Fiver believes that the widespread child poverty represents the greatest single obstacle to a better future for all of New York’s youth. As research has shown, children from economically disadvantaged homes have substantial academic, financial, and social service needs which make them at-risk of not completing high school successfully and not entering and completing college.
Fiver has gathered significant data on the children and families we serve. Forty-two percent (42%) of Fiver children come from single parent homes and an additional 8% resided with other relatives or foster parents. Analysis of the data on parents’ highest level of education revealed that 15.1% of the participants' mothers had not completed high school. About one in three mothers (31.1%) earned a high school diploma or GED, and another one in three (31.9%) attended some college classes without earning a degree. About one in ten (11.2%) earned an associate’s degree and one in ten (9.7%) earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The level of education of the participants' fathers was somewhat lower than that of their mothers. One in five (19.0%) of the fathers had not completed high school, and 45.6% had only a high school degree or GED. One in four (26.2%) of the fathers had attended some college, 6.8% earned an associate’s degree, and only 2.3% had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Overall, the parents of Fiver children are employed in positions at the lower-middle to lower-end of the occupational scale. Over half of the children’s mothers work in positions categorized as clerical/administrative/retail sales (22.1%) and paraprofessional/hospital aide/school safety (29.4%). Seventeen percent identified themselves as homemakers and nearly one in ten were retired/disabled, students, or unemployed. About one in ten were employed in middle managerial positions, education, or uniformed services. The occupations in which the highest percentages of fathers were employed included trades/mechanics/ construction (21.1%), maintenance/custodial labor (18.0%), and transportation/delivery/postal worker (14.2%).
Measuring Outcomes
The following are excerpts from Fiver’s three-year, external, longitudinal evaluation completed in July 2009. For more information please refer to the summary research reports also listed below.
Quality Time
Fiver and its ten year commitment to participants are providing a sound logic model for the attainment of its ultimate goals, high school completion and success in college and life.
Familial Support
A parent focus group revealed that the work of Fiver’s year-round counselors was instrumental in helping parents deal with educational, social-emotional and familial problems.
Academic Advancement
Out of 73 high school seniors engaged with Fiver for eight or more years, 95% graduated from high school or received their GED compared to only 61% of their NYC peers. 88% of high school graduates enrolled in college.
Positive Habits
Across four summers, Fiver participants generally reported lower incidences of risky behaviors and higher incidences of healthy behaviors than norm groups of NYC children.
In 2008, compared to a norm group of 2007 NYC children, Fiver participants reported:
Lower levels of alcohol and drug use
Higher levels of participation in team sports, regular physical activity and more nutritious dietary behaviors
Fiver’s unique decade-long commitment to each child is the backbone of our program. With each passing year, participants gain life skills, build character, strengthen relationships and make great strides toward their goals and dreams. Children and teens progress through four stages during their tenure with Fiver. Graduation from each stage marks another milestone on their way to becoming empowered leaders.
Years One through Four: LEARN Program (Ages 8-12)
Fiver is a place for me. I leaned to use my words not my fist. This kid was calling me names and I started to talk. Now he is a changed person. Yeah I still have a long way to go but I learned more. I think the more kids go there the better. Because one kid goes one hundred will know. One person can change a lot so, Camp Fiver is teaching me, and I am teaching my friends. It’s deeper than that but my friend can keep on going on. They can help our environment. Not mines, not yours, OUR. Look at Barack Obama for example. Look what he accomplished. Think what we can accomplish. I guess alot. So that is why I want to go back to Camp Fiver.
Malik, age 10, Brooklyn, NY
Years Five and Six: TAP Program (Ages 13-14)
I would like to continue my fun experiences with Fiver! With Fiver, I have learned and accomplished so many things in life and it is very easy to get through my life issues. My first year at Fiver, I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I have found a place where I fit in.’
