BUILDING A GENERATION
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Mission Statement
Building A Generation (BAG) serves children and parents by providing education, support, and connections to community resources, enabling them to become healthy and self-sufficient families. With its best intentions, our social welfare system is a revolving door where the same individuals and families continue to struggle with poverty, unemployment, limited or no access to healthcare or safe housing generation after generation. BAG experiences this first-hand on a daily basis with the clients we serve within San Bernardino County. BAG currently operates four Family Resource Centers (FRCs) that are strategically housed on Redlands Unified School District (RUSD) campuses at Franklin, Lugonia, Mentone, and Victoria Elementary Schools. BAG and RUSD have been close partners since 2002. The FRCs are intentionally located in low-income, marginalized, and under-resourced communities where life does not begin on an equal footing for the children and their families when it comes to quality of education, access to opportunities, level of support services and social networks, but instead, are challenged by economic instability, burdened by emotional trauma and crisis, excluded from and, held back by barriers to realizing their full potential. BAG’s philosophy and values are founded on principles of: 1) inclusion by embracing those who have been denied or neglected, 2) respect by building positive relationships, 3) fairness and equality by giving community members seeking help what they need, and 4) humility by thinking of ourselves less and others more. These underlying principals are the foundation of all our programs in the areas of basic essentials, educational support for the children, parental engagement, and counseling services for the entire family. In order to alleviate the social burdens and elevate these individuals and families, BAG accepts the responsibility of giving the extra academic support to the children who are at risk of failing school, devote its time to investing in education on financial literacy and fostering positive family dynamics, lightening the load for those struggling with basic essentials because we feel a social obligation towards equality and improving the quality of lives for our families.
About This Cause
Building a Generation operates four Family Resource Centers (FRCs) that promote and strengthen the capacity of families to raise healthy children. FRCs are physical locations (located in economically challenged areas) that function as service hubs with important connections to increase the utilization of appropriate services that are necessary for the communities to thrive. Our goal is to start with the kids, engage their families, and help them to access the support they need and seek opportunities for growth. BAG’s programs and services are either: 1)educational or 2)experiential in terms of hands-on engagement activities. Our premise is to first educate, then help individuals put into practice and internalize what has been learned. The model that holds everything together is based on the Experiential Learning Model and the method in which it is implemented is via the social work or case management model which includes the process of prioritizing, setting goals, reflecting on the results, and then re-assessing and setting new goals. The initial assessment with all community members seeking help is to meet basic needs. BAG’s Kids Pack provides weekend emergency food and hygiene for children. These children often rely on free and reduced priced lunches at school for their meals and would otherwise have gone hungry over the weekend while school is not in session. Each FRC also has a clothing closet and food pantry for families in need. Once basic needs are met, we engage community members in case management or family advocacy. Case management is an evidence-based component that works together with families to become their own advocates and learn how to effectively access and utilize services to move them toward self-sufficiency. When individuals and families engage with a Case Manager, they will explore 6 critical areas that most impact their lives: 1) basic needs or essentials, 2) education 3) employment, 4) mental health & wellness, 5) relationships/family dynamics, and 6) healthcare. These 6 areas are charted within a Family Map that sets a tailored path towards independence and self-sufficiency. Their journey begins with the top three immediate priorities where BAG staff works one-on-one with families to grow, develop, and transcend their current reality. We take this personal journey with them as they embark on a road of many struggles, obstacles, and setbacks, but with tenacity, patience, encouragement, and persistence, we stand by them through the ups and downs. From this journey, they will learn more about themselves and how they want to change their reality, be more knowledgeable of what opportunities they can pursue, and be able to access greater resources to get the additional help they need. Starting with the kids, BOOST is an afterschool program designed to enhance children’s personal, social, and academic development through a structured and engaging curriculum. BOOST is founded on the Tribes Learning Model which aims to maintain a caring atmosphere in the classroom by providing activities to develop a child’s intellectual, emotional, physical, and social well-being that they will then manifest throughout the course of their lives. The children will continuously learn, practice, and reflect on the principles of attentive listening, mutual respect, showing appreciation, and accountability. The children also receive free academic tutoring since they are struggling in school and their parents cannot afford to pay for a tutor. BOOST is intended to provide the extra support the children need to excel academically, continue onto higher education if they choose to, and pursue the career they dream of. The other component of BOOST is about character-building and learning how to assert themselves as well as collaborate and navigate within a social environment. Knowing how to do this will decrease the barriers to entry into careers, social networks, and create growth opportunities for them, and at the same time, empower them with the mindset and tools necessary to succeed, not just in school, but also in life. To further facilitate and reinforce a healthy body and mind, BAG provides Mental Health Workshops, parenting classes, and Social Cafe. Mental Health Workshops are designed to decrease the stigmatization of seeking counseling services for those in need. Parenting classes strive to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect through modeling positive family engagement. Social Café serves to provide a space for adults to bond, socialize, share experiences, and build a support network so they do not feel isolated or alienated because of their lack of education or socio-economic situation. For community members who suffer from trauma, BAG offers counseling services to provide coping skills to enhance personal well¬being and social relationships. By addressing relationships and environments the main influencers in a child’s life, BAG hopes to lead them on a path towards independence and self-sufficiency.