Community Based Program

The mission of the Boys Hope Girls Hope Community Based Program is to enroll economically disadvantaged children in an intensive multi-year program of academic preparation and character building. Each scholar will receive full scholarships to a private college-preparatory school. Currently, the Community Based Program is working with St. Francis DeSales School and Purcell Marian High School in East Walnut Hills.

The goal of BHGH is to ensure graduation from a private, college prep high school and admission to college for students who have no other means by which to get a higher education. Our ultimate objective is to help each child reach their full potential.

Like the Boys Hope Girls Hope residential program, the Community Based Program is committed to caring for the whole child and as a result adopts a holistic approach to caring for the child – this includes providing a quality education, personalized tutoring, mentoring, psychological counseling, and exposure to a myriad of educational and social opportunities.

The Community Based Program provides the following:

Early Intervention:

  • Boys Hope Girls Hope of Cincinnati accepts students the summer before their 4th, 5th, or 6th grade year, and commits to them through their senior year in high school.

Summer Program:

  • Our scholars are exposed to a world of academic challenges and cultural enrichment in a summer program that prepares and gives them a competitive edge that will help them succeed in school and in life. The six-week summer program exposes our scholars to academics in a fun and exciting manner, as well as provides them with the chance to experience a broad range of opportunities in their community.

After-School “Launch Pad”:

  • Each scholar attends an after-school academic and enrichment program on a daily basis. During the program scholars participate in a structured study-time. For the duration of the study-time scholars may complete homework, study for tests, receive remedial help in subjects they are struggling with, receive tutoring, participate in enrichment learning opportunities, and strengthen their inner character/spirit.

Mentoring and Tutoring:

  • Ongoing individual mentors partner with the scholar’s family and Boys Hope Girls Hope of Cincinnati to encourage success and provide support. The mentor forms a trusting, caring relationship with an emphasis on academic performance and personal development. The mentors are excellent role models who expand the student’s world and stimulate the student’s mind by exposing them to enriching experiences.
  • Tutors are a valuable resource provided to Boys Hope Girls Hope. Our scholars benefit from the additional academic assistance which ensures success in the classroom and beyond. All of the Community Based Program tutors come from an accredited-level teaching program. This means our scholars will be receiving services from highly-qualified individuals.

Partners in Parenting:

The Community Based Program Director and staff find that in order for a scholar to reach his/her fullest potential both the parent(s) and staff need to work together to support the scholar’s success. This means that parents and staff are in constant communication, and are partners in the quest to guide the scholar to college. There are several responsibilities that a parent must meet when their child is accepted into the CBP. They are:

  • Support your child’s academic success by always expecting your child to put their education first, and by doing their best work daily.
  • Ensures that your child attends school regularly and on time.
  • Ensures that your child attends the summer program academic/enrichment program as well as the After-School Launch Pad, daily and on time.
  • Commit to making your child’s success a priority within your home setting.
  • Work closely with your child’s mentor to ensure a successful and ongoing relationship between the mentor and child, yourself and the child’s school.
  • Work closely with BHGH to ensure a successful and ongoing relationship between the program, your child, and yourself.

Potential Scholars/How to make a referral:

To qualify for a BHGH Community Based Program Scholarship, students must:

  • Be intelligent, ambitious, hard working students
  • Be respectful to adults and peers
  • Possess a strong desire to graduate from high school and attend college
  • Be willing to make a significant commitment of time and effort
  • Have a strong parental support for this commitment
  • Display a need for the services

Any adult, including a parent, teacher, social worker, coach…etc. can refer a qualified child to be considered for the Community Based Program Scholarship. To make an official referral, please contact the Community Based Program Director, Chelsea Blazer, at 721–3380. Referrals are accepted from September 1st through January 31st for the following school year. Scholars are selected and accepted in April, and all new scholars will be expected to participate in the Summer Program. Only six new scholars will be selected every year.

Some example activities that the scholars in the CBP participated in during the 2008 Summer Program were:

  • They wrote, edited, and performed their own puppet skits.
  • They practiced following the scientific method with several science experiments.
  • They created their own pointillism paintings, and learned about several artists.
  • They applied their math skills to predict the best way to compete in a sporting event.

Some of the community outings the scholars participated in were:

  • Cincinnati Reds Game
  • MadCap Puppet Studio
  • Matthew 25 Ministries
  • Gorman Farm
  • Winton Woods – hiking and boating
  • Laser Tag
  • Cincinnati Art Museum
  • Xavier University