Monique, age 14, Brooklyn, NY
Years Seven and Eight: LEAD Program (Ages 15-16)
First, Fiver provides me with great opportunities for the future. Fiver teaches me how to be a leader and how to use ethics and make ethical decisions. This will help me in everyday life and towards the future. Another reason why I want to continue with Fiver is because of the activities such as the car wash and the debate. The car wash was a very enjoyable experience because I felt good about making money for a good cause. I loved the debate because I learned how to argue both sides and how to use facts as a weapon. Last but not least, I am excited to join the second year LEADers in 2009.
Hillary, age 15, Pawling, NY
Years Nine and Ten: SERVE Program (Ages 17-18)
I am myself in the purest of forms when I am at Fiver. I would love nothing more than to be a SERVE Member and share my experiences with the younger children. I would love to show the kids and counselors all that Fiver offers. Who would know more about Fiver than an actual Fiver Veteran? I cannot imagine my life without Fiver. I have gone back every year to my wonderful friends and personal sanctuary. As a SERVE Member, I will do anything to help out and make everything move as smoothly as possible. I am a well rounded worker and can handle everything from children to paperwork. I guess I have Fiver to thank for that.
Bibi, age 18, Manhattan, NY
Outreach Programs
One on One Attention
Through individual meetings with participants, parents, school counselors and community partners, Program Counselors provide year-round support for Fiver families. These Counselors assist children and teens with goal-setting, planning for the future, academic achievement and referrals to community resources. Fiver participants and family members may be referred to after-school programs, individual and family counseling, tutoring or job training programs, and ESL classes. In addition, each child’s Counselor is his or her personal link to Fiver. Through this Counselor, participants and families are informed of upcoming events and are enrolled in Fiver programs.
Support for Parents
The Fiver Parent Advisory Council (PAC) promotes parent involvement by offering workshops, support, social events, and information to parents throughout the year. The highlight of the year is the Annual Parent Retreat at Camp Fiver. A record 73 parents attended the third annual overnight trip to the camp facility in Poolville, NY. Fiver parents expressed the sheer joy they felt in doing the activities and in understanding the feeling of belonging that their children experience each summer at Camp Fiver.
Parent Advisory Council Accomplishments:
Monthly PAC Meetings
6 Bus Stop Brunches (Pre-Camp Informational Meetings)
Workshops: Communicating Effectively with your Child, College Admissions and Financial Aid
73 parents attended the Third Annual Parent Retreat at Camp Fiver
Enhancing Literacy
Fiver developed a literacy curriculum, Exploring Your World, and facilitated book club meetings at three community partner sites: Mercy Center, Maura Clarke-Ita Ford Center and CAMBA. Through this program, Fiver counselors meet monthly with groups of elementary-age children who read and discuss books around themes of tolerance, giving back, and exploring individuality. Participants take home a new book each month for their personal library.
Support for Teens
Teen Talk and Teen Leadership Council are two programs giving teens a forum for discussing and learning about issues they face at home and at school. Teen Leadership Council provides opportunities for teens to practice leadership skills and to engage their peers in community service projects. Teen Talk brings together groups of 8th and 9th graders to learn about peer pressure, healthy relationships, and positive decision-making.
Transitional Programs
Step-Up to Middle School
The transition from elementary to middle school can me a tough one. Fiver’s Step-Up to Middle School programs aims to provide social and academic support to 5th and 6th graders and their families during this transition. The program consists of workshops and individualized follow up for 5th grade families during the middle school application process. The program also offers middle school readiness workshops for 6th graders prior to starting middle school as well as monthly support workshops in the fall of their 6th grade year. Cultivating a fun and safe environment, the program promotes goal-setting, follow-up and planning for the future and stresses the importance of middle school performance as a foundation for future success.
Step-Up to High School
I love Fiver because it’s like my home. I feel safe and surrounded by many wonderful people. Next year in September 2009 I am going to high school and this is the biggest reason why I want to go back to Fiver. I want to find my courage to go to high school and I guess the place to find it is at Fiver.
