DARKE COUNTY

INDIVIDUAL SERVICES

This service is offered to any youth who has an interest in the program for one-on-one support and is provided by one of Gateway’s Youth Advocates. Individual Services can be provided at the school, in the home, at Gateway, or any combination of the three. Youth Advocates work with families to meet in the families preferred setting. When requested, Gateway staff may attend any child related meeting and also will connect with the local schools to best serve and support an enrolled youth. Each child will complete an Individual Service Plan to work towards goal attainment.

GROUP SERVICES

A variety of after-school and in-school topic based groups are offered including programs to work on conflict resolution, anger management, organizational skills, character building, and self-esteem. This is typically presented in a “hands on” method to support youth with life’s many challenges while providing peer support. Gateway also offers court ordered programming on an as needed basis for the local courts.

ACHIEVEMENT  CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS – (ACES)

Through a collaborative effort with Darke County Education Service Center and Darke County schools, the Council on Rural Services offers an alternative education program for student’s grade 9 through 12 who are credit deficient or looking for an alternative learning environment. The program is designed with a philosophy that all students can learn and can succeed when the conditions are conducive to their personal and educational needs. The mission is to provide a structured and supportive environment for students that need a different educational choice in order for them to thrive. ACES provide a certified teacher, tutor aides and youth advocates that concentrate on an intense, long-term school program that moves students towards graduation. The coursework includes focused and specialized curriculum for the students. The program also incorporates activities and services that promote personal development, address prevention and intervention. We also provide workforce development to learn job readiness and life skills that enable them to become productive citizens. The referral process starts with the student’s home school administrator and permission of the student’s parents or guardian. At the conclusion of the student’s education with ACES, students receive a diploma from their home school.

TUTORING SERVICES

The tutoring program is offered after-school and during the summer months for students kindergarten through 12th grade. Students are provided one hour of one-on-one tutoring once a week with the program available Monday through Friday. After preliminary academic testing the students are assigned a tutor who meets individually with them at our Gateway building in Greenville and helps to address their academic needs. Volunteer tutors are recruited and trained to provide the individual tutoring with all volunteers fingerprinted (18 years plus) to ensure safety of the students enrolled.