Boys Hope Girls Hope
 | |
| Founded | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Paul Sheridan |
| Type | Charitable |
| Location | |
| Website |
www |
Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) is a charitable organization based in the United States that provides group homes for poor, academically capable children. Children are often enrolled in private schools and provided additional academic support. BHBG has been very successful in helping at risk children attend college and become successful professionals.[1] BHBG has fifteen sites in the US and Latin America. Six to twelve children live in each home.[2] BHGH also has a Community Based Program (CBP), where scholars live with parents, but receive BHGH benefits.[3] Services are continued after high school graduation, including job placement and financial assistance through college.[4] Participants are referred to as scholars. It was founded by a Jesuit priest, but is not based on any religion or spirituality.[5]
History
In 1977, a St. Louis, Missouri teacher named Father Paul Sheridan, S.J., founded BHGH to create a holistic approach to help children reach their full potential. Sheridan saw negative socioeconomic factors, such as overcrowded and underfunded schools, poverty, illness, drug use, and violence, deter children’s success. He created familial, versus institutional, homes, where live-in residential counselors reared children and scholars formed sibling relationships. Scholars maintained spirituality and performed community service projects. Financial, academic and spiritual guidance were continued through college.[6]
St. Louis’s success inspired other cities to launch BHGH homes. By 1999, 30 BHGH homes had started in 16 U.S. cities. Latin American affiliates were introduced in 1987. In 2004, Phoenix, Arizona launched an after-school program for at-risk youth, who did not need to be housed, but gained other BHGH benefits. Many cities joined, nearly doubling the amount of children served.[7]
Today, BHGH operates in 15 U.S. cities: Baltimore, MD; Baton Rouge, LA; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Northeastern Ohio; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; San Francisco, CA; Southern California; and St. Louis, MO.[8]
There are three Latin American locations: Guatemala City, Guatemala; Lima, Peru; and Monterrey, Mexico.[9]
Societal benefits
Since 1991, 100 percent of BHGH U.S. alumni have enrolled in college after high school graduation. BHGH college retention rate is 89 to 94 percent, annually, compared to the national average of 66 percent.[10]
Funding
BHGH is supported by grants, gifts and donations from private individuals, foundations and corporations. Affiliates are responsible for their own funding and community contacts, while the national office, in St. Louis, Missouri, provides administrative and staff support.[11]
AmeriCorps provides BHGH volunteers to build community contacts with local organizations and businesses.[12] Duties include recruiting additional volunteers, like mentors and tutors, marketing their local BHGH, and becoming residential counselors.
The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund aids the New York BHGH affiliate.[13]
BHGH uses the Quality Performance Assessment Indicators (QPAI) test to ensure the program runs efficiently, including scholars are cared for and money is handled responsibly and effectively.[14]
References
- ↑ DeCesare, Nancy (2004). "Meeting the Academic Potential of Youth in Foster Care" (PDF). reclaiming children and youth 12 (4).
- ↑ "Boys Hope Girls Hope".
- ↑ "About", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "Her Parents Couldn’t Take Care of Her. This Home Could.", The New York Times, February 2007
- ↑ Nun wins award for helping young people overcome obstacles. Cincinnati Enquirer, September 1, 2005, p. C3.
- ↑ "History", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "History", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "FAQS", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "FAQS", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "Results", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "FAQS", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "FAQS", Boys Hope Girls Hope
- ↑ "Her Parents Couldn’t Take Care of Her. This Home Could.", The New York Times, February 2007
- ↑ "Assurance Standards", Boys Hope Girls Hope