Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center Youth Programming https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2016/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-center-youth-programming https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center Youth Programming

Additional Information
Used for	On behalf of The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center Board of Directors, staff and clients, I respectfully request a grant of $5,000 from the Dudley Dougherty Foundation to help us underwrite our life-changing youth programming for young people that are deaf or hard of hearing. As our services are provided at no cost to a predominantly minority and low-income population, we supplement our budget with grants, donations, and special events. The total Youth Programming budget is $14,347.
Benefits	Our Youth Programming positively impacts the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children and teens in our community by keeping them healthy, happy, active, and in touch with their peers at a time in their lives when such experiences are especially needed and critically important to their socialization and future well-being. Through specialized activities, hearing impaired children and teens are given the opportunity to interact with their peers, learn life skills, experience a sense of community and gain self-confidence. Ultimately, Youth Programming helps each participant to improve language and communication skills, sharpen creative and logical skills, strengthen fitness and motor skills, and learn to be active, contributing members of the community and the world.
Proposal Description	Agency The mission of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center is to alleviate communication barriers and strive for equal access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Founded in 1978 and currently serving twenty-three counties, The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center is the only organization in the state south of San Antonio providing comprehensive services that counteract the communication barriers that exist for the 80,000 deaf and hard of hearing children, men and women who live in South Texas. The Center is a full service agency providing case management information and referral, interpreters, senior citizen activities, mental health counseling, literacy classes, life skills, and job placement opportunities. The Center also offers recreational activities to afford members of the deaf community a venue for the enjoyment and survival of their own unique culture. Each year, we serve approximately 2,500 clients majority of whom are minority and very low income. All services are provided regardless of location, age, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, or degree of disability. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center serves the children, adults and seniors who are deaf and hard of hearing. The majority of our population is very low income and minority. In 2015, we provided 34,964 units of service to 2,500 individuals to the target population. Approximately 200 of the program participants were youth. Youth Programming The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center offers a wide array of activities for the youth of our community that have barriers to communication. Offered throughout the year, the activities allow youth to play and visit with other children with similar. Additionally, parents make valuable connections, and access valuable resources that help them as they raise their child. The goal of Youth Programming is to make a real difference in the lives of deaf and hard of hearing children in our community by keeping them healthy, happy, active, and in touch with their peers at a time in their lives when such experiences are especially needed and critically important to their socialization and future well-being. Through specialized activities, hearing impaired children and teens are given the opportunity to interact with their peers, learn life skills, experience a sense of community and gain self-confidence. During the summer, these youth are particularly isolated as they have few peers with whom they are able to communicate. Our wide array of activities provide social activities and learning experiences in a safe and encouraging environment in which they can practice their social and communication skills while they have the opportunity to just be children and have fun. These activities help to improve language and communication skills, sharpen creative and logical skills, strengthen fitness and motor skills and develop an awareness of community. Our youth programming includes: • Valentine’s Day Party • Easter Party • Signing Santa • Sign Camp for Kids (4 days) • Summer Voyage [Scavenger Hunt, Aquarium-Behind the Scenes, CC Museum of Science & History, Welder Wildlife Foundation, USS Lexington, Hurricane Alley, Camp Aranzazu (4 days), Paint It, Fire Station, Padre Island National Seashore-Hidden Treasure Tour] • North of the Border Games • Family Fest Day Evaluation Agency success for all projects (including youth programming) is evaluated in a number of ways, including surveying our deaf clients and those that are provided with interpretation services, surveying our senior clients, measuring the annual increase in the number of clients served, and networking with clients on an informal basis to determine their specific needs. Overseen by the Board of Directors, the Executive Director records the number of clients served, monitors service delivery, reviews survey information and networks closely with the clients. Upon review, the Executive Director and Board of Directors determine the appropriate service adaptations that will best serve the clients in the future.