"He who
opens a school door, closes a prison."
Victor Hugo
What does the "I Have a Dream"® program
do?
The "I Have a Dream"® Foundation of Boulder County is currently
helping 311 disadvantaged children reach their dreams. The program selects
groups of low-income children in elementary school and provides them with
tutoring, mentoring, cultural enrichment, career awareness, job placement,
college preparation, and individual guidance until they finish high school.
It is the goal of "I Have a Dream"® to see that every Dreamer
graduates from high school and has the option to attend college and/or
obtain rewarding employment. Upon graduation, each student receives a
tuition-assistance award to help pay for college or vocational school.
How are Dreamers selected?
An IHAD Project includes either an entire elementary school grade (of
students on free or reduced lunch program) or an entire analogous age
group from a low-income public housing development. The children selected
are from low-income communities and attend schools that generally have
low achievement scores, high dropout rates, and low projections of college
attendance. The students must be adopted no later than the end of the
second grade - earlier is preferable. Eliminations, exclusions, or selectivity
within the group are prohibited. A typical IHAD Boulder Class consists
of 40-50 Dreamers. The main criteria for selection of Dreamers are low-income
status (either on free or reduced federal lunch program or living in low-income
public housing).
Who can be an "I Have a Dream"® Class
Sponsor?
Sponsors are always individuals. They may be family members, business
colleagues, members of religious or civic groups, educators - anyone who
can both build personal relationships with Dreamers and secure Project
funding. In some cases, Sponsors provide funding themselves; in other
cases, they obtain funding from foundations, church groups, colleges,
corporations and other sources.
Why should I get involved with these kids?
"The greatest factor in helping kids rise out of poverty and dependence
is education. Providing an education, either high school completion or
college, to a poor child is the single most important gift one can give
that will truly "make a difference" to the child and the society
as a whole. Providing a chance for these children to attend post-secondary
school means the difference between a life of opportunity and one of hopelessness.
They already know hopelessness. Now you can give them the chance to know
a brighter future. The personal satisfaction from watching these children
grow and thrive cannot be equaled."
---Midge Korczak, Kalmia Class Sponsor
"The reason I have gotten involved with these kids
is palpable and fundamental to my being. There is no greater reward, although
a struggle at times, than giving your time and money to help those less
fortunate. It is even a greater reward when you can give back to the community
in which you live, and to help foster the positive development and progress
of children. With the IHAD program you are able to watch and see your
investment in a child's or children's life grow exponentially. Plenty
of ups and downs but overall a fantastic experience and wonderful use
of one's time and money."
---Andy Bachmann, Tutor and Board Member
What are the statistics on Boulder County's
poverty rate and needs?
Approximately 30,000 people in Boulder County
live below poverty level - a total of 12% of the entire population.
According to Boulder County arrest and population
statistics compiled by the state government, the high incidence of juvenile
violent crime (homicide, rape, assault, and robbery) places Boulder
youth in a high-risk category for violent crime overall.
Drug use is also high: In 1998, 42% of the
district's 11th and 12th graders reported being drunk within a 30 day
period, compared to 29% nationally, and 32% had used marijuana.
The Hispanic dropout rate at Boulder High School
continues to hover at 60%. In fact, Boulder County's Hispanic graduation
rate has been lower than the statewide rate every year since 1990-1.
The overall juvenile arrest rate in Boulder
County has remained higher than the statewide average every year (except
1995) since 1992. There were 188 arrests for every 1,000 children age
11 to 17 in 1996. Colorado's rate was 158 arrests per 1,000. Juvenile
arrests for alcohol-related offenses have been at least twice the statewide
arrest rate every year since 1993. In 1996, the Boulder County average
was 39 arrests per 1,000 children ages 11 to 17. The state rate that
year was 17 arrests per 1,000 (The Status of Children in Boulder County
Report, 1998).
One third of all police calls in low-income
neighborhoods are handled during the summer months, when young people
are out of school. Youths living in these neighborhoods contend with
extreme economic and social deprivation, alienation and rebelliousness,
academic failure, and low neighborhood attachment.
According to Delbert S. Elliott, director of
the Center for the Study of Prevention of Violence at the University
of Colorado, statistics show that crime among juveniles occurs most
often in the summer months and around 3 p.m. - on the way home from
school or at home. A 1997 study compiled from FBI reports by the National
Center on Juvenile Justice and the Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention using information from Colorado, support these statistics
as well, stating that "violent juvenile crime triples from 3 p.m.
to 4 p.m., the hour immediately after school, and 57% of violent juvenile
crime is committed on school days".
Each year one million kids drop out of school.
Those who do are six times more likely to become unwed parents. They
are four times more likely to be arrested. Their lifetime earning potential
is far below that of high school graduates, not to mention college graduates
- and they are almost eight times more likely to need public assistance.
