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Youth group program offering after school activities

Last Updated on November 27, 2020 by Four County

KOKOMO, Ind. – The Kokomo Housing Authority (KHA) and Four County are proud to offer a new youth group program to the residents of Garden Square, a KHA property. The youth group program was proposed to Four County by Chris Westlake, the ROSS Coordinator for KHA. Already offering homework clubs twice a week, Westlake recognized the need for activities and structured time after school for youth.

“KHA has been providing much needed after school services through our Homework Club organized by Angie Sanders,” said Derick Steele, executive director of the KHA. “Angie has been a huge asset to our community for years. Chris Westlake recognized that this work could be supplemented to further meet our residents’ needs. Chris has been instrumental in working with partnering agencies in assisting our residents. This is just one more example of the great work the employees of KHA, and our partners like Four County, have been doing for our community.”

Programming began in October this fall and will continue through the 2020-2021 academic school year. Four County group facilitators are following evidence based curriculum to provide skill building activities in the group structure. Four County associates Ashley Mahmoud, Howard County Community Liaison and Naomi Henning, Assistant Director in Howard/Tipton County have been instrumental in the planning stages of the project and provide ongoing support and continue monitoring for further needs.

Four County Certified Skills Trainers are actively facilitating the groups on a weekly basis. These team members are utilizing curriculum provided by Choose Love Movement™, a nonprofit organization with a mission to create safer and more loving communities through groundbreaking next generation social and emotional learning (SEL) programs suited for all stages of life.

“We are excited for the opportunity to expand and extend our youth programming into Kokomo Housing
Authority,” states Lisa Willis-Gidley, Vice President of Operations with Four County. “As youth specialists in the community, we pride ourselves on providing excellent care aimed at the development and wellness of our youth. We appreciate Kokomo Housing Authority’s partnership in this project.”

Youth Group Information
Location: Garden Square
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30PM – 5:30PM
Eligibility: Students ages 4-17 years old
How To Join: Parents can reach out to Chris Westlake to inquire about signing their children up.

Four County has partnered with the Kokomo Housing Authority since 2016, providing mental health and substance use services to KHA residents, endorsing the Sargent’s Place build, and facilitating the youth program at Garden Square. Four County is privileged to provide resources to its many partners and strives to meet both consumer’s and partner’s needs.

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