Indiana University Southeast receives Champion for Children Award from Youth Link

Youth Link has recently recognized Indiana University Southeast with the Champion for Children Award. The award has been given to the school because of its committed partnership with Youth Link as well as the University’s leadership within Youth Link programs like the 21st Century Community Learning Center. The award was accepted at Youth Link’s annual meeting by the school’s Chancellor Debbie Ford.

In an article posted on Indiana University Southeast’s website about the award, Chancellor Ford was quoted as saying, “The work that we do with Youth Link, it is the future of our community. I may see someone in elementary school, middle school, or high school, but really what I see is a future IU Southeast graduate who is a future leader in our community. It is a partnership that matters to us and we look forward to what is next.”

Youth Link’s annual report showed that Indiana University Southeast has been an important partner to the organization since its initial founding. IU’s School of Education closely partners with the 21st Century Community Learning Center programs in order to provide the staff there with professional development training, as well as the students at the Learning Center where it offers college and career readiness opportunities.

Indiana University Southeast also serves as a field trip destination for Youth Link’s high school and middle school 21stCCLC students, where they get to tour the campus. IU Southeast was also one of Youth Link’s title sponsors for their Play Like A Kid event. The University also has two faculty members who serve on the organization’s Board of Directors: School of Natural Sciences professor Dr. Sridhar Ramachandran and School of Education professor Dr. Sau Hou Chang.

School of Education faculty member and Indiana University Southeast Board of Advisors member Jacquelyn Singleton was also quoted about the school’s work with Youth Link, saying, “It’s a wonderful chance for my students to share what they’ve learned in class…Our teacher candidates have worked after school care jobs, volunteered to read with English Language Learners, and just pitched in where needed. I value our partnership with Youth Link tremendously – it’s a great opportunity for my candidates to get hands on experience while also giving back to the community.” 

Previously operating under the name Communities In Schools of Clark County, Youth Link Southern Indiana began in 2002 with the goal of improving school achievement. The organization partners with each of the four school districts in Clark County as well as New Albany High School in Floyd County. Youth Link provides programming, support, and resources to all of the 19 schools it serves, including after school programming, mental health services, basic needs resources, mentoring, and tutoring. 

The model of services that Youth Link Southern Indiana provides is designed to make sure that the entire community works together to ensure the success of its students. In the past few years, over a thousand students took advantage of the services offered by Youth Link, with many of them improving their grades or maintaining a C average.

More information about Youth Link can be found at the organization’s website.

More information about Indiana University Southeast can be found at the school’s website.