2021 COMBAT Funding: $88,347.00

In Operation Breakthrough's Own Words

Operation Breakthrough's violence prevention efforts in 2021 mostly will include the Committee for Children’s (research-based) Second Steps and Steps to Respect bullying prevention program for 270 preschoolers (ages 4-5) and 305 school-age children (5-16 years). In tandem with these educational resources, a variety of other interventions and activities will be provided to assist in positive pro-social development for both age groups.

Attendance Is Crucial

Consistent and continuous attendance helps children understand and participate more fully in the structure and routine of their classrooms, increasing positive behavior. This is why we stress attendance in the parent handbook, at orientation meetings for newly enrolled and returning families, and in individual parent conversations with Family Advocates.

Increased Enrollment 

Increased enrollment in both the preschool and school-age programs over the past two years will give Operation Breakthrough the opportunity to effect positive change in meaningful ways in the community. At the core of behavior change is relationship. Meaningful, trusting relationships allow people to communicate openly and create connections. Through these connections -- both peer-to-peer and student-to-adult—Operation Breakthrough will endeavor to create a culture of trust and non-violence, facilitating amenable conflict resolution.

Trauma Puts Children At High Rick

The history and level of trauma among our families tell us that children are at very high risk for emotional and behavioral disturbance. If left unchecked, this can escalate into a pattern of aggression, anti-social behavior and failure in school.

Our program for 2021 for about 270 preschoolers includes both classroom teachers and Child Therapists working together to provide positive behavioral support that will increase pro-social skills through a menu of activities designed to develop academic, social, individual and group skills. Child Therapists will conduct social-emotional groups each month in preschool classrooms in an effort to increase pro-social behaviors, such as self-regulation, sharing, cooperative play and empathy. Therapists also will work with teachers to engage preschoolers in lessons in the Second Steps curriculum, along with original songs, stories, videos, and in-class activities.

Involving Parents/Caregivers

The combined staff also will meet twice a year with parents/caregivers to help them learn how they can better manage their own emotions, model more positive emotional regulation for their children, and manage their children's difficult behaviors at home in a consistent and constructive manner.

A Safe Environment

Our school-age program provides a safe environment and high-quality educational care during the out-of-school hours. Studies report that high-quality before- and after-school programs can keep high-risk children on track to productive adulthood and help close the opportunity gap that many youths from underserved and underrepresented communities face. 

Students in our school-age program have the opportunity to explore through experiences in our MakerCity learning zones, such as culinary arts, life science, digital media, studio arts, fiber arts, construction and design, a Makers Lab, as well as robotics and coding in the SMART Lab. Basketball teams for boys and girls in four different age groups will be part of the winter and early spring programming.

Steps To Respect

For school-age children, the Steps to Respect bullying prevention program builds on the lessons and skills taught in the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum used in previous years by showing students how to use the skills they’ve learned to refuse and report bullying. 

The program focuses on peer-group behaviors as well as individual attitudes, norms and skills. Bullying Prevention lessons encourage specific, helpful bystander behaviors and positive student norms by teaching students to recognize, report, and refuse to bully. By learning to recognize bullying, students increase their awareness of the problem, learn to identify when they or others are being bullied and increase their empathy for bullied students. 

Giving students a clear message to report bullying sets a positive norm, lets students who might bully know there will be consequences and supports adults in their efforts to reduce bullying. Lessons on refusing bullying reinforce the message that bullying does not have to be tolerated and encourage students to report and use assertiveness skills to stand up to bullying.

Serving The Community 

The 2021 school-age component will expand to include SPARCS training for students in grades 5th-8th over 16 sessions. In addition, several small groups of 5th – 10th graders will participate in the Lead4Change Student Leadership Program launched last summer to research community problems and work together to offer solutions.

For school-age children, the Steps to Respect bullying prevention program builds on the lessons and skills taught in the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum used in previous years by showing students how to use the skills they’ve learned to refuse and report bullying. The program focuses on peer group behaviors as well as individual attitudes, norms and skills.