Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach

SMART MOVES

In order to help club members improve their social-emotional development skills and learn skills to avoid the use of alcohol and other drugs, we are implementing the Boys and Girls Club of America’s SMART (Skills Mastery and Resiliency Training) Moves program, a suite of health promotion programs focused on building the key attitudes and skills necessary for youth to make good decisions about their health. Many health programs only identify and address risk and protective factors that are most associated with a young person’s ability to avoid risky behavior. SMART Moves uses a health-promotion approach which is focused on also building attitudes and skills that support healthy decision-making in young people. This approach incorporates youth voice and choice in their ability to make healthy decisions. Although health education is typically considered a school-based topic, health education requirements, content and quality vary among school districts. Some of the biggest gaps in content are related to risk behaviors such as substance use, tobacco use and sexual health. SMART Moves bridges this gap by providing asset-based health promotion content aligned with the most important social-emotional skills necessary for healthy decision-making.

TRIPLE PLAY

Our club-wide Triple Play program has a proven record of helping members increase their nutritional awareness and daily physical activity, thus helping fight childhood obesity. Triple Play is designed for children ages 4-18 years and is built on a three-part strategy which addresses the Mind, Body, and Soul of each participant. The Mind component teaches nutritional standards through hands-on learning while encouraging members to make smart food choices. The Body component consists of daily physical activities throughout the club; members develop personal physical fitness by engaging in a variety of games and activities. The Soul component helps children develop positive self-esteem, work together, make good choices, and engage with others in socially appropriate ways. Through the intentional modeling and positive reinforcement of our staff, participants learn to value and respect themselves, their peers and adults.

ARTS FOR ALL

Our Arts for All programs are age-appropriate and tailored to meet each group’s particular interests. The programs are designed to enrich personal art experiences, promote self-expression, foster teamwork, and generate excitement about creativity and art. Arts for All programs are offered free of charge to all of the BGCLB’s members. Our many art programs provide members an opportunity to generate ideas, enhance their ability to transform their ideas into a reality, and express their ideas to the world around them. We use the Disciplined-Based Art Education model, a conceptual framework that ensures that all members, not just gifted or talented participants, are involved in the study and creation of visual art as a part of their daily experiences. Our staff members integrate art into the curriculum and permit students at all levels to be introduced to, understand, and participate in various art forms and mediums.

POWER HOUR

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach’s Power Hour is a comprehensive homework help/tutoring program for members from 5 to 18 years old. This evidence-based program provides young people the support, resources, and guidance necessary for them to complete their homework at the club, thus finishing their day with a sense of confidence and accomplishment. The club’s collaboration with the Laguna Beach School District makes it possible to the homework assignments available to club members who require additional help. With these resources available, the club’s Education Coordinator partners with each member’s parents and teachers to develop an individualized Power Hour plan. Community volunteers and tutors provide assistance for members who need additional support in specific subjects or skills. Studies show that young people who consistently complete their homework develop a deeper understanding of their work, which leads to long-term improvement in members’ grades and test scores.

TRAUMA-INFORMED CLUB INITIATIVE

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach’s Trauma-Informed Club Initiative is unique in our service area and creates a culture dedicated to helping children gain the social-emotional skills they need to cope with challenges, move beyond them, and thrive in school and in life. Our club has become one of the leading advocates in the out-of-school time sector for neuro/trauma-informed practices in Orange County. The framework for our Trauma-Informed Club Initiative is based on the SAMSHA Trauma and Justice Initiative. A trauma-informed approach involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. It does not require a prescribed set of practices or procedures; rather, such an approach relies on six broad guiding principles: Safety – ensuring the physical and mental safety of our members; Trustworthiness and Transparency – developing positive relationships which build trust and transparency; Peer Support – incorporating peer support in programs that are delivered, such as Smart Moves; Collaboration and Mutuality – the relationship built with members and within our staff team is one of collaboration and committing to understanding and being willing to meet each other's needs; Empowerment, Voice, and Choice. .