Welcome To Steepletown!
Honoring Our Youth (HOY) Program
The HOY Program takes pride in its holistic approach to assisting youth in overcoming education and employment barriers so that youth can maximize their potential. The HOY Program has a variety of services and trainings to meet the specific needs of our youth. Below is a highlight of our main services.
The Learning Lab
To improve academic skills and achievement, the HOY program offers tutoring and access to an on-line curriculum called KeyTrain. In addition, workshops are offered throughout the school year to enhance study skills such as test taking strategies and learning styles. The Learning Lab is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00a.m.-noon, and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4:00-6:00p.m.
Career Exploration
The HOY program offers career exploration through CareerCruising® on-line services, job shadows, monthly career speakers and internships. Internships also provide work experience and work readiness skills development for youth.
Financial Literacy Skills Training
Every HOY youth is required to take this 4 hour training with our local bank partner Chemical Bank. The purpose is to develop healthy and responsible spending habits, learn how to develop, maintain, and/or restore "good" credit, and how to set and meet financial goals. Youth completing the training receive a NEFE Financial Planning Certificate.
High School Completion and GED Preparation
The HOY Program offers Retention services for youth to stay in school and Re-enrollment services for youth that want to return to school to earn their diploma. In addition, GED preparation is available during the times of the Learning Lab and with individual tutors. We have financial assistance to pay for the five $35 GED tests. This is a $175 value for those who qualify.
Mentoring
Each youth develops a success “game plan” with their HOY Youth Advocate to outline the steps to reaching their educational, career and personal goals. Youth are also supported from community members that serve as mentors to youth.
Work Readiness Skill Development
Youth can participate in a 6 hour interactive training course to develop the skills and work habits employers seek. Youth also learn how to find and retain employment. Continued work readiness skill development is available through our weekly Job Club meetings, paid work experiences, internships, and job-shadow experiences.
Summer Employment
For youth who are demonstrating academic progress, “summer jobs” are offered. Several different organizations partner with Steepletown to offer these work experiences. Some of them include the Cook Art Center, Cook Library, GR Parks and Recreation Department, John Ball Zoo, Boys and Girls Club-Steil Youth Center, YMCA, Catholic Cemeteries, West Side Garage Store, West Side Complex, Victim Witness, Disability Advocates of Kent County, CompRenew Environmental, and Habitat for Humanity.
National Career Readiness Certificate
Every HOY youth age 19 to 21 or that is working toward their GED, is assessed for career readiness using WorkKeys® Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and Locating Information. Youth have the opportunity to earn a Bronze, Silver and Gold level National Career Readiness Certificate to demonstration to employers that they have the skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
Peace Club
The Peace Club is a summer day camp for youth, ages 7-12. Through a variety of games, activities, and art projects, participants gain leadership and violence prevention skills to help them live more peacefully. The Club is run by older youth who are trained using various curriculums, including materials from the Creative Response to Conflict and Educators for Social Responsibility. The Peace Club normally runs every day during the month of July, from 12:00-3:00p.m. To see a video, CLICK HERE.
Lawn Care and Snow Removal Service for Seniors
From April through the end of October, youth provide lawn care services for Senior Citizens living on the West Side. The services include weekly mowing & trimming, with other services available upon request, such as Spring and Fall cleanup, edging, pruning, and modest landscaping. In addition, snow removal services are now being offered during the winter months. Senior Citizens can sign up for these services by calling Steepletown. These services are largely supported through Senior Millage funds.
Please contact an HOY staff member for more information or attend an HOY Program Orientation. A legal guardian must accompany youth under 18 years of age. No RSVP is required for orientations.
Orientation Date & Times
Every Tuesday
Morning Session: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Afternoon Session: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Believe to Become
By invitation from the RDV Corporation, Steepletown is a site for the "I Believe I BECOME” Initiative. The goal: to create a “Tipping” point in the community so children are surrounded by supportive adults, effective schools, and enriching after-school and summer programs.
In 2010 Steepletown worked with 40 high school youth who participated in the B2B program; currently Steepletown is working with 50 youth. These youth attend Summer School in the mornings or afternoons, and are offered a paid work experience as an incentive to maintain good school attendance. Steepletown’s work is to manage the paid work experiences while providing case management to the youth and their families.