The years from ten through fourteen are a crucial
turning point in life's trajectory. This period, therefore, represents
an optimal time for interventions to foster effective education, prevent
destructive behavior, and promote enduring health practices (Carnegie
Council on Adolescent Development).
What is the track record of the program? Does it
really work?
IHAD is proud to celebrate the success of our first two classes of graduating
Dreamers. IHAD adopted the first Boulder Class of Dreamers in 1990 from
the San Juan del Centro low-income housing development. The impact of
our program on this first group of 36 Dreamers was significant - the high
school graduation rate for these children more than doubled the expected
rate (67% of the Dreamer class graduated while only 34% were expected
to according to the local high school statistics for Latino students).
Of those who graduated, over 80% went on to post-secondary school programs
with scholarship money provided by IHAD (national average is 66%). The
second class of 79 Dreamers from Lafayette have also graduated. Eighty-seven
percent 87% of these Dreamers graduated in 2000 and of those graduates,
90% have enrolled in college or vocational school.
To insure that we have obtained our expected results, the IHAD team continually
monitors the effectiveness of its efforts. Our methods of evaluation include
analyzing academic data, gathering case study information from families
and school personnel, monitoring the achievement of individual goals established
by Dreamers, and administering surveys to the Dreamers, their families,
teachers, and tutors/mentors. According to the City of Boulder, in neighborhoods
where IHAD runs daily programs, there has been a 75% reduction in juvenile
crime and delinquency.
According to the results of our annual evaluation survey
conducted in March 2001; 99% of Dreamers believe they will graduate from
high school and 88% believe they will move on to a higher ed program.
When asked about the benefits of our programs, 86% of Dreamers reported
that IHAD helped them improve their math skills, 91% reported that the
program helps them appreciate school, and 81% reported that IHAD helps
them get better grades. Among parents, 90% said they believe their child
will go on to a post-secondary school program, and 86% of parents believe
IHAD has helped their child achieve better grades.
A two-and-a-half year study of two "I Have a Dream"®
Projects in Chicago, Illinois, The Role of Social Capital in Youth Development:
The Case of "I Have a Dream,"® shows that the "I
Have a Dream"® model of providing children from low-income
communities with long-term academic, social, and financial support is
"enormously successful" in ensuring that children graduate from
high school. The research revealed that Dreamers in the IHAD Program graduated
on time at rates twice that in a control group. In real percentage terms,
72% of Dreamers graduated, compared with 35% of the students in the control
group. Of the Dreamers, 64% went on to college, compared to 18% of the
non-Dreamers. The research clearly demonstrates that comprehensive support
of youth - when embedded in long-term, trusting relationships - can powerfully
affect adolescent academic and social development.
What is the Project Coordinators role?
The Project Coordinator (PC) is the full-time, paid staff that is an extraordinary
individual who typically has a background in social work and/or education.
In most cases the PC is bilingual. This person has daily contact with
the Dreamers and is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the
Project's activities. He or she represents continuity for the Dreamers.
The PC is a skilled professional for whom working with young people is
a calling.
How much time do Sponsors need to spend with the
kids and what kinds of things do they do with them?
This is a very flexible area. The amount of time and kinds of activities
depend on the interests and available time of the Sponsor. One Sponsor,
who knew the Dreamers before they became Dreamers, spends some time every
week with the group or with individual students. She takes a group of
them out to dinner each Monday when possible. On holidays, she may take
some swimming or hiking or to the movies. It is a good way to keep in
touch with the kids. Other Sponsors have spent time with the kids at special
functions, such as a holiday or graduation party or at meetings with the
PC or parents.
What happens if a sponsor is gone for six months to a year?
Each class has a Project Coordinator who will continue to meet with the
Dreamers and parents while you are gone. Depending on how involved you
are or want to be with your Dreamers, this should not be a problem for
you. Of course, you would need to make sure that all of the financial
obligations are met before you leave or while you are away. There is much
flexibility depending on your lifestyle.
How will my name be used as a Sponsor?
We are flexible about the use of your name. We defer to you or your organization
entirely. We will try to accommodate your wishes with regards to the use
of your name.
Can a Dreamer be dropped from the program for failing
grades or other reasons?
A Dreamer may not be terminated from the program for failure to perform
academically or otherwise, unless he or she threatens the safety or well
being of the other participants of the Project. IHAD's "Once a Dreamer,
Always a Dreamer" policy prohibits excluding or eliminating students
from the program once they are selected. Dreamers go through different
challenging periods in their lives as they grow up. They may drift away
from IHAD for a time or experience years of turmoil, or there may be times
when they are too disruptive to participate in the program. Many Sponsors
tell stories of the Dreamers they thought they had lost but who returned
asking for guidance, after years without contact. Dreamers may be punished
and disciplined for their misbehavior by being excluded from activities.
