Coi Partners with Ripley Central School

Pictured Left to Right: Dr. John Hamels, Ripley School Superintendent; Deborah Kathman, Chautauqua Striders; Kathy Webster, COI Director of Youth, Early Care, and Education, Director, Head Start/Early Head Start; Roberta Keller COI Executive Director; Reverend Marie Hanselman, First Presbyterian Church Ripley; Pastor Bruce Winans, Foursquare Gospel Church Ripley; Bob Bentley, Ripley School Board President

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. in a partnership with the Ripley Central School District, has been awarded and Advantage After School grant from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. The grant has been awarded in the amount of $152,449 for the establishment of an after school program at Ripley Central School for elementary, middle and high school students. The project is a cooperative effort that includes components from a number of area agencies and local churches in order to ensure that a variety of social, emotional and academic activities are offered.

Tutors from Chautauqua striders will be available for academic assistance to all age groups.  The school's computer lab, distance learning lab, library and theRipley Free Library will be available during the program's hours of operation that will run from 3 p.m. - 6 pp.m. when school is in session.  The Chautauqua Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Council will provide three separate programs to educate youth on substance abuse and promote school retention.  BOCES will provide a school-to-work component, and Rural Ministries and the Corenell Copperative Extension are offering nutritional programs

to educate children about healthy food choices and food preparation. rural Ministries will also offer a "Kids's Cafe" to provide nutritiousmeals and snacks.

COI Executive Director Roberta Keller states "we are very pleased to have been given an opportunity to work collaboratively with the Ripley School District, local Churches, Chautauqua Striders and other community service providers to bring after school programming to the young people of Ripley.  We don't oftern see the state acknowledge the needs of our more rural residents by providing funds to operate thises types of programs in smaller outlying districts."  Teen skll development activities focusing on resolving conflict, anger management, emotional awareness, life skills, and decision making will be available on site from COI"s Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program.  Ripley School Board President Bob Bently says "COI will receive the full support of theRipley School Board with this program."

The Project is anticipated to begin this November 1st.  For more information on the Advantage After School Program please contact Kathy Webster, COI Director of Yout, Early Care and Education, Director of Head Start/Early Head Start at 366-8176.

Group leaders discuss the implementation process on the new after school program.