Serving over 2500 school-aged youth and families a year across Erie County, the Youth Services Department's goal is to take a holistic approach to the growth and development of the youth of Erie County with the goal of promoting self sufficiency. This will be accomplished through academic enrichment, positive character development and youth leadership training in a safe, structured and supportive environment where excellence can be achieved.

All of our programs are designed to positively impact academic achievement and safety by providing parents with a reliable option for after school recreation and supervision for their children, while providing them with supervised recreation, academic enrichment, values development, group and individual mentoring, community service, career exploration and motivation.

Departmental Programs

NURTURE Academy
(Neighborhoods United for Restoration Upliftment Recreation and Education)
The goal of this program is to improve the academic performance of school aged youth. The programs foundation is centered on four key clubs: Reading, Culture, Debate and Drama. Students are also provided with character education, arts & crafts, recreation that assists in their social development. We serve youth in grades K-8.

Summer Camp
This department operates various summer camp programs with the goal of maintaining and improving students academic achievement levels, sustaining and improving their social values and personal department gains from the completed school year, and improving everyday life competencies through cultural enrichment activities. We serve youth in grades K-8.

Leadership Academy
(Preparation for Greatness)
This program will serve middle school children ages 11-14 years old. It operates 6 weeks in the summer and allows youth to engage and learn the fundamentals of becoming a great leader, participate in developmental activities including: community services projects, cultural field trips and recreation. We serve youth in grades 6-8.

Supplemental Education Services
(SES)
(Rising Readers Club)
This is an intensive reading program that enables to students in grades K-12 who attend a school that is on the State Education Departments list of in need of improvement to excel in reading. Students are placed in small groups with certified teachers to advance in comprehension, vocabulary development and raise their reading levels. Student enrolling in this program must be eligible for free or reduced lunch. We serve youth in grades K-8.

21st Century Learning Community Center Program at Martin Luther King School & McKinley High School
The goal is to work collaboratively with community stakeholders to provide a Sequential, Active, Focused, Explicit (SAFE) learning enviroment that addresses urgent needs and reduces barriers to academic success in under performing schools. This is done through various activities such as: cooking club, dance, Photography, fitness and much more. We serve youth in grades 3-12.

Step to the Future Program
(STF)
STF is designed specifically to address the needs of school-aged youth who are newly or planning to enter the workforce. This initiative targets youth who will be juniors or seniors in high school. The goal of the program is to provide youth with an array of academic, goal setting and vocational work skills, preparing program participants for success immediately upon completion of high school or upon entering higher education, post-secondary vocational training or full time unsubsidized employment. We serve Juniors and Seniors in High School.

H.Y.P.E Program
Helping Youth Prepare for Excellence is a positive initiative to provide students with an enriching safe haven in the evening hours. Students receive life-skills workshops and academic enrichment, college prep and field trips, which include touring local colleges. We serve grades 9-12.

Curfew Program
A violence reduction initiative targeted towards youth between the ages of 11-17 to keep them off the streets during the city of Buffalo's curfew hours. In partnership with the Mayor's office and the Buffalo Polic Department, youth on the streets are brought to the Edward A. Saunders Community Center and are engaged in character building activities until a parent/gaurdian picks them up or they are transported to the Compass House. We serve youth ages 17 and under.

Education Task Force
A collective unit of educators, administrators and corporate partners whose mission it is to encourage, recruit and assist students with exploring post-secondary education options. The Education Task Force is an original function of CAO's volunteer base of community leaders. Their function has been to guide the agency's efforts to meet community's need as it relates to educational advancement of students throughout Erie County. As a function of the Youth Services Department, the Task Force annually produces a minimum of two major events: (1) College Day and (2) Scholarship Fair, which both provide a base for us to award valuable scholarships to deserving students interested in pursuing a higher education.

•CAO Education Task Force Annual College Fair held annually in September. This event is co-sponsored with the assistance of local colleges and universities (in attendance are more than 1500 high school juniors and seniors and up to 80 recruiters.)
 
•CAO Education Task Force Annual Scholarship Fair held annually in January for high school seniors and parents, to offer guidance when writing essays, filling out various scholarship applications and it introduces them to other higher education funding opportunities.

•CAO Education Task Force Scholarship: 15-18 scholarships ranging from $500 to $1000 are awarded each year to graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education

Parent Councils
Established to provide assistance to the N.U.R.T.U.R.E ACADEMY in order to maintain EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL and FINANCIAL needs.

The objectives of the Parent Council are:
▫ To work in partnership with N.U.R.T.U.R.E ACADMEY to create a welcoming after school/summer program which is inclusive of all parents

▫ To promote partnership between N.U.R.T.U.R.E ACADEMY, the Community Action Organization, the community, students, and all parents

▫ To develop and engage in activities which support the activities and welfare of all
students enrolled in the N.U.R.T.U.R.E ACADEMY

▫ To develop, organize, and engage in all fundraising activities which will financially support the activities of all students enrolled in the N.U.R.T.U.R.E ACADEMY

▫ To identify and represent the views of parents on the activities provided by NURTURE ACADEMY and other matters affecting the activities and welfare of the students enrolled in the N.U.R.T.U.R.E ACADEMY.

Eligibility
*each program will have a different specific requirement

Youth between the ages of 9-21 who reside in Erie County that are below or at the federal poverty guidelines.




Much of our success can also be attributed to strong collaborations with our community partners which include:

•Angola Community Center
•Boy Scouts
•Buffalo Board of Education
•Buffalo Provider Network
•CEPA Gallery
•Education Task Force Committee
•Edward A. Saunders Community Center
•Girl Scouts
•JFK Community Center
•Pratt-Willert Community Center.
•Squeaky Wheel
•Willie-Hutch Jones Sports Clinic
•Young Audiences of Western New York

Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc.
Youth Services Department
NURTURE Academy Summer Camp

Dates: July 5th -August 12th

Locations:

  Angola Community Center
  251 N. Main
  Angola, NY

  Edward Saunders Community Center
  2777 Bailey Avenue
  Buffalo, NY

  Pratt Willert Community Center
  422 Pratt St.
  Buffalo, NY

Operation time: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Eligibility: 4-8th grades only
Cost: $175.00 per child/ $50.00 non-refundable registration fee
Payment Plan: April 1st – June 10th 
Contact: Kathy Washington 881-5150 ext. 4312

 

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Community Action Organization | 70 Harvard Place | Buffalo, NY 14209
716-881-5150