View YouthPort’s 21st CCLC Local Evaluation For 2020-2021 to read about our impact.
Highlights include:
- 77% of students improved their math skills, 9 moved from non-proficient to proficient
- 27.3% of students improved their reading skills
- Teacher surveys indicated a 72% improvement in homework completion and class participation
- Teacher surveys showed an 87% improvement in student behavior
Be the Change You Want to See
YouthPort, together with our partnering agencies, serves 1,000 individuals and 250+ families weekly. Here’s some of what those individuals have to say:
Diane Landrus - Young Parents Network Volunteer
“I have never ever walked out of here regretting coming. Ever. It's so rewarding to be a part of this. I am just very fortunate to have this opportunity.“
Heather - Young Parents Network Mom
“You feel comfortable as a person coming to them with problems you may have. I’ll call if I have anything I need and they’re always very willing to help. It’s nice to have that network of people around you.”
Bart - Boys & Girls Club Volunteer
"You come to something like this hoping you can help, assuming that maybe you can be a good role model or have some impact and I’m convinced that I get more out of this than any of the kids do. It’s the highlight of my week”
Miguel - Young Parents Network Dad
“The most important thing I learned here at YPN is first of all, patience. You’ve got to be very, very patient and that takes a lot of skill. I’m still working on that. I learned that, your kids, they think you’re the coolest person in the world. That’s basic and my job is to live up to that standard from the time they’re born to hopefully all the time.”
Abbie and Allison - Boys and Girls Club
"I love coming here. I hate it when I miss a day because then I don't get to see my friends who come here. What I like about YouthPort is we come and have a good time. We are safe and I think that's a good environment for all of us to be in."
Travon Jackson - age 13, Polk Unit
"I started coming to my Club four years ago because my mom wanted me to be off the streets after school. Having been from Chicago, it was important for me to have something different to do and to be away from the wrong crowd of people. I like the sports program because we get to play dodgeball and basketball. I also like the art program, especially painting. There are two staff members who have been influential in my life since I started coming to the Club. Ms. Iris has influenced me because she taught me to be a leader and not to follow the crowd. Jerome has also been influential because he is fun to hang out with."
Terrance Wilson - age 9, Taylor Unit
"I started coming to my Club two years ago because both of my parents work and I needed a safe place to go after school. My favorite activity at my Club is Toyota Financial Services Day because the staff and volunteers always come up with a fun theme and have fun activities for us to do all afternoon. Emma would be the staff who has been most influential for me because she always helps me. She also made me feel good by choosing me for the member spotlight."
Tanager Place Family
"There are no words to express how grateful we are for all of the Tanager staff’s time, help, wisdom, listening ears and encouragement. Each and every one has touched our son’s life in one way or another and will never ever be forgotten."
Tanager Place Family
“Our daughter is ever changing in her physical and psychological needs. Our counselor is always one step ahead in projecting her needs and how to meet them. Our daughter says that she is “very nice and helpful and explains things to me.”
Barb Appleget, We Care Shop
"I feel blessed to be able to help the young families at YPN; whether it's helping with gifts for the holidays, being able to listen to women talk about furthering their education or being able to work with such caring staff all these years."
Shannon
"I first became involved with YPN in 2001, when I was 16 and pregnant with my first child. I was very fortunate to have the support and compassion from the program during a very uncertain time in my life. YPN served as the integral part in the foundation built to live and raise my daughter upon. I now have two children, and I still build my family around the core principals of building strong families. I came back to serve as a volunteer for YPN because as I continue to grow and succeed, I want the current young parents to be well equipped to raise the children who will live to see the future."