Programs

Core Programs

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga has a lineup of tested and proven nationally-recognized programs. These Core Programs address today’s most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life.  The Club’s programs meet developmental needs in five core areas.

Character & Leadership

The BGCC helps youth become responsible caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process is the main thrust of these programs. These programs develop leadership skills and provide opportunities for planning, decision-making, contributing to Club and community, and celebrating our national heritage. Members learn to appreciate responsibility, service, diversity, and aspiration.

Education & Career

The BGCC helps youth create aspirations for the future, providing opportunities for career exploration and educational enhancement through free tutoring, help with homework, and programs to supplement classroom work! With young members, our programs instill the need for good study habits and that learning can be fun. For older members, programs assist in creating academic goals and devising a plan to reach those goals.

Health & Life Skills

The BGCC helps youth understand that leading healthy, active lifestyles leads to success as well. Members learn about nutrition to form healthy eating habits. Prevention programs teach the consequences of using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The Clubs help members to make healthy and positive choices.

Sports & Fitness

The BGCC helps develop fitness, a positive use of leisure time, reduction of stress, appreciation for the environment, and social and interpersonal skills. Our programs instill a sense of responsibility that is enhanced though our sports teams and games. Members learn the importance of trust and reliability through teamwork.

The Arts

The BGCC helps young people enhance self-expression and creativity, develop multicultural appreciation, provide exposure to and develop skills in crafts and visual, performing, and literary arts.

College Bound-Scholarships

The College Bound program provides older Club members with tutoring, high school preparation counseling, grade tracking, college preparation counseling, ACT/SAT preparation and assistance, and college tours.  College Bound participants have the opportunity for college financial assistance through the Boys & Girls Club Scholarship program.

In 2008, we celebrated our first two young ladies to graduate through the College Bound Program.

Results: Programs Are Effective

The Club’s programs are effective and impact thousands of these boys and girls, year after year:

  • Over 3000 boys and girls served in four inner-city locations at end of 2008
  • 1261 girls served at end of 2008
  • Over 25,000 boys and girls have been members of the Club since 1955
  • 90% of members who took part in the Club’s leadership and educational programs had no involvement in delinquent activities
  • 89% of students who took part in the Club’s leadership and educational programs, and were eligible, graduated from high school
  • Average GPA increased by 15% for members who participate in the Club’s educational programs
  • Over 200 alumni have attended college with financial support provided by the Club’s College Bound scholarship program.

 

Collaboration Enhances Our Services

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga provide the best possible range of services and programs for children through partnerships and support of other community organizations including:

  • Bi-Lo
  • Boy Scouts
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  • Chattanooga Department of Parks & Recreation
  • Chattanooga Housing Authority
  • Chattanooga State Dental Program
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Food Bank
  • Hamilton County Health Department
  • Kastle Instructional Recovery
  • Krimson Kourts
  • Lee University
  • Marion Environmental
  • Police department
  • Schools (Public & Private)
  • Sodexho
  • Southern Adventist University
  • Taco Bell
  • United Way of Greater Chattanooga
  • Unum
  • UTC Athletics
  • Youthworks

Youth Development Strategy

The Club’s Youth Development Strategy is to instill a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and power or influence in young people. Boys and girls are encouraged, inspired and enabled to:

  • Believe in themselves and be able to set and achieve goals
  • Have the knowledge, skills, strategies and attitude necessary to create a foundation for success
  • Develop the resourcefulness and desire to stay in school, become employable, sustain positive relationships with others, express emotions in appropriate ways, and respect and tolerate differences among people.
  • Have a sense of belonging and civic responsibility to their family, school, group and community
  • Participate in fitness activities and positive behaviors for better health and well-being, use sound judgment about personal safety, nutrition and avoidance of alcohol and drugs, and premature sexual activity
  • Maintain a sense of values including honesty, justice and fairness, respect, caring and spirituality.

These are accomplished through on-going relationships with peers and caring adults who influence each child’s ability to succeed in life, as well as through enjoyable Club programs and activities that engage young people while supporting positive development.

Providing Young People With Opportunity

The Club reaches young people with the greatest obstacles and least opportunities in life. The Club breaks the cycle of poverty and hopelessness by providing young people with opportunities to understand the importance of education, earn a living, build stable families, and give back to their communities.

Unique System of Guidance

The services we provide are based on principles of behavioral guidance through the educational and vocational development, character and leadership development, health and social development of our members.

Our Clubs are facility-based but they are more than a building and more than a program. They are a unique system of guidance – with daily access to a safe and affordable place where there are diverse programs and activities that attract young people, and caring adult professionals who know how to guide and influence them positively.

For many young people, the Club is one of the few places where they feel truly welcomed, cared for, accepted and included.