Ponce De Leon Foundation 2018 to 2023 Report

This project was launched to support and enhance early-childhood education and literacy for all student populations (including ELLs and special needs) as well as address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on

students in grades K–2, who have been disproportionately impacted academically because of reduced in-person instruction and engagement in reading.

Fresh Youth Initiatives

Ponce De Leon grant funds for FYI’s Trauma and ACES Education project. Thanks to your support, 62 staff members, 31 schoolteachers and school personnel, and 1,128 children acquired new skills, knowledge, and vocabulary around normalizing mental health and wellness. Our Education Project leveraged the trusting relationships that our staff enjoys with our stakeholders, increasing the likelihood of our clients

mental health services when needed. Thank you for your strong partnership with FYI toward building healthy and resilient communities. Thanks to support from the Ponce De Leon Foundation, FYI successfully introduced new education and training to our staff, school partners, and parents of our enrolled youth participants. Staff, in turn, were equipped to provide culturally appropriate Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and activities to 1,128 children and teens in 2023. With a noted increase in anxiety, depression, and COVID-related losses, our staff requested this type of professional development to help them work with struggling students. The same is true for teachers at our four partner schools who observe significant behavioral problems. At our partner high school, FYI clinical staff are providing educational support to teachers around identifying signs of trauma; from September through December, they have embedded within several classrooms to provide direct support working with ninth graders.

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