610-292-4914 (office) 610-278-5933 (fax) Monday through Friday 8:30a.m. to 4:15p.m. Driving directions...
Services
The Norristown Weed and Seed Initiative has developed and implemented a strategic plan to address: Education, Economic Development, Housing, Family Strengthing/Youth Development, Community Relations, Recreation, Crime Prevention/Public Safety, and Health and Wellness.
Focuses on 7,000 children that attend the 11 schools that comprise the Norristown Area School District.
Norristown Truant Officer works hand in hand with Home & School Visitor and Lt. Kevin McKeon of the Norristown Police.
250 students identified, number climbed to 406 by May of 2007.
Names pulled from the school's daily attendance record as well as from the Home & School Visitor's knowledge of prior attendance problems.
Truancy details conducted 2-3 times a week during which the homes of children that were absent taht particular day were visited to determine the reason why the child had not attended school.
Sixty-three students were transported to school during a total of 77 details, after being found at home with no legitimate excuse for being absent.
Daytime curfew patrols were conducted with 49 students being arrested for being on teh streets during school hours.
During the 2006-2007 school-years 266 citations for court were issued to the parents of children deemed habitually truant. Compared to the 2005-2006 school year the number of unexcused absences fell by 3,000 for 2006-2007.
Forty-two(42%) of students in the program decreased their unexcused absences from the first semester to second semester.
Upcoming school year, the Initiative will be focusing on middle school children to stop the truancy before it becomes a major issue for a child.
PA Weed and Seed requires taht each PA Weed and Seed site has three positions in place and they are:T.A.L.L. Team Coordinator, A.I.D. Team Coordinator and Law Enforcement Coordinator.
Continued support and funding of part of the Norristown Weed and Seed T.A.L.L. Team Coordinator's salary.
Valley Forge Children's Theatre program for Norristown students 6-18 years old.
Students in the Norristown Weed and Seed Target Area interested in the arts are given the opportunity to take part in a quality arts program to enhance their lives.
Meet on 24 Saturday mornings during the school year.
Why Not Prosper Resource Center for female ex-offenders (Norristown)
Expect to serve 130 low-income Norristown resident women ex-offenders.
Previous Grant Recipient Jan 2006-July 2006
Three goals: (1) increase economic self sufficiency among women ex-offenders and thus reduce recidivism; (2) decrease substance abuse relapse (3) help women re-unite with their children and as a family move to safe, decent and affordable housing.
Community Job Skills and Personal Development Program
Formed in 2004 and is a 501-c3 organization. The MCDC was organized to provide a series of Personal Development, New Business Development and Life/Career Skills Training Programs for the residents of Norristown, PA and the surrounding communities.
Conduct informative, educational and developmental programs that provide the necessary personal and professional job skills needed to obtain and maintain employment within the Norristown community.
Lack of skills have a direct impact on the individual's ability to obtain and maintain employment within our community. Will provide training, mentoring and the necessary skills that will enable our residents to become a productive part of our working community.
Free of charge and open to 12 individuals per session who reside within the Borough of Norristown Weed and Seed Targeted Area. This program will be conducted at the jermiah Wellness Center, 2705 Hillcrest Ave, Norristown, PA and will be held once per week, 2 hours per session and continue for eight consecutive weeks. Our goal is to conduct three separate 8 week sessions throughout the 2007 calendar year.
Prevention strategies for:(1) Parent Education and Support using two national model parent education/prevention programs; Guiding Good Choices targeting parents of youth in grades 4-8 and Staying Connected With Your Teen for parents of youth in grades 9-12.
(2) Brief Strategic Family Therapy (a.k.a. SPARKS: Strong Parents Actively Raising Kids Safely). Program Goal (GGC & SC)
Parents will assist their children in making positive choices and resist antisocial behavior in adolescence.
Continue partnership with NPD's Truancy Abatement Initiative and NASD to prevent truancy and reduce family management concerns that contribute to family conflict, disruption and problems with schoool attendance as well as other anti-social behaviors in adolescence.
Of the more than 6,600 enrolled in the Norristown Area School District, (NASD) there are now over 1,000 Latino children. State visual statistics document about 1,000 babies born to mothers of Hispanic origin in Norristown in the last year.
The number of children enrolled in the district is likely to grow rapidly during the coming decade.
Already, Latino children represent over 600 school age children in Kindergarten - 4th grades. most are Spanish-speaking children whose families have arrived from mexico in the last 5 years.
According to NASD officials, many of the limited English children coming into NASD's kindergarten and elementary school classrooms lack developmental, cognitive and social skills that underlie school readiness and reading readiness.
Many have difficulty becoming good readers due to language deficits. Despite expanded ESL instructino and support during the regular school day, most ESL children in the early grades need mroe remediation and support to achieve grade level in reading, math, and other subjects.
Although NASD has run after-school programs, none of the school-based programs target ESL students and their special needs. Neither do any of the programs of other agencies serving youth.
ACLAMO's school age program for ESL is the only resource of its kind within NASD at this time.
Program will serve up to 35 TANF-eligible ESL children in kindergarten through 5th grade with after-school tutoring and enrichment.
Children and Youth (Before and After School, Afternoon Drop-in, Summer Camp, and Character Building Programs).
Impact 120-175 children and youth each week.
Comprehensive Children and Youth Program (Before and After School Program, Afternoon Drop-in Youth Program, Summer Camp, and Character Building Programs) to engage low-income children and youth in positive activities and reduce the risk factors that lead to self-destructive behavior.
Mission Statement: Through leadership and innovation, The Chosen Ones will build collaborations and partnerships with other youth organizations within the Norristown area, to initiate opportunities for unification and growth amongst our divers population.
Programs for youth ages 12-18 will fall in one of the following areas: Civic Engagement Skill Development Employability and Life Skills Recreation and Arts Mentoring Academic Enrichment
Employability and Life Skills training. This training will provide opportunities that develop the "soft" skills (working collaboratively with others, public speaking, eye contact, workplace etiquette, etc.) required in the workplace. The program structure will be based on a developed mentoring curriculum utilized by the YMCA.
