How Generation Hope’s Resource Families Help Student Parents and Their Kids Succeed
“The adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is why Resource Families are so important to our Next Generation Academy Scholars. They are village members who provide community, networks, and tangible resources to help families thrive.”
— Ayanna Clay, Early Childhood Manager
We’re Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization that supports young parents on their journeys to earn college degrees and advocates for the more than one in five students who are parenting nationwide. Our Scholar Program helps teen parents in the Washington, DC Metro area achieve their college dreams. We do this by providing each Scholar with wraparound support, including tuition assistance, mentoring, case management, mental health support, and career readiness programming.
As an organization dedicated to making two-generation change, we’re proud to also provide early childhood support for our Scholars’ children. After completing their first year, students admitted into the Scholar Program who have children under the age of 6 are eligible for our Next Generation Academy. This proven program is focused on increasing school-readiness levels of our Scholars’ children so that they have the skills to thrive, as well as providing support networks for our Scholars. Each Scholar Family is matched with a Resource Family that plays a crucial role in their success.
What Is A Resource Family?
Resource Families, Generation Hope’s group mentors, provide a critical layer of support for Scholars and their children. A Resource Family usually consists of 2-4 individuals who are looking for a great opportunity to get involved as a group. Families, groups of friends, coworkers, neighbors, and more all make great Resource Families, and children are welcome to participate as well! Each member of the Resource Family brings something unique to the table and helps support a Scholar family.
How do Resource Families help young student parents succeed?
Each Resource Family supports their Scholar family by:
Tapping into their networks and their community to help their Scholar build social capital and connect with resources they otherwise might not have access to,
Attending our monthly group Family Dinners,
Providing funding to support our Education Fund, which helps their Scholar’s child access high quality early childhood education and enrichment, and
Providing tangible items through our Wish Lists so that their Scholar can access everyday items they need.
Resource Families might assist with needs like offering emotional support, career support, or help accessing tangible resources that a Scholar might need as they navigate their college journey (textbooks, clothes, groceries, etc.). For example, a Resource Family might connect a Scholar with someone in their field of interest for an informational interview, help a Scholar access donated children’s clothes through a neighborhood list, or recruit a friend to provide free tutoring services for a Scholar. Generation Hope staff will be here to help you, making sure you have training and resources to build a strong relationship with your Scholar. Resource Families serve as an essential layer of support to ensure that a Scholar family’s needs are met so that they can focus on their education!
What are Family Dinners?
One of the best ways that Resource Families get to connect with their Scholar family is at Family Dinners! Every month, Generation Hope hosts a dinner for Resource Families and Scholar families, with a workshop focused on parenting and/or community building. Towards the end of each Family Dinner, Resource Families and their Scholars are able to debrief on what was discussed in the workshop or activity. This provides time to connect and build relationships with one another. Through Family Dinners, Resource Families are able to break bread with their Scholars, connect with other Scholars and Resource Families, provide support, and have impactful discussions. We ask that all Resource Families attend at least six Family Dinners annually.
How does the Education Fund support early childhood education?
Each Resource Family contributes $1,200 annually to Generation Hope’s Education Fund, which helps Next Generation Academy children enroll in high quality early childhood education and/or enrichment. The Education Fund can also be used for expenses such as required preschool supplies, learning assessments, and more! This is a powerful opportunity to directly invest in a young child’s early education, ensuring they have the resources to thrive as they head into kindergarten.
Why are Resource Families so important? See through the eyes of our Family Program Coordinators!
Our Family Program Coordinators are our case managers who help lead Next Generation Academy. Here’s what they had to say about the importance of our Resource Families!
“Resource Families are such an integral part of Next Generation Academy because they help Scholars meet essential needs. Often, there are needs that come up that a Scholar just does not have the means to take care of. I love that Scholars have the confidence and assurance that Resource Families are part of their extended support system and are a resource connection they can lean on during difficult times. I have experienced firsthand the weight that can be lifted off a Scholar's shoulders due to this additional support. Scholars and their little ones deserve the relief that Resource Families can provide.”
— Carolyn “CiCi” Felton, Family Program Coordinator and Generation Hope Alumna
"Navigating life can feel like wandering through a maze with dead ends and locked doors down every hallway — especially for some of our Scholars who may not already have a strong foundation of support in their lives. Resource Families can open some of these locked doors for our Scholars, giving them the opportunity to choose a new path in life that may not have been an option before. Resource Families are folks who are traversing through their own maze and would like to help guide others through the doors they have unlocked. It is all about sharing opportunities and building community with student parents to enrich their lives and their children's lives."
— Ashley Stant, Family Program Coordinator
Want to get involved?
Become a Resource Family today and make a difference for a whole family! We’re currently accepting applications from groups interested in becoming Resource Families. Learn more and apply today!
This blog post was written by Jocelyn Paquette, Generation Hope’s Program Intern.
