In many ways, Project Grow is the heartbeat of Adopt-A-Family. Project Grow is Adopt-A-Family’s licensed afterschool/summer program, which specializes in providing academic, social, and emotional support for elementary school students who have experienced homelessness and poverty. Operating out of Adopt-A-Family’s Lake Worth headquarters, Project Grow is located within walking distance of four of the agency’s five supportive housing communities. This program not only gives resident families a convenient, affordable aftercare option, it helps our youngest clients make up ground that was lost to frequent moves, developmental delays, and childhood traumas.
Project Grow’s “whole child” approach centers on educational support, emotional development, parental engagement, and life-enriching experiences. The program provides tutoring, academic advising, mental health counseling, social-emotional learning, outdoor play, and summer field trips. Serving approximately 75 students annually (with a capacity of 57 at any one time), Project Grow helps children build confidence, develop social skills, and meet (or exceed) grade level standards. While Project Grow prioritizes Adopt-A-Family residents, it also serves children from low-income community families. Project Grow is open year-round, operating from 2-6 p.m. on school days and from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. during the summer and on school holidays, and is provided at little or no cost to students’ families.
Project Grow is an important facet of Adopt-A-Family’s work among families whose lives have been interrupted by episodes of homelessness. When they enroll in Project Grow, most students demonstrate academic deficits and difficulty with engagement and self-regulation. Without an educational/social support network, these children are at risk of being left behind. Project Grow bridges this gap by investing time and resources into each child according to their individual needs and circumstances. Project Grow facilitates psychoneurological testing for special needs or gifted status when indicated, and connects families to private school scholarships and public school Choice Programs.
Through a data sharing agreement with the School District of Palm Beach County, independent firm Geo Education & Research determined that Project Grow students outperform their peers on standardized tests and classroom grades (full reports below).
