Extended Family staff led Extended Family for Kids (EFK) and Extended Leadership Academy (ELA) in four counties for more than 400 students in kindergarten through 12th grades during the 2022-2023 school year.  We have several tools for measuring the impact of our programs on the children we serve, including collecting feedback forms from Our Kids at the end of each Lesson. 

This year, we also conducted an Impact Survey with those who work closely with students – counselors, teachers, SROs, and administrators. We received surveys from respondents from groups in every school district we serve in each of the four counties, Cherokee, Etowah, Calhoun, and DeKalb, as well as from each of the juvenile diversion programs. The Survey collected specific data relating to how students respond to EFK and ELA Lessons, giving Extended Family valuable feedback and ideas to enhance the experience for the students.  

School and juvenile diversion program personnel surveyed were asked to reflect on the effect EFK and ELA Lessons had on students in four specific areas. Respondents told us if they had observed students showing an increase, decrease, or no change in their self-esteem, sense of belonging, social involvement with peers, and self-worth/confidence level.  

 The results indicate that 83% of respondents observed an increase in students’ self-esteem, and 92% observed an increase in students’ sense of belonging, social involvement with peers, and self-worth/confidence level of those students in EFK or ELA. 

Comments from those surveyed include, “Of all groups that our students attend, they are the most excited about Extended Families” and “Many of our students look forward to weekly lessons and find a place to belong.”

Extended Family for Kids is a Curriculum of nine interactive, evidence-based Lessons for children in any grade.  Extended Leadership Academy is a series of eighteen lessons designed for older students who are actively planning for life after high school.  Both programs have the shared goals of teaching children to be successful, even though they may have a loved one incarcerated or are experiencing some other disruption in their family, and instilling in each child the message, “You matter.”  We are grateful for the positive impact EFK and ELA Programs are having on the children in our communities.

At Extended Family, we value the partnerships we have with local schools and juvenile diversion programs to help Our Kids.  For more information about Extended Family, our Lessons, or how to bring Extended Family for Kids or Extended Leadership Academy Programs to your community, visit our website, www.extendedfamilyhelp.org, or email laure@extendedfamilyhelp.org.  Together, we are making a difference, one child at a time.

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