On March 15 more than 200 people gathered to support the work of Youth Services and celebrate the dreams of vulnerable youth in our community.
At Dream Big, we heard from youth whose lives you have impacted. Our keynote speaker, Nineth, shared her story; it was one that began with an abusive relationship and the uncertainty and fear of a new child on the way. Thanks to her own strength and the help of Youth Services, her story is now full of independence, optimism and the realization that her dreams for herself and her son are real and within reach.
Because of your generosity, we raised over $39,000 and counting! Thank you!
If you couldn’t join us at Dream Big this year, please take a minute to enjoy the video below and give a gift online to support big dreams.
The Youth Tutoring Program (YTP) is an after-school educational enrichment program for vulnerable first through twelfth grade students who live in six low- and mixed-income housing communities in Seattle. Started as a partnership with the Seattle Housing Authority in 1991, the tutoring centers provide youth with a safe, positive, and stimulating environment to explore learning and experience academic and personal success.
Volunteers are the heart of the program. They work with individual or pairs of students. In addition to offering academic support, volunteers serve as role models and friends to the students. We are currently accepting applications for the summer program.
At the tutoring centers, students build skills in reading and math, get help with homework, and strengthen their sense of self-esteem and self-respect. There are six YTP tutoring centers located throughout Seattle. Centers are open in the late afternoon and early evening hours. YTP students are wonderfully diverse, representing many nationalities, cultures, languages and religions.
During the summer, YTP offers programming to help elementary, middle and high school students build academic and life skills. Students and tutors work one-on-one or in groups as they rotate through various activities under the guidance of the YTP Center Supervisors and youth leaders. YTP students engage in various reading-integrated activities such as science, math, social studies, arts or writing.
Click here to learn more about our mission, vision and values.
Our Students
YTP serves elementary, middle, and high school youth living in Seattle’s low- and mixed-income, public housing communities. Ninety-nine percent of the participants are children of color, including 67% East African, 12% African American, and 11% Asian. Eighty-six percent of our students come from families where English is a second language. Forty-four percent of the students attending YTP tutoring centers have done so for at least three years consecutively.
Unfortunately many of our students’ parents cannot help their children with schoolwork. Parents often work long hours in low wage jobs to support their families and are unavailable to help with homework. Some parents have not achieved sufficient academic proficiency while others are new to this country and do not have a command of the English language. English is either not spoken at home or is the second language for 86% of our students. And most families cannot afford academic tools and other resources common in middle-income households, such as computers and Internet access.
"(The YTP is) an extremely valuable resource for the neighborhood and kids. The attendance of the kids week after week attests to the greatness of this program. No one forces these kids to come yet it’s very full week after week." --YTP Tutor
“M. needs a great deal of assistance in completing his assignments both at home and at school. Since his parents speak only minimal English, he does not receive much help from them regarding school work. It's therefore essential for M. to receive as much one-on-one tutoring if he is to advance and progress in his academic subjects. Thank you for providing him a positive environment in which he can grow and flourish.” – Seattle Public School Teacher
Our Impact
During Fiscal Year 2010-2011, 460 children were served by the Youth Tutoring Program (YTP). In a recent survey, 92% of the students and 97% of their parents reported improvements in grades or schoolwork (or maintenance of already good grades) due to participation in our program. The results also indicated improvements in key skills and indicators of future academic success.
The children who participate in the Youth Tutoring Program live in low- and mixed-income communities. They are considered at-risk for low academic achievement, poor school attendance, high drop-out rate, exposure to and involvement in substance abuse and gangs, low self-esteem, and little or no after-school supervision or parental involvement in their lives.
The YTP mitigates these risk factors by offering hope, help, and a positive presence in these youths’ lives. As a result of attending tutoring, students turn in higher quality homework more frequently and they gain the basic math and language arts skills they need to work at their grade level.
Through community support and student popularity, the program has grown substantially.
We offer many opportunities to help transform the lives of youth. Our volunteer needs can accommodate many types of skills and schedules. Our greatest need is for volunteer tutors in the afternoon/evening.
Mail Donations To: Catholic Community Services Attn: Office of Mission Resources 100 23rd Ave. S Seattle, WA 98144-5797
