Understanding that education and health outcomes are closely interrelated, our model supports the whole student from elementary school through high school and beyond with afterschool enrichment programs and post-secondary educational opportunities in addition to our school-based health centers.
In addition to our school-based health centers, Education Plus Health operates a variety of education-based programs to serve students in Philadelphia middle and high schools. These include an after school program, health resource center program, and health education program.
Benefits of Afterschool Programming
Children and youth who regularly attend high-quality afterschool programs.
21st Century Community Learning Center After School Program
Education Plus Health has partnered with Building 21 High School since 2016 to bring after school programming to their students. With activities ranging from academic enrichment to cooking, music, art, and sports, this program provides students a safe place to learn, engage, and explore extracurricular activities they may not otherwise access. This program seeks to decrease absenteeism and increase academic outcomes by engaging and supporting the most at-risk students. After school programs have many benefits, including:
- Better grades for participating students than their peers
- Better conduct in school for participating students than their peers
- More academic and enrichment opportunities
- Improved peer relations and emotional adjustment
- Fewer incidences of drug use, violence, and pregnancy
- 80% of parents said they were less worried about their child’s safety after school
- 57% said their child’s participation helped them manage their own work schedule
- 47% said it let them attend classes or job training more easily
Health Education Program
Draw the Line/Respect the Line: Education Plus Health implements this evidence-based curriculum in schools for grades 6, 7, and 8 (ages 12-14). The curriculum provides students with age-appropriate knowledge and skills related to sexual and reproductive health, including the importance of respecting boundaries.
For more information on any of the programs listed above or to see about getting them in your school, please contact Crystal Ayala, Director of Health Promotion: crystal.ayala@educationplushealth.com
Health Resource Center Program
Education Plus Health collaborates with Access Matters to implement the Health Resource Center Program in several Philadelphia high schools. A vital source for information and healthcare for adolescents in Pennsylvania, this program is designed to serve youth age 13-19 by hosting school and community-based spaces where youth can access confidential, age-appropriate, and evidence-based health information and services. The program is designed to be accessible and nonjudgmental, allowing youth to seek support within trusted environments where they already spend time.
Health Resource Centers provide:
- Sexual health education and counseling, mental health screening and referrals, and related services to support teens.
- Group education and individual drop-in support
- Support for young people to build knowledge, confidence, and skills related to healthy relationships, communication, self-advocacy, and decision making
- An important early access point for identifying other student needs, supporting positive youth development, and linking adolescents to appropriate care before concerns escalate
- A college preparation, creative writing, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) program for at-risk middle and high school students.
- A college preparation program that teaches creative writing and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) to help students build their skills, recover credits as necessary, and apply to colleges.
- Our afterschool program provides academic support, college preparation guidance, and mentoring to low-income, underperforming middle and high schoolers in the Philadelphia region.
- Through partnership with Philadelphia Youth Network and community partners, students in both schools participate in summer employment and career exploration activities.
- Our afterschool program seeks to decrease absenteeism and increase academic outcomes by engaging and supporting high school students most at-risk for poor outcomes.
- The 21st Century Afterschool Program complements and enhances the school’s curriculum, working to decrease absenteeism and increase academic outcomes by engaging at-risk students academically and socially after school, lessons taught by school-day teachers and other creative partners.
- The Education Plus Health 21st Century Afterschool Program works in collaboration with the school-based health center at each school to advance the health and academic well-being of each student.
Afterschool programs also have beneficial outcomes for caretakers:
- 80% of parents said they were less worried about their child’s safety after school
- 57% said their child’s participation helped them manage their own work schedule
- 47% said it let them attend classes or job training more easily
- 45% said it helped them get a better job or do a better job
References
Neild, R.C., Wilson, S.J., & McClanahan, W. Afterschool programs: A review of evidence under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Philadelphia: Research for Action. 2019. Sloan McCombs, J., Pane, J.F., Augustine, C.H., Schwartz, H.L., Martorell, P. and Zakaras, L. National Summer Learning Study. RAND Corporation. 2014.