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After School Enrichment Program |
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 IHFS operates the After School Enrichment Program to enhance the academic and social development of Eden Park area children from kindergarten through 6th grade. We serve over 50 boys and girls in the Carl J. Kuehner Community Center from Monday through Friday.
The staff includes a child care center director, certified teacher, program instructors and a computer instructor plus volunteer high school tutors. The children have a lively experience, instructional assistance, and an opportunity for growth and social interaction across ethnic lines.
Each weekday, children participate in reading group, math group, computer instruction, as well as physical education and enrichment activities, such as 4-H, Girl Scouts and First Tee. |
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Summer Enrichment Program(top) |
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 The Summer Enrichment Program operates during the eight to ten summer weeks when schools are not in session. The summer program is built upon science based themes to interest the children in science while enhancing their basic reading, math, and computer skills. In addition there are arts and crafts activities and field trips. Over 60 children are served through the program during the summer months.
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iTeens Program (top) |
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Launched in August of 2006, the iTeens Program is designed to promote community involvement, leadership development and crime prevention among IHFS’s teen population. The students meet daily from Monday through Friday and their activities include computer education, leadership development activities, field trips, cooking and mentoring of younger students. The activities are led by two youth counselors who work with the middle and high schools, the students and their parents to set individualized goals for each student and to measure their progress over time. |
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Computer Training(top) |
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 The Carl J. Kuehner Community Center features a computer lab with 12 computers stations. The lab serves students in all of the educational programs. The young children in the Early Beginnings Program use the computer lab for a computer literacy program called Come Children Sing. The students in grades K-6 use the lab daily. Not only do they have the opportunity to use the computers to play educational games and conduct Internet research, they use the computers to enhance their reading and math skills each day through a partnership with Brainchild Corporation. The adult students use the computers to complete assignments in their Adult Literacy classes. In addition to technical and academic skill development, computer training at IHFS helps to level the playing field for the adults and children.
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Residents' Council(top) |
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The Residents’ Council has an attendance of adults representing 40 to 50 households at its monthly meetings. It is held the third Thursday of each month. Typically one to two guest speakers are on the agenda dealing with a variety of concerns and needs as expressed by the residents. A Neighborhood Watch Committee was launched by the residents, in collaboration with the Collier County Sheriff's Office, to meet their concerns related to crime, safety and security. A Welcoming Committee allows seasoned residents to meet their new neighbors and share information about their community. The Appreciation Committee gives residents a way to express their gratitude to the many donors and volunteers that make IHFS's housing and programs successful. The Gardening Club supports residents to become involved in the community gardens located at Sanders Pines and Timber Ridge. The Club also supports residents who want to plant gardens in front or back of their rental units. The Gardening Club receives technical assistance from ECHO in Fort Myers and the Master Gardener program of the University of Florida IFAS Extension Office in Naples. |
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Adult Literacy Program (top) |
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English language skill is the key to upgrading the financial situation of many adult residents, as well as to help their children with academic achievement and upward development. Travel across town to language classes is not feasible for many residents. IHFS partners with the Immokalee Technical Center of the Collier County Public School system to provide adult literacy training to approximately 20 adults. The curriculum includes teaching materials and testing with assistance from Spanish and Creole speakers. |
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Early Beginnings Program (top) |
The Early Beginnings Program serves children ages 2-5 years old. The program is designed to promote school readiness and early literacy. IHFS has been approved as a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) provider, and eligible 4-year-olds are enrolled in the VPK classroom.
Daily lesson plans provide opportunities for children to learn through a variety of daily activities that are geared toward their stage of development. Early Beginnings uses a combination of High Scope and We Can, both of which represent high-quality curriculum choices for early childhood education. In addition, the Early Learning and Literacy Model (ELLM) is used in the VPK classroom.
Early Beginnings is operated as a stand-alone component of the family literacy model. The four components of family literacy include: adult literacy, early learning, parenting education and Parent and Child Together (PACT) time. When provided together, the four components of family literacy promote future academic success for young children from families in which English is a second language.
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Other Programs(top) |
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Other programs such as health, education and gardening are provided to improve the diets and general health awareness of the residents, and to promote a sense of community involvement. |
