Programs | since 1994

Aha! – At Home Internet Access for Students

Aha! provides at home internet service to Wilkes County public school students who live in households which don’t have the internet. An estimated 40% of Washington-Wilkes students lack internet access at home, almost always for financial reasons. This obstacle to learning is now even more significant because the coronavirus pandemic increased the amount of distance and virtual learning. At home access to the internet is now more important than ever for all students.

To address this learning gap, the Wilkes County Community Partnership developed Aha!, a partnership with Relyant Communications and the Wilkes County Board of Education. Aha! provides at home internet service and computer equipment to “Internet Scholars” nominated by the Board of Education, all at no cost to the student or the family. The Wilkes County Community Partnerships raises money for these “Internet Scholarships” from individuals and organizations.

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Annual Legislative Breakfast

For twenty years, the Annual Legislative Breakfast has been held each year during the first week of December. National, state and local elected representatives brief area residents on upcoming legislative issues and activities. In addition to the elected officials, reports and updates are also provided by the Wilkes County Community Partnership leadership.

A-Star

A nationally recognized innovative and research-based, community after-school tutorial and recreation program located in five neighborhood centers throughout the county. For 15 years, A-STAR served 125 youth daily during the academic year with focus on school success (homework assistance and tutoring), prevention programming, scouting, recreational and enrichment activities, parent education and parent involvement. (Since November 2011, this program has been in suspension until a primary funding source is secured.)

COVID 19 RESPONSE PROGRAM

Wilkes CCP is serving and meeting the needs of our Washington-Wilkes community during the pandemic by making utility payments, providing WiFi, grocery distribution, and more. Click below for a full report on our response effort.

COVID 19 RESPONSE

THE JUMPSTART PROGRAM

A home-based early intervention and parent education program for 40-50 high risk families and their infants, ages 0-36 months, promoting the Parents As Teachers (PAT) Research/Evidence-Based curriculum, parent education, parent support/group connections, life skills, health, nutrition and wellness, adult education, family resource and referral, service coordination, and employment highlights.

Parent and child successes have included: 953 home visitations, and 951 follow-up visits by Home Parent Educators during the past year; 0 confirmed incidents of child abuse cases; 7 children ready for Head Start. Early ID of developmental delays and referrals to Babies Can't Wait; Jumpstart parents enrolled in local GED program. An example of one parent's achievement follows: In 2011, one of our JumpStart parents, the mother of two sons, received her Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Augusta State University in Augusta, satisfying degree and teacher certification requirements in Secondary English-Language Arts Education.

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL

This national program provided 3 books per year to 525 children at the Washington-Wilkes Primary School. (After successfully operating for 10 years) this program ended December 2011, due to funding cuts.)

Summer Program

4 to 6-week day-camp during June and/or July serving approximately 160 children in one central location with supervised indoor and outdoor activities, swimming, sports, and special life skills and enrichment projects such as woodworking, cooking, arts and crafts, drama, dance, music, and gardening. According to law enforcement officials, "There has been no juvenile crime in the city during the months of summer camp during the twenty year summer camp history".

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (WIOA/ORBIT)

A program for 15 high risk out-of-school youth (OSY) yearly promoting job and employability skill training and work ethics emphasizing: attendance, goal-setting, teamwork, appearance, attitude, time management, organizational and communication skills, respect, mentoring and leadership.

Results: Since 1999, 155 WIOA/ORBIT Youth have successfully completed the GA Teen Leadership Institute and graduated from high school going on to college or technical schools, the military or gainful employment. Currently, ORBIT youth are participating in on-the-job training while in school. While in high school, students developed a prevention skit and "rap"/dance that has been presented locally to civic groups, the Board of Education, and in several CSRA counties, and at the SWAH Youth Summit in Perry. A Youth Action Underage Drinking Prevention Team was formed to influence their peers in the Washington-Wilkes community. The ORBIT youth have served as registration clerks, greeters, and tour guides at the GABEO Convention held in Washington and for several years have assisted the local Police Department with their "Toys for Tots" program at Christmas.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Training for 10 high school youth developing skills in decision-making, community assessment, serving as peer educators on underage drinking and tobacco use prevention.