Western Kentucky University Spotlight Youth Project

Western Kentucky University and Warren County Public Schools will collaborate to continue to offer the Alternative Elementary Program (for students in grades 1-5) and Alternative to Suspension Program (for students in grades 6-12). The first goal of the program is to provide structured activities for youth during out-of-school hours, at times when they may be at risk for engaging in delinquent behaviors. The Alternative School Programs will offer disciplined educational settings with tutoring and counseling services for students with behavioral misconduct. The Kaleidoscope Program will provide evening arts activities for youth ages twelve through eighteen. The second goal of the WKU Spotlight Youth Project is to increase the accessibility of human services to families and individuals in need of assistance. Finally, the third goal of this project is to promote and support positive youth development across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Together with Kentucky Child Now, three communities (Bowling Green, Lexington and Louisville) will enact 'Youth Partnership' initiatives designed to provide opportunities for youth to serve in leadership roles in their communities. The performance measures will be based on the following: the number of youth served by the programs who would have otherwise lost instructional days in the Warren County school system, and the rate of participant recidivism (students being placed in the programs more than one time during the school year).NCA/NCF