TEACHING
INDEPENDENCE Educational Programs El Centro del Cardenal This alternative high school helps out-ofschool and high-risk youth—who did not thrive in the public school system—earn credits toward their high school diploma and advance to post-secondary education and to a career. Students are generally between the ages of 14 and 21. These youth may be referrals from courts or the Department of Family and Children Services. GED and alternative education programs are bilingual. El Centro del Cardenal 76 Union Park St., Boston (617) 542-9292 English for Employment El Centro del Cardenal’s English for Employment program (EFE) serves Latino and other minority clients referred to the ESOL/EFE program whose limited English and lack of job readiness skills are barriers to job training and placement. The program provides an integrated delivery of services incorporating ESOL instruction, computer instruction, and CROSSINGS | www.ccab.org | 32
counseling/case management. The curriculum, designed by classroom teachers at El Centro, contains a comprehensive introduction to the workplace. Students learn skills necessary to gain meaningful employment or entry into a job training program such as networking skills, interviewing skills, resume writing, basic computer skills, and more. El Centro del Cardenal 76 Union Park St., Boston (617) 542-9292 Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Training Catholic Charities South’s Nursing Assistant and Home Health Training program focuses on developing marketable skills for entry into the health care field specifically for new immigrants, women transitioning from welfare, and current high school students or dropouts. Students not only spend time in the classroom but also in clinical training through a partnership with West Acres
Nursing Home, a long term skilled-care facility in Brockton. Catholic Charities South 686 North Main Street, Brockton (508) 587-0815 Officeworks Officeworks is a 12-week job preparation program for the unemployed and underemployed. Students learn core office applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, keyboarding, computer literacy, office procedures, and business communications. Each part of the training program is supported through hands-on practice, job shadowing, and individualized internships. Catholic Charities North 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn (781) 593-2312 Pa’lante/English and Spanish GED Catholic Charities sponsors several GED classes including the Diploma
A TEAM EFFORT
Education is one of the most important steps to independence. Our all-encompassing programs that work with clients to gain self-sufficiency include providing them with an education that they may not have been offered in the past or where they were unable to succeed in a traditional classroom setting. Catholic Charities offers a wide range of educational services to our clients. From traditional programs, like our GED classes, to unconventional programs, like our Alternative High School, our staff and teachers work hard to accommodate the learning needs of all individuals so they may better themselves. We are able to accommodate the individualized needs of all of our students through bilingual instruction, computer instruction, vocational and job training, and English instruction.
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tephanie joined Labouré Center’s mentoring program, South Boston TEAM, when she was 9 years old. In a family of five, she is the middle child of parents who emigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic. When she turned 10, TEAM matched Stephanie with a mentor named Kathy, a mother of two college-aged daughters who found herself with the time and desire to build a supportive relationship with a younger child. More than 8 years later, Stephanie and Kathy are still matched and enjoy a profoundly deep and active mentoring relationship. (Kathy terms them “lifers”). The bond they have developed stands as an inspiring example of the impact the relationships created and fostered by TEAM can have. Stephanie and Kathy’s relationship started similarly to most matches—with the pair getting to know each other through activities and outings. Through the ups and downs of life changes and competing priorities, they maintained a strong commitment to making time for each other. Over time, both Stephanie and Kathy integrated their personal schedules and interests into their friendship, doing such things as creating Halloween costumes, making meatloaf, or spending a day floating and chatting in Kathy’s pool. One excursion stands in both of their memories as particularly significant. Kathy asked Stephanie to accompany her to her daughter’s track meet at Stonehill College, and recalls feeling some hesitation, thinking that the event might bore a middle-schooler. Stephanie remembers being completely enamored with her first visit to a college campus, and reflected that she could see herself in a similar place. She announced to Kathy on the
Enhancement program, a competencybased diploma initiative for those involved in the Boston Public School Alternative High School or GED programs. Here, students develop a portfolio of their best work for presentation as a graduation requirement. In preparation for life beyond our classroom, students are required to enroll and pass one college course. El Centro del Cardenal 76 Union Park St., Boston (617) 542-9292 Career Pathways The Career Pathways program supports both youth and adult programs with nextstep options through career exploration, internships, job shadowing opportunities, and employment. It may also include individual case management. El Centro del Cardenal 76 Union Park St., Boston (617) 542-9292
drive back to South Boston that she intended to be the first in her family to go to college. What had started as an unremarkable Saturday meet-up had given Stephanie a vision of what she wanted for her future, and left Kathy with a sense of how powerful a role she had just played in Stephanie’s life. Since that time, Stephanie has completed a hugely successful high school career. She graduated from South Boston High School with honors in the spring of 2008, having served as senior class secretary and captain of her varsity softball team. She enrolled in Newbury College last fall as a psychology major, with thoughts of continuing to law school. Almost singlehandedly, Stephanie applied for financial aid and loans and competed for several competitive scholarships. Having worked part-time throughout high school, Stephanie continues to work to support the cost of books, food and housing. She has already joined a campus club and was recruited to play on the varsity softball team. Stephanie is applying to be a Resident Assistant during her sophomore year, a position which would cover her living costs. Though away from home, she takes the responsibility of being a role model for her younger brother very seriously. Her drive, maturity and sunny disposition are truly remarkable. Both Stephanie and Kathy say the same thing when asked about the other: “I can’t imagine my life without her!” Stephanie has taken to heart the mission of Laboure’s TEAM program, and eagerly awaits the time when she can serve as a mentor herself. While the longevity of their relationship is atypical, Kathy and Stephanie are a true and compelling representation of the power of mentoring.
Education and Parenting Skills Center This alternative education program is designed to meet the unique needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents who have dropped out of school. The program prepares individuals to attain a GED— including a full-time Young Parent GED program—and offers parenting, life skills, and career development groups. The Center is a collaborative effort of Catholic Charities North and the Department of Transitional Assistance/Employment Services Program and serves 40-50 students each year. Catholic Charities North 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn (781) 581-3350 Youth Works Youth Works is our career and educational preparation center for high-risk, outof-school teens and young adults ages 16-21. The program connects students to job training programs, post-secondary education, and employment through
intensive case management, GED classroom instruction, and computer skills development. The program provides personalized career counseling, mentoring, support services, and referrals. Catholic Charities North 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn (781) 581-3350 Teenstart This program for out-of-school youth offers a sequence of three class levels: adult basic education, pre-GED and GED, as well as academic remediation, GED diploma preparation, and life/employment skills training. The program enrolls approximately 70 students annually, and is a collaboration between Catholic Charities North, Operation Bootstrap, and the Department of Education. Catholic Charities North 55 Lynn Shore Drive, Lynn (781) 581-3350
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