PCs may decide to temporarily stop pursuing a particularly unresponsive
student. However, the program keeps an open door for the Dreamers who
find their way back and who ask for assistance in getting on the right
track.
What happens if one of the kids gets in trouble with
the law?
IHAD staff and the Sponsor try to make the Dreamer aware of the consequences
of his/her behavior with appropriate IHAD consequences and parental involvement.
Staff may attend court with the child and may consult with an attorney,
on or off the board, or with the IHAD attorney, but there is no financial
obligation on the part of the Sponsor to pay any court or attorney costs
involved with a Dreamer's criminal activity.
What is the mentoring program?
The P.C. coordinates the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation mentoring
program which recruits, screens, trains and places every interested Dreamer
with a volunteer to provide one-on-one guidance and support and to serve
as a positive role model. These guiding and supportive relationships with
committed adults who are concerned about education make it possible for
Dreamers to believe in their own futures and to plan for them. Mentors
meet at least three to five hours every other week with their Dreamer
for a minimum of a one-year commitment. Our mentors are lawyers, accountants,
tennis teachers, CU students, etc. Without positive role models whose
lives illustrate this connection, few of these children will view education
as a means of overcoming the social and economic obstacles they confront.
Research indicates that students who are successful academically in addition
to support from parents and teachers, usually have sustained access to
other knowledgeable and caring adults (Clarke, 1989).
What other agencies or programs does IHAD work with?
University of Colorado hosts an annual Dreamer
Day on campus and provides paid summer internships to Dreamers. In addition
to acquiring job skills and learning what it takes to be a college student,
both of these programs enable Dreamers to gain familiarity with the
college campus and develop a sense that college is a real possibility
for them. CU also helps recruit students to provide tutoring and mentoring
of Dreamers provides use of facilities, and access to academic and cultural
events. The CU Pre-Collegiate Program is offering our student's the
opportunity to participate in their workshops, covering ACT/SAT preparation,
etc. IHAD was recently selected to be a pilot site for a college preparation
partnership with the National Association of College Admission Counselors
(NACAC). This summer NACAC is providing a three-day college camp at
CU for IHAD.
The Mental Health Association of Colorado's
Pro Bono Mental Health Program is providing five volunteer mental health
professionals who are offering staff consultation and counseling to
our families who need more intensive help.
The Boulder Public Library provides ESL programs
and resume writing classes for IHAD parents.
The Parenting Place provides Parenting workshops
to IHAD parents.
Boulder
Housing Partners provides IHAD with program space without rent or
utility charges to house three of IHAD's After-School Learning Centers.
The Boulder Valley School District provides program
space at Pioneer Elementary School for our fourth After-School Learning
Center.
The City of Boulder Parks and Recreation is providing
recreational activities to Dreamers once a week.
The YMCA offers their teen center to IHAD for meetings.
Can I pay something extra for one or more of the
Dreamers? e.g. dental work, doctor visits, summer camp?
Yes, sponsors often choose to include extra costs for specific situations
including dental work, summer camp and special tutoring for Dreamers in
their annual operating budget (above tuition commitment).
How is the amount necessary for a scholarship endowment calculated?
"I Have a Dream"® Foundation provides scholarships
for each Dreamer who earns a high school diploma or GED certificate. The
Sponsors' scholarship commitment is based on the value of in-state tuition
at Colorado State University (CSU) which is Colorado's land grant college.
IHAD bases scholarship calculations on the tuition of the land grant university
in each state. In almost all cases, tuition costs increase each year and
a percentage for those increases is built in as well.
On the average, 70% of an "I Have A Dream"®
class complete high school and go on to college. The majority of students
complete their college work within the ten years their contract specifies.
All these variables are part of the scholarship endowment calculation.
"I Have A Dream"® scholarships
are "last dollar," that is, our scholarship fills in the gap
left after private scholarships and federal financial aid and grants are
in place. Clearly there are costs beyond tuition. Fees, books, room and
board can be as much or more than tuition. All these additional costs
are calculated as part of a student's financial aid package (this is all
based on a federal formula) and may be covered by additional grants, loans,
work-study and scholarships that make up that package. Sponsors may, as
ours have, decide to cover some of those additional expenses. However,
sponsors are required only to pay tuition costs for four years. (Please
see IHAD tuition assistance policy.)
How does IHAD invest my money?
The money is invested in a mix of fixed income securities and stock mutual
funds through FNC Trust. While the primary goal is to preserve principal,
some effort is made to achieve this goal through broad based stock mutual
funds. The allocation between income and growth shifts as the time frame
shrinks.
