Educational Services - S.O.A.R. Program

OUR MISSION

The purpose of Casa Youth Shelter is to provide temporary shelter for runaways and youth in crisis, enabling them to come through the crisis with an increased personal strength and a sense of renewal while in a supportive environment, with family reunification as a primary goal.

WHY CHOOSE US?

We offer a variety of counseling, educational, and shelter support programs and services, such as:

Give a child a second chance - be a sponsor.

Educational Services - S.O.A.R. Program

Student Opportunities for Academic Responsibility

Also see: Family Life Education

Recipient of Service:

This service is provided for the residents of the shelter.

Schedule:

This service is held in the Computer Lab Tuesday -Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Provider:

This service is provided by paid staff of Casa Youth Shelter, Mr. Wes Hoover.

Provider Qualifications:

Over 8 years experience building and programming computers, certification in several programs including Microsoft Word, Office, and Word Perfect. Currently assists in training co-workers in PC skills at GTE Directories.

Description of Service:

This program is intended to give each resident a better understanding of computers and their increasing importance in our everyday lives. Residents are instructed in basic use of the computer, and are given assignments to learn word processing, and spreadsheets. The assignments include writing a resume and creating a monthly budget. The residents are encouraged to keep a journal on selected topics, with each resident given their own disk on which to store their work. For those residents with schoolwork, S.O.A.R. is available much like a study hall and tutoring is available as needed.

Goals of Service:

Computers are becoming so vital in every aspect of today's society that it is important that the residents learn the basics. Chances are that they will be dependent on computers sometime in their future. In addition to learning how they operate, residents are able to enhance their self-esteem in the assignments that are given. Each resident is given assignments that match their own skill level.

During the resident's stay at Casa Youth Shelter, they will learn to do a series of letters related to the employment process, including resumes, how to answer newspaper ad s and sending thank you letters. They will receive instruction in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. For those residents with prior experience with computers, they learn how to format their work using drag & drop and cut & paste to move work between various applications. Residents are encouraged to create cards, signs and banners while learning to use graphic programs.

All residents are given a certificate for participating in the S.O.A.R. program, with other certificates issued for various assignments completed. When told that they can be anything that they want to be, do anything that they want, the creativity really shines, giving the residents feelings of greater self worth, and a "can do" attitude.