On Tuesday, July 30th, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus (a current 21st CCLC grantee) had the privilege of hosting Governor Mike Dewine at the J. Ashburn Jr. Club for a press event, as he shared his commitment to focus on student wellness and success in our community’s highest need schools.
As many in the field of after/out-of-school time know, many youth in our community are faced with challenges at home that affect their ability to learn in school including food insecurity, homelessness, addiction, financial instability, emotional trauma, and much more. The recently signed 2020-2021 state operating budget will provide:
- $500 million in funding for “wraparound” services throughout the city, with over $10 million invested in Columbus City Schools
- $140,000 in TANF funding (doubling from $70,000 in 2019)
These services will target the social and emotional needs of our students, eliminating barriers to learning so that every child has the opportunity to achieve academic success.
Governor Dewine recognized Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus for the key partnerships it has developed with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Columbus City Schools, stating that much of the growth in the area of wraparound services would not have been possible without the Clubs. One of the best examples of this partnership is exemplified through the Highland Bridge Program, where 70+ Highland Elementary students who were not meeting grade level standards in literacy received behavioral support services from Nationwide Children’s Hospital and academic support through Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus. After just 90 days in this program, 58% of participants achieved proficient reading levels!
Please see the included photos from Governor Dewine’s visit.
Click on the following links for articles from The Columbus Dispatch and Governor DeWine’s Office.