What if kids don't finish school?
They will still benefit from having had the Dreamer support services provided,
including mentoring. Their exposure to opportunities, which they may not
have been aware of, will be beneficial. "Once a Dreamer - Always
a Dreamer" and peer support is helpful. In some cases Dreamers who
have not completed schooling on schedule, do come back to finish their
education.
What happens if the sponsor cannot meet his
or her financial commitment?
Before someone can become a class sponsor IHAD does extensive research
to make sure they have the means to make the financial commitment. In
addition, each sponsor must list IHAD as a beneficiary in their will or
purchase an insurance policy as additional safeguards.
What if IHAD closes or goes bankrupt?
Section 8b in the IHAD bylaws, states that if a dissolution occurs, the
intent is to have the funds remaining conveyed to an administrator or
trustee. This means that in the case of a bankruptcy, the judge would
make a final determination. The scholarship funds would be conveyed and
a Sponsor could also continue support services through the administrator.
What happens to excess money after all tuition obligations
are met?
Any remaining funds stay with the IHAD Foundation and may be used to cover
operating expenses or to provide funding for a new class of Dreamers.
What kind of liability coverage does IHAD have for
the kids, for me, for tutors?
Commercial general liability policy. The policy
has a $1 million limit of liability per occurrence, with a $2 million
aggregate limit of liability. The carrier we have has a superior "A"
rating. It protects the Project against third-party bodily injury or
property damage claims. This policy is not purchased simply to provide
remuneration to a third party in the event of a valid claim against
the Project. It also provides the Project with coverage for legal defense
expenses in most cases. The policy also includes an abuse or molestation
policy. The coverage is also extended to include volunteers as additional
insureds. Property coverage is also included to cover property, furniture,
fixtures, and equipment in the Project's office.
Non-owned and hired auto liability. This coverage
extension applies to bodily injury and property damage arising out of
the use of any non-owned auto and the maintenance or use of a hired
auto in the course of the Project's operations. It does not provide
collision insurance for non-owned vehicles. The owner's insurance should
provide this coverage, and the Project obtains copies of the owner's
insurance to verify that it is valid and provides adequate coverage.
Directors and officers (D&O) liability
insurance. This insurance provides coverage for claims against the organization
that arise from governance and management of the organization rather
than bodily injury or property claims. Misappropriation of funds or
breach of contract are examples of the types of claims that might be
covered. Employment related claims such as discrimination, wrongful
termination, and sexual harassment are also covered. A D&O claim
can result in substantial legal expenses that would be covered under
this policy.
24-Hour Accidental Death and Dismemberment/Accidental
Medical Coverage. This policy provides limited coverage in the event
of the accidental injury or death of a participant, such as a Dreamer
or volunteer, during an IHAD activity.
Worker's compensation. is required by law to cover
claims related to employees' on-the-job injuries. Workers' compensation
benefits fall into four major categories: medical, disability, rehabilitation,
and death.
Short-term disability insurance policy that covers
non-occupational injuries or illnesses.
What is the Board of Directors' role?
IHAD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors establishes IHAD's mission and guidelines,
provides resources, sets policies and procedures and hires the Executive
Director to implement them. All sponsors are offered a position on the
board.
What is the Executive Director's role?
The Executive Director(ED) hires, supervises, and makes personnel decisions
regarding all IHAD employees. The ED is responsible for hiring new staff
and PCs and providing supervision and evaluation of the staff and PCs
performance with input from the Sponsors. The ED maintains ongoing Sponsor
relations, coordinating Sponsor meetings, providing advice and consultation
to Sponsors regarding their Projects, and providing regular updates of
the Projects' activities.
The ED directs the fundraising arm of the organization
in conjunction with the Board of Directors to raise money for special
programming and to support a portion of the foundation's overhead. This
includes grant writing, direct mail campaigns and special events (annual
luncheon, benefit concerts). Working closely with the Board's Sponsor
Recruitment Committee, the ED also helps potential Sponsors and helps
them organize the formation of a new IHAD class.
The ED also handles the media and public relations for
the agency, which includes networking with area businesses to establish
partnerships that yield volunteers and in-kind resources. The ED oversees
joint administrative operations of all classes at IHAD Boulder and facilitates
cooperative undertakings among them. The ED is responsible for financial
and administrative oversight. This includes preparing and monitoring the
agency and class budgets, approving expenditures, arranging audits, and
reporting financial information to Sponsors and funders. It also includes
personnel matters such as administering payroll, vacation time, and benefits
for the IHAD staff.
The ED administers IHAD's tuition disbursements
once Dreamers begin college or vocational school. The ED conducts both
qualitative and quantitative analyses of the Program goals to ensure that
services are delivered to the targeted population with a positive impact.
