The Guidance Center is awarded a $500,000
Promise Neighborhoods planning grant
from the U.S. Department of Education
Local agency, based in Southgate,
one of 21 organizations nationwide
to receive funding for the
River Rouge Promise Neighborhoods Initiative
Southgate, MI – On September 21, 2010 at 2 p.m. at a press conference in Washington, D.C, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that The Guidance Center has been awarded a $500,000 Promise Neighborhoods planning grant for the River Rouge Promise Neighborhoods Initiative. Joining him for the announcement were U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, and Director of White House Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes.
The Guidance Center was one of 21 nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to receive the grant. More than 300 communities from 48 states and the District of Columbia submitted applications for Promise Neighborhoods planning grants.
With the one-year grants, the recipients will create plans to provide cradle-to-career services that improve the educational achievement and healthy development of children. The planning grants of up to $500,000 will support the work in a diverse set of communities in major metropolitan areas, small and medium-size cities, rural areas, and one Indian reservation. To address the challenges faced by students living in communities of concentrated poverty, Promise Neighborhoods grantees and their partner organizations will plan to provide services from early learning to college and career, including programs to improve the health, safety and stability of neighborhoods, and boost family engagement in student learning.
The Guidance Center will work with Superintendent Dr. Carlos Lopez and the River Rouge Public Schools in three low performing schools – Clarence Sabbath Elementary, Ann Visger Middle Academy, and a two-tier high school comprised of New Tech High and Middle College High. The school district and The Guidance Center have strong and multi-faceted ties, making both parties ideal partners to champion a Promise Neighborhood initiative to transform the school district.
“Communities across the country recognize that education is the one true path out of poverty,” Secretary Duncan said. “These Promise Neighborhoods applicants are committed to putting schools at the center of their work to provide comprehensive services for young children and students.”
A large group of partners have signed on to help with this significant program bring a wealth and variety of perspectives and resources from the social, economic and environmental sectors. Individual agencies representing human services, education, healthcare, government, employment and business include The Guidance Center, the River Rouge School District, the City of River Rouge, Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, Wayne County Community College District, Oakwood Healthcare System, PIRC Satellite, United Way Early Learning Community, Bright Smiles LLC, Creative Community Pathways, Creative Change Educational Solutions, E-three Labs, and Employment Training Designs. Collective membership partners include the Downriver Community Conference, Wayne County Systems of Care, the River Rouge Prevention Policy Board, the Great Start Collaborative-Wayne, and the Fort Visger Community Development Corporation.
Since 1958, The Guidance Center has responded to the ever-changing needs of Downriver and Southeast Michigan residents as an innovative leader providing quality behavioral health, prevention and educational program services to children, adults and families. The private, non-profit agency serves more than 24,500 children, adults and families each year.
