After School Child Care Program
The After School Program is offered offers to the working parents of the community so that their children will be in a safe and nurturing environment while their parents are at work or school. The program runs Monday through Friday from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM (during school vacation weeks from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM with coverage on half days of school and also some holidays). Children can choose among gym, cooking, dance, art, science, crafts class, photography/video, community service learning, violence prevention, homework assistance, and computer time. We can refer children and families for counseling, food assistance, education, and health care. Children will increase their social skills, get help with their schoolwork, learn to trust and work with people of different cultures and abilities.
Alternative Middle School
Our goal is to provide a safe atmosphere for students in grades six through eight who have struggled in larger, more traditional schools. The Little House Alternative School accepts students between the ages of 11 and 14 who are at risk of academic failure and truant and referred by the Boston Public Schools, the Department of Social Services and the Boston Juvenile Courts. Classroom instruction is highly individualized and dedicated to providing students with an interdisciplinary, thematic curriculum. The school also provides substance-abuse education and treatment, individual counseling, and therapeutic group activities. At completion of the program, students are mainstreamed back through the Boston Schools or other educational institutions. Students entering high school are given additional support and guidance in their selection.
Camp Programs
The camp programs are designed to provide alternative activities to the city streets during the summer and offer childcare solutions to working parents. We introduce programs to toddlers; for 3-5 year olds, we offer a fun and learning environment; for youth 5-12, a safe day camp experience; and for teens of 11-14, we provide out of city experience and day trips.
The day camp program travels by bus each day and visits 15 different sites during the course of the summer with hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, and space relevant activities. The program for teens includes the Leadership in Progress camp, basketball and softball leagues, an open center at least one night a week, and day and/or weekend trips. The Tiny Tot Camp introduces structure to preschoolers with song, movement and socialization. Teen and tiny tot programs are flat rate fee-for-service with sliding fees for multiple children in one family. The travel camp serves both publicly funded and private clients.
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry distributes food every Wednesday, first come first served, no referral necessary. The program fills emergency feeding requests from the Hunger Hotline and Project Bread and is also a support resource for all families in agency programs (each program can recommend it as needed as a resource for their clients. Holiday giving also flows through and is coordinated by the food pantry.
The Food Pantry is a key gateway spot in the agency for new community members and a great place for individuals, community groups and schools to volunteer, contribute to the agency, or perform community service. Our goals are to provide food for those in need, to provide nutritional education and information, to link people with solutions, from food stamps to educational programs, and to assess new needs through informal interviews.
Recreation Program
The recreation program offers a safe, consistent and friendly alternative to hanging out on the streets. Recreational, educational and positive social opportunities for youth lessen the chance of at-risk behavior.
Teen Program
The program includes instructional sports clinics and organized basketball and gym hockey leagues as well as pick-up gym time, a drop-in game room/lounge with pool, ping pong, bumper pool tables, assorted board games, and special instructional classes in arts, cooking, etc. Hiking, skiing, camping, indoor and outdoor rock-climbing and other special events like dances and over nights and field trips take place throughout the year.
