Programs

While IHAD's scholarship commitment is important, it is the ongoing, personalized services each Class Project Coordinator provides to his/her Dreamers throughout their formative years that makes the IHAD model such a success nationwide. Each class is assigned a Project Coordinator who maintains personal relationships with the Dreamers and their families and serves as a support and resource for academic and personal problems. Project Coordinators provide referrals to other agencies to meet overall family needs, and serve as a liaison between Dreamers and their families and school.

Other programs and activities available to the Dreamers include:

After-school Learning Centers and Computer Labs
IHAD currently operates six after-school learning centers. Three are located in community centers at low-income public housing sites (Kalmia, Broadway and Casa de la Esperanza). Three are school-based located at Pioneer Elementary School, Sanchez Elementary School, and Columbine Elementary School. These centers provide Dreamers with healthy snacks, help with homework, and access to tutors, books, supplies and computers for school projects.

Academic Assistance
Volunteer tutors are recruited, screened and placed with Dreamers to provide one-on-one tutoring and assistance with homework. Tutors meet with Dreamers at least twice a week at the after-school learning center or at schools and local libraries.

Mentoring, Counseling and Outreach
Provides Dreamers with long-term, reliable, and supportive relationships with concerned and caring adults. Adult volunteer mentors are recruited, screened, trained and placed with every interested Dreamer to provide one-on-one guidance and support and serve as positive role models. Project Coordinators provide Dreamers with ongoing support and resources for academic and personal problems. The Program also increases parental involvement through home visits, workshops and questionnaires.

Cultural, Educational and Community Service Activities
Offered every month, field trips are designed to broaden Dreamer and Dreamer family experiences, involve them in the community, and provide incentives to reward positive behavior.

Monthly Dreamer Meetings
Meetings focus on a variety of subjects including resume writing and interviewing skills, coping with peer pressure, career opportunities, ACT/SAT preparation, and leadership skills.

Career Choices and College Preparation
Provides work-based learning services to enhance student motivation and academic achievement, increase personal and social competence related to work, and to provide career exploration and planning. Tours of workplaces, job shadowing, career mentoring and paid internships are offered. College preparation includes academic counseling, college visits, ACT/SAT preparation, assistance with college admission forms, and a weekend college camp held at the University of Colorado.

CU Dreamer Day
The CU "I Have a Dream"® Committee hosts this annual event to increase Dreamer familiarity with the campus and college life and show Dreamers that college is a real possibility for them. Dreamers actually shadow a CU student for a day and attend workshops on Admissions/Financial Aid and Career Exploration.

Summer Adventure Program
Dreamers participate in a 6-week program featuring recreational and educational field trips, reading and writing literacy assignments, art projects and community service projects. In addition, Dreamers participate in several area camps, such as Colorado Youth Program, Meet the Wilderness and Climbing for Life.

Adopt-a-Family
Each holiday season, community members provide gifts to those families most in need.

AmeriCorps Program
IHAD has received a federal grant to recruit AmeriCorps service volunteers that serve as case managers, mentors, tutors and volunteer coordinators for Dreamers and their families.