Dulce, age 13, Queens, NY
Applying to public high school in New York City can be as extensive and overwhelming a process as applying to colleges. School counselors are often overworked and have large numbers of students to guide through the process, which unfortunately can leave bright and talented New York City students settling for poorly performing schools. Fiver’s Step-up to High School program provides a counselor who helps eighth graders and parents navigate the New York City application process. Program components include: workshops, individual counseling, and exam preparation.
30 8th graders took part in the Step Up to High School program in 2008
Step-Up to College
Fiver helped me with my college choices and when applying for college you need all the help you can get. My first semester at college was successful and I hope that every semester at college is even better than the one before!
Kourtney, age 18, Fiver graduate, SUNY Albany freshman
Step-Up to College is an extensive college-planning program that educates and prepares Fiver juniors and seniors for the transition out of high school and into college. A Fiver counselor provides participants and their parents with information and access to resources that will give them a more competitive edge in the college application process. The program consists of workshops to assist with applications, essays and financial aid, individual counseling, SAT prep classes, and college tours.
College Partners:
Fiver has established relationships with colleges and universities interested in recruiting Fiver seniors to attend their schools. Fiver works with these partners to schedule visits and interviews and to explore scholarship opportunities for high school seniors. Current partner schools include:
24 Colleges visited by Fivers teens in the last 3 years
23 High school juniors and seniors benefitted from an SAT prep class in 2008
Colgate University Partnership:
Camp Fiver is located only four miles from Colgate University, an historic liberal arts college in Hamilton, NY. Colgate has enthusiastically joined with Fiver to enhance programs.
Some areas of collaboration include:
Colgate Students for Fiver: this club was established to connect Colgate students with Fiver participants in a mentoring relationship.
Colgate student volunteers in the Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (C.O.V.E.) Program assist with pre and post camp facility preparations.
The Colgate Admissions Office provides an orientation for our Teen Adventure Program (TAP) participants on the Colgate campus.
The Department of Outdoor Education leads groups of TAP participants on Colgate’s low-ropes course and indoor rock climbing wall.
Step-Up to Work
My experience with the interns from the Fiver Children’s Foundation has been phenomenal. I am extremely happy with their level of professionalism, their preparedness, and their willingness to learn new things and take on new tasks. Thank you once again for your Fiver interns. These hard working young people have been an asset to our agency.
Hope Campbell, Anti-Violence Project, New York City
Internships
SERVE members, Fiver’s 17 and 18 year-old participants take part in an eight week summer internship that includes four weeks working at Camp Fiver and four weeks in New York City-based internships in a variety of corporate and non-profit settings. This program gives Fiver teens an opportunity to gain exposure to the professional world, to give back to the Fiver community, and gain valuable work experience while making a positive impact.
13 Summer internship placement sites in 2008 up from 5 sites in 2006
31 SERVE teens held internships through the Step Up to Work program
10 Participants with paid summer positions through Fiver in 2006
26 in 2007
64 in 2008
2008 Internship Placement Sites:
Big Apple Visual Group
Danois Architect
Emma Bowen Foundation
Fortress Investment Group
Group Four Design
Indiana Market & Catering
Marymount Manhattan College
New York Congregational Nursing Center
AVP- New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project
Pieces
Random House Inc.
Siegel and Gale
United Nations Association of the USA
Summer Programs
Camp Fiver
One hundred twenty-five children attend during each of four sessions for a total of approximately 500 participants throughout the summer. Fiver's leadership and character development program is the core of the Fiver experience.
The Camp Fiver curriculum includes everything from African Dance to Ethical Decision-Making to Wilderness Survival classes. The 129-acre camp property includes a lake, a river, wetlands and woodlands, a dining hall, learning center with computer lab, health center, horse barn, athletic fields, tennis and basketball courts, pavilion and a swimming pool.
Summer in the City
This five-week leadership development program for LEAD participants complements the three-week Camp Fiver experience for 15 and 16 year-old teens. The program focuses on cultural outings, career orientation, health curriculum, community service projects, and leadership training.
