Christ Child Society

Family support program: also known as girls on the rise empowerment (gotre), this program launched in 2010. Girls on the rise provides outreach and services to young girls and their families in the washington highlands neighborhood of southeast dc operating in the mary virginia merrick youth center (named for the society's founder). The program provides after- school, summer camp, and family support services for at-risk girls aged 6- 18 in ward 8. Girls on the rise further focuses on outreach, case management, parenting, life skills workshops, health and wellness, and prevocational training for the girls and their families. It also serves as a continuation of the building of life skills for the summer camp participants and their families. The program involves direct instruction in group, individual, workshop and drop-in formats as well as collaboration with other similar community-based programs in the immediate geographic area.

Beloved babies layette program: this program is one of the oldest programs of the organization. Through coordinated activity, the society provides layettes - or welcome kits - to new and expectant mothers and families. A layette is defined as an assembly of clothing and equipment for a newborn infant. The society typically distributes over 3500 layettes per year to local agencies serving at-risk families and their newborns. The beloved babies layette program initiated an "adopt a family" initiative where the christ child society and volunteer guilds provide year long support to specific families. We provide these families with diapers, grocery cards, holidays items, clothing and other necessities, as well as refer them to community based agencies that can help them with other needs.

Student success program: the student success program provides volunteer academic support services in 6 partner schools and the merrick youth center. We provide regular tutoring in a variety of subject areas and early literacy programs. In addition, volunteers help students with high school and college transition, by assisting with applications, essays, financial aid forms, and resumes. The program also includes an early literacy initiative where infants, toddlers, and pre-school students and their parents are provided with books and the opportunity to experience literacy rich activities. Subgroups of society members (guilds) "adopt" our partner schools by providing financial, material, and volunteer support to the school communities. This program also sponsors a chapter-wide book drive each year in order to provide books to local children, families, and community agencies. Volunteers: volunteers are an essential component of the society. Volunteers typically staff the opportunity shop which is a significant source of fundraising for the organization. In addition, volunteers knit or chrochet handmade blankets, unpack supplies, prepare materials, assemble layettes, pick-up diapers, and make deliveries. Volunteer tutors work weekly with struggling readers in our partner schools. Additional volunteers collect and distribute books. Volunteers provide assistance to the family support program as running buddies, book club sponsors, summer camp help, and host holiday celebration events. All committees, to include standing committeess and fundraising event planning, are comprised of volunteers. Our typical volunteer pool is approximately 950 per year. Student success program: the student success program provides academic support services in local partner schools. We provide weekly tutoring in a variety of subject areas and early literacy programs. In addition, volunteers help students with high school and college transition, by assisting with applications, essays, financial aid forms, and resumes. The program also includes an early literacy initiative where infants, toddlers, and pre-school students and their parents are provided with books and the opportunity to experience literacy rich activities. Subgroups of society members (guilds) "adopt" our partner schools by providing financial, material, and volunteer support to the school communities. This program also sponsors a chapter-wide book drive each year in order to provide books to local children, families, and community agencies.