Who we are

The Larch After School Program is an intensive customized program that has a high ratio of supports per child (1:4). Our goal is to increase the academic and social success of children between the ages of 8 and 14 whose parents lack the earnings, assets, experience, services or social support systems required to consistently meet their families’ needs.
The Larch After School Program does this in three distinctive ways:

Customized Learning Plans, Collaborative Approach and Focus on Community Involvement.

1. Customized Learning Plans: These are the essential building blocks of our program. Each child in the program has a “Larch Individualized Learning Plan” (LILP) developed for him or her. Throughout the course of the program year, the LILP remains as a living document and is regularly re-evaluated and modified to ensure that the child is experiencing an environment conducive to optimal learning. Children are encouraged to learn, grow and overcome challenges through structured reading and writing activities as well as a math program and the careful use of reward & incentive programs.

2. Collaborative Approach: Commitment and participation from parents, children, teachers and volunteers creates the synergy critical to the success of the program. Our program staff takes the time to meet individually with parents and teachers to create and modify the LILP according to the individual child’s ongoing needs. Staff then debrief with volunteers at the end of each session to assess the day’s experiences including the successes, the challenges, the need for change. Adjustments can then be made and required support can be provided.

3. Community Involvement: This is an essential key to our success. The program leaders and many of the volunteers live in or around the community in which the program is situated and are able to support these children on an ongoing basis; even outside of program hours. We know that a child’s context (i.e. home and community life) can affect their ability to learn and as such, we created a unique “Family Encouragement Plan”. These plans are in place to ensure that the child’s family is supported as they deal with life challenges so that those challenges do not in turn overwhelm the children and negatively influence their ability to learn. We stand in the gap for these families- whether they need connections with appropriate agencies, schools supplies, funding for school trips, food hampers or just a listening ear. Supporting a child’s family is equivalent to supporting a child’s ability to learn.

Ultimately, our program helps to alleviate the effects of poverty by helping parents to access academic, financial and other supports available to children in low income families. Through our program, children from economically and socially challenged families are able to participate more equitably in school and recreational activities, and receive the type of after school supports that more affluent children enjoy. Children that participate in the Larch After School Program are more successful and as a result, their families are stronger, more involved and feel a sense of pride because they see their children succeed.