Programs and Partnerships

Kid Zone

Our offices are frequently filled with children; mostly from the Washington Park area. Noticing this the staff decided to formally designate the C2C offices on Monday and Wednesday evenings afterschool as KID ZONE. During this time several team members are on hand to play games, help with homework and provide a little snack. The kids range any where from 4-12 years in age. Other activities during kid zone have included pumpkin carving and movie nights.

Girls Group

The C2C team noticed the need for a place where young girls could go and have interaction with a positive female role model who was not an authority figure. The location was key, because the facility and program had to be easily accessible. A space right in Washington Park Neighborhood is utilized, where it is only a couple blocks away to many young teen girls. The primary goal was to provide these girls with a safe, fun, judgment free environment where they would feel relaxed, comfortable about asking questions, and confident to be themselves. It was also felt that having such a place made available to them at least once a week would be beneficial because it would allow them to get out of their house and alleviate the state of boredom kids constantly find themselves in.

"After spending some time with these young ladies and seeing the potential they hold, we hope to assist them in becoming aware of their full potential and encourage them to get involved in various things they may be interested in, as well as introducing them to new experiences. Our team is dedicated to providing support and connecting them with resources that are out in the community. We are continuously putting forth an effort to enhance our relationship with these young ladies and their families."
        ~Comment by a Girls Group facilitator

Time together is usually spent playing games while the facilitators spark some type of conversation. C2C Outreach Organizers engage the girls in various activities such as board games, card games, ice breakers, crafts, drawing or journaling in their notebooks about themes provided by a facilitator. On occasion, guest facilitators are invited in to share new experiences with the girls and at times, they are taken to various activities, and events out in the community.

The program thus far has been a success. They have had the opportunity to create new friendships among themselves and with the C2C staff. The girls are becoming more and more comfortable discussing multiple life issues, and expressing themselves freely. As a result, C2C Outreach Organizers have attended a Girls Circle training, to strengthen their skills.

Boys Council

What is Boys Council?
Boys Council is a strengths-based group approach to promote healthy masculinity development for boys and young men from ages 9-18. Boys Council focuses on boy’s natural strengths and broadens their understanding about being male in today’s world.
Boys Council engages boys in activities, dialogue, and self-expression to question stereotypical concepts and to increase boys’ emotional, social and cultural literacy by promoting valuable relationships with peers and adult role models.

How does Boys Council work?
Each week, a group of six to ten boys meet with Federico Diaz, the facilitator with Commitment to Community, for 2 to 3 hours. To participate, boys need only have the interest, make a commitment to attend the meetings, and follow the council agreements which include: no put-down or interruptions, offer experience – not advice and to keep what’s said in the group confidential.
What does Boys Council do?

Boys Council brings together middle and high school boys ages 9-18 from the Washington Park Neighborhood to discuss a range of issues that effect boys and young men, build confidence, security and belonging, offer fun and non-stressful activities, challenge boys to take healthy, safe, legal and relational risks, and to build trust, brotherhood, and self respect.

For information about Community Center for Youth (CCY), please visit their site at http://wwccy.org/about.html

Washington Park After School Recreation Program

Since January 2009, C2C in partnership with the City of Walla Walla Parks & Recreation Department, and the Walla Walla Housing Authority, has offered an open gym recreational program to local youth after school, with attendees choosing to play indoor soccer on a regular basis. This program follows the Walla Walla School District calendar. Hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday, 3:30-5:30 pm.  C2C Outreach Organizer, Federico Diaz, and Parks & Recreation Supervisor, Andy Coleman along with a couple of other staff members, have been successful in drawing in up to 20 neighborhood kids, ages 8-17.  

Y on Wheels

Branching out into other areas of Walla Walla, the YMCA began the Y on Wheels program in November 2010. Located at the C2C neighborhood office, this program serves children in the Washington Park neighborhood after school on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. With arts and crafts, games, healthy snacks, and recreation, children in Kindergarten to 5th grade enjoy a healthy positive place to play and socialize three days a week.For more information about YMCA of Walla Walla please visit their site: http://wwymca.org

YWCA Fun Factory

Every summer the YWCA’s Fun Factory makes it way through Walla Walla Valley. Serving more than 1,400 children, YWCA employees along with the children make crafts and play games. The Fun Factory van has weekly sessions in all three C2C neighborhoods.

For more information about YWCA please visit their site: http://www.ywcaww.org/

North Side After School Homework Club  

In March of 2008, C2C responded to neighbors' concerns to implement an after-school program which provides a healthy snack, homework help, recreational sports, arts and music to elementary age children, grades K-5. The program operated at the North Side Seventh Day Adventist Church located at 13th & Dell. At different times, C2C has partnered with Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla University and Children's Home Society, all of whom have provided a supervisor. In general, the North Side Neighborhood Center maintains a safe and supportive environment that students attend because they enjoy the activities and have fun with friends. For more information about CHS please visit their site: http://www.childrenshomesociety.org/

Community Navigation 

In an effort to strengthen families and build community, C2C staff has taken on the role of Community Navigators in a partnership with the Division of Children and Family Services. The Goals of the Community Navigators will be to work with clients to:

• Increase child safety by reduced isolation
• Reduce out of home placement
• Reduce time for reunification once placed out of home
• Reduce time to achieve permanency plan

It is the hope that C2C, in conjunction with DCFS social workers, will be able to serve 20 families within the year. Most of these families live in one of the three neighborhoods C2C Outreach Organizers are frequently seen in; thus, relationships and trust are already established. A support system through C2C outreach for implementing a communication plan for the family and systems will help to insure that family goals have been achieved.