Extended Family is honored to have been awarded a grant from the Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation, on behalf of Atrium Heath Floyd Medical Center. Extended Family staff joined other grant recipients at an awards presentation and reception earlier this month. This grant will help fund Extended Family programs for children, Extended Family for Kids and Extended Family Leadership Academy, for students in Cherokee County, Alabama.
Extended Family for Kids (EFK) is an evidence-based, 9-lesson curriculum for students in grades K-12 who have any loved one who is or has been incarcerated. Studies consistently show that family incarceration causes mental and behavioral health issues for children of all ages. EFK addresses these health concerns with lessons that build self-esteem, ease feelings of shame, ease isolation, decrease stress, address anger issues, and strengthen communication skills.
Extended Family Leadership Academy (EFLA) is an 18-lesson series for high school students who need extra support to be successful as they work toward graduation and their futures. Lessons focus on job readiness, health (including mental health and healthy relationships), and effective communication. Each series is designed around the career interests of the group and highlights guest presenters from the community who discuss their careers and their journey to success. EFLA allows students to make important connections with community leaders who can help them as they move into jobs after high school.
We offer EFK and EFLA programs in every school in Cherokee County, led by Extended Family staff, and in the STAR juvenile diversion program. We have served hundreds of students in Cherokee County with the continued support of the Cherokee County Board of Education, administrators, counselors, teachers, and staff. With this grant from the Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation, we will continue to deliver character development lessons to students through our EFK/EFLA programs.
Our goals in working with students through Extended Family for Kids and Extended Family Leadership Academy are to prevent kids from entering the juvenile justice system, reduce the recidivism rate among youth offenders, and to break the cycle of incarceration in families. When we meet our goals, we create safer neighborhoods and communities for everyone.
For more information about Extended Family and our programs, visit our website @ www.extendedfamilyhelp.org.