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KIDS AT HOPE IN ANNAPOLIS HOPE SQUARE

Three Universal Truths and High Five Practices

Imagine examining, over seven years, the best research from the fields of psychology, education, sociology, recreation, criminology, social work and medicine then synthesizing all the knowledge into three Universal Truths which, if adopted, could support the success of all children without exception.

Furthermore, imagine conducting an additional eight year study to determine the five most powerful and forceful practices which support the three universal truths.

These overall findings led to Kids at Hope, an evidenced based, strategic-cultural model which reverses the “youth at risk” paradigm by establishing a holistic methodology that engages an entire school, youth organization and/or community.

Three Universal Truths:

• Children succeed when they are surrounded by adults who believe they can succeed, no exceptions.
• Children succeed when they have meaningful and sustainable relationships with caring adults.
• Children succeed when they can articulate their future in four domains rather than one, (which is generally Education and Career): Home and Family; Education and Career; Community and Service; and Hobbies and Recreation.

High Five Practices in reinforcing the Three Universal Truths:

1. Belief-surrounding children with adults who believe all children can succeed, without exception.
2. Pledge-demonstrating and practicing the power of positive self talk.
3. Report Card-validating and documenting the multiple intelligences of children which leads to developing their full POTENTIAL.
4. Passport to the Future-offering all children the opportunity to “mental time travel” to the future through four domains which leads to HOPE for their future.
5. Aces Tracking-validating and documenting that all children are indeed connected to a caring adult(s) in a meaningful and sustainable manner.

Deliverables (Based on eight university led independent evaluations-see the “Science Behind Kids at Hope: Research Synthesis”)  By adopting the Kids at Hope cultural strategic framework the following will be achieved:

• Children become much more optimistic
• Children not only understand the concept of hope, they can model it
• Children learn and practice the power and self-fulfilling prophecy (belief system) of positive self talk (Kids at Hope Pledge)
• Children learn about personal strength based inventory and practice it
• Children’s academic and emotional achievement matures
• Adults learn and practice the power of the self-fulfilling prophecy to support a child’s achievement
• Adults learn and practice how to measure a child’s potential, not just their behavior (Kids at Hope Report Card)
• Adults learn and practice how to instill hope in every child without exception (Passport to the Future)
• Adults learn and practice the types of meaningful and sustainable relationships needed by children-Aces