About Us
Healthy Families GROW develops programs and deliver academic and enrichment services that strengthen Children, Families, and Communities. Our mission is to improve education, health, well‐being, the economy, and social outcomes. We help communities grow stronger through an integrated two‐generation strategy that improve the quality of life for generations. For more than twenty years, we have worked to develop social and economic self-sufficiency and civic participation in communities through the lens of educational attainment. Our programs and services are built on the premise that education is an essential determinant of health, and improving health is connected with improving the overall education level of communities.
OVERVIEW
We provide Out-of-School Time (OST) programs in group settings during school and summer sessions. Our services and activities are provided at school, at community centers, and virtually. Services are available to children, parents, and families. They are designed to help break the cycle of poverty and move families with low incomes toward greater economic independence. Services and activities include early childhood education, elementary and high school academic learning and support, employment and training for adults, financial education, and coaching to help parents set goals for family success.
Youth Development & Resilience
Healthy Families GROW is dedicated to positive youth development and resilience. We are committed to providing services that engage children in education, social, emotional, and recreational activities to improve their intellectual, behavioral, and physical well-being. We improve academic performance, school attendance, positive behaviors, resulting in improved work habits, higher graduation rates, and the successful preparation for secondary education and careers.
The organization engages children within their communities to promote positive outcomes, foster positive relationships, and provide services that build on their strengths. We employ asset-based teaching to unlock potential by focusing on talents and instruction that promotes a growth mindset. Our three-step Asset-Based Approach to teaching starts with diagnostic activities that provide information about what students know and can do.
We share the primary mission of schools to support students in educational achievement and know that to reach this goal; children must feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Children exposed to violence and trauma may not feel safe or prepared to learn. Thus, as we maintain our focus on education and achievement, we also acknowledge that mental health and wellness are innately connected to students’ success in the program, classroom, and a thriving educational environment. We incorporate trauma-informed approaches to make sure teaching is culturally responsive and doesn’t exacerbate traumatic experiences.
College and Career Readiness
Scientific Research-Based Curriculum
Out-of-School Time Learning
We believe that all children should graduate from high school ready for college, careers, and life, prepared to pursue the future of their choosing. Healthy Families GROW prepares its participants to enter and succeed in entry-level postsecondary courses without the need for remediation. Our instruction focuses on the understanding of rig
We believe that all children should graduate from high school ready for college, careers, and life, prepared to pursue the future of their choosing. Healthy Families GROW prepares its participants to enter and succeed in entry-level postsecondary courses without the need for remediation. Our instruction focuses on the understanding of rigorous knowledge and skills in core academic disciplines, including English language arts (ELA)/literacy, mathematics, science, art, and music. We develop skills for sustaining wages and pathways to advancement.
Our college to career instruction includes digital literacy, character education and service-learning, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with the integration of Art. The STEM Framework includes academic content by creatively solving real-world problems using design-based thinking in preparation for future career opportunities.
The framework consists of strategies for success, differentiated STEM implementation models, and research-based methods of instruction. We embedded STEM in all courses to develop knowledge and skills through an inquiry-based approach.
The Pathways Academic Curriculum supports College and Career Readiness. It provides instruction and measures knowledge, skills, and the understanding essential to be successful in life. The curriculum guide program participants through content‐rich instruction for the mastery of Maryland Department of Education's College and Career‐Ready Standards (MCCRS).
Pathway’s health and wellness curriculum provide students with the knowledge, skills, and ability to maintain and enhance personal health and fitness needed for protective life skills. The instruction emphasizes lifelong positive health attitudes and behaviors that promote self-reliance and self-regulation.
Out-of-School Time Learning
Scientific Research-Based Curriculum
Out-of-School Time Learning
Out-of-School (OST) programs provide youth with safety and supervision. Research shows that OST programs increase academic achievement and play a role in reducing health disparities. Our programs follow evidence-based practices that also improve personal and social skills linked with positive social behaviors. Healthy Families GROW provid
Out-of-School (OST) programs provide youth with safety and supervision. Research shows that OST programs increase academic achievement and play a role in reducing health disparities. Our programs follow evidence-based practices that also improve personal and social skills linked with positive social behaviors. Healthy Families GROW provides safe learning experiences to get excited about and connect with qualified instructors before school, after school, and during the summer months in a safe and supportive environment.
OST program benefits include:
- Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Improved social and emotional competencies, including prosocial behavior, intrinsic motivation, better concentration efforts, and a higher sense of self-worth. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults. These “soft skills” are essential for workforce development and lead to more youth being hired and successful in their jobs.
- Academic Support. Improved academic performance.
- School Participation. Improves the ability to advance to the next phase of schooling, and increases school day attendance and participation.
- Safety. Increases adult supervision, making youth feel safer and reducing instances of being left unsupervised with peers out of school.
- Nutrition and Physical Activity. Improves dietary snack consumption, particularly at locations with on-site food service.
Scientific Research-Based Curriculum
Scientific Research-Based Curriculum
Scientific Research-Based Curriculum
We improve academic performance, school attendance, positive behaviors, and work habits, higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and the successful preparation for secondary education and careers. Our research-based curriculum is consistent with research on children's development and learning.
Our curriculum invites children to thin
We improve academic performance, school attendance, positive behaviors, and work habits, higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and the successful preparation for secondary education and careers. Our research-based curriculum is consistent with research on children's development and learning.
Our curriculum invites children to think deeply about content interests them and builds on their prior knowledge and experiences. The sequence of learning experiences is based on children's developmental progressions and is supported by broad content and teaching practices.
Our project-based, hands-on learning connects academic subjects and the real world. Manipulatives help students understand academic concepts beyond theory found in books by doing. The Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) curriculum is integrated into all instruction to improve cognitive, physical, and emotional development.
The Pathways Learning ESOL Curriculum is driven by English Language Development (ELD) Standards that incorporate College and Career Ready Standards and utilize MDOE's five proficiency levels for non‐adult participants. The grade‐level instruction determines and measures the progression of a participant's English language development. The units represent the social, instructional, and academic language that school children need to engage with peers, and educators.
The instruction material is content‐driven and focuses on a specific way of communicating; learning through participation in tasks within and outside the classroom; linguistic complexity, language forms and conventions, and vocabulary usage.
Healthy Families equity lens in the curriculum and instruction delivery emphasizes underserved students, such
as English Language Learners, and those from communities of color, and in some cases rural geographical locations, focusing on racial equity. We created a culture of equity‐focused academic proficiency, civic awareness, workplace literacy, and personal integrity. We examine equity in consideration of the social and cultural contexts of development and learning. We believe that growth and learning are embedded in all
individuals' social and cultural contexts.