(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The team behind Connect for Success is committed to ensuring the program lives up to its name, working to help southern Colorado youth in foster care have the tools and resources needed to achieve their dreams.
“Connect for Success kind of helps the families that we serve, and the kids just achieve that academic success that isn’t really guaranteed for them,” said Tee Maehngo, a student at UCCS and tutor with Connect for Success. “It’s not really a top priority, and it’s not that they won’t achieve this, but it’s just that they can’t, they’re not given the right resources to.”
The need for direct tutoring support stems from to the desire to create positive change for the future of children in foster care in southern Colorado. Data from the Colorado Department of Education reveals that only 30% of foster youth manage to graduate high school on time, highlighting the need for educational assistance programs.
“It is a program that is not like any other,” said Director of Educational Services for Connect for Success, Linette Weise, said. “It’s a program that’s trauma responsive, educational tutoring. So, it’s not where the kids come in here, and they do study for their math test and go take their math test, it’s so much more involved and so much more in-depth.”
Students like Archimedes (Ace) Harrison are able to use this program to receive guidance with homework and navigate through the difficult subjects in school.
The Director of Education, Linette Weise, sees firsthand the positive impact this program has on foster youth in building connections and navigating hardships in school.
On Monday morning, Harrison had the opportunity to work with Erin Bruski, a tutor and UCCS student, on math problems involving solving angles.
“I work with Ace quite a bit,” Bruski said. “He’s one of my main kids that I work with, we mainly work on math and sometimes some other things, we really like to go on walks as well.”
Besides help with homework, students are able to build connections with tutors and take part in art projects.
A crucial element of this program is its comprehensive approach, which not only provides homework help but also focuses on nurturing the social skills of foster youth. The staff works to help the children develop social skills and understand they are not alone on their journey.
“Connect for Success, so the first piece really and truly for them to graduate is for them to come in here and be able to connect,” Weise said. “It’s going to be that way at school, it’s going to be that way wherever they go, and then to take that piece of connection and help them be able to regulate so they’re in a state of regulation, help them be able to reach their prefrontal cortex, which will then help them to learn and being able to be in that state.”
On Monday morning, one student along with the help of a tutor worked through math problems.
In their interactions with these children, the tutors establish themselves as a familiar face who offer more than just homework assistance; they also provide support in navigating through any hardships the children may have experienced in the past.
“All teachers should definitely be trained in trauma informed practice, because if there is anyone who has experienced trauma, they can teach kids in a way that is safe and adapts to their needs, whatever they may be,” said Burski.
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The walls are filled with vibrant posters and positive sayings, along with plants coming into bloom, creating an atmosphere that is not only inviting, but also brings a sense of safety for these youth to grow.
The room is filled with bright colors and plants, to create a vibrant and welcoming environment for all.
“What happened to you, not what’s wrong with you. What happened to you? And let’s understand that trauma. Not necessarily, we don’t have to know the whole specifics, right, but we understand that you’ve had that trauma and we’re going to work from there and we’re going to help you be successful and we’re going to move you forward.”
When asked to describe the program to other children, Archimedes said, “I’d tell them the tutors are really helpful.”
As for these tutors, they too find their own person growth and fulfillment as they become guiding lights for the trajectory of these students’ success.
“Like a lot of these kids have trouble connecting,” Maehngo said. “But when you finally get them to open up, and putting a smile on their face, it’s just the biggest thing that I love seeing in this program.”
