth resilience suggests risk factors of poverty, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma, including historical and racial trauma, can be mitigated by the following experiences because they help build youths’ resilience. These experiences include: • a consistent relationship with at least one safe, caring, reliable, and competent adult who promotes high expectations and encourages self-improvement;• opportunities for constructive engagement in family, community, school, and other social institutions and productive decision-making;• adolescent voice, choice, and personal responsibility; and,• the development of self-regulation, self-reflection, self-confidence, self-compassion, and character.Finish Strong strives to provide these experiences in all our programs and activities to inspire positive youth development.

Reaching Our Goals!

In April 2022, Finish Strong moved to a larger space in the Family Partnership Center, allowing us to expand our program hours and services. This summer, Finish Strong provided 5 weeks of camp from 10 am to 3 pm, with 35 youth attending each camp session. We finished our summer camp with a group trip to Splash Down Water Park. With school back in session, Finish Strong provides tutoring, computer and technology support, snacks, and activies including non-contact boxing, basketball, and arts and crafts Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm for our younger participants, and from 6 pm to 9 pm for our older participants. Finish Strong also provides private and small group non-contact boxing lessons on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Outcomes, January 1 - September 30, 2022

On average, Finish Strong provides about 70 hours a month of services, with 250 youth participating in services each month. Finish Strong is on tract to meet and exceed goals set for 2022 which focus on providing access to services, helping youth set and meet goals, and ensuring youth are satisfied with the program. We invite our youth participants and their families to provide feedback on what they like about the program and what they would add or change so that Finish Strong continues to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
84%
118 Youth Served
86%
Youth Met Goals
92%
Satisfied With Program