The Boys and Girls Club of Newport County has been approved to expand their Kids Clubhouse licensed childcare program from a 55 to a 120 capacity. The Department of Children, Youth and Families, the entity responsible for child care facility licensing, approved the expansion following increased outreach efforts to fill the program this past summer. In addition to a higher enrollment, the Club will offer some much needed changes in activity areas that will allow children to express themselves creatively.
Rob Perry, the new Kid’s Clubhouse Director, and Brian Sullivan, the new Student Attendance Facilitator for Newport Public Schools, began various outreach efforts this summer in an effort to increase the KCH membership. With last year’s enrollment at 42 participants, attendance rose to 55 this fall and for a brief period had a waiting list as the BGC team continued to reevaluate the program. With high expectations that the Club could expand the KCH program to 80 children, efforts were underway to seek a higher capacity.
Joe Tomchak, the new Assistant Executive Director, reached out to DCYF to reevaluate the physical space that is used for Kids Clubhouse. “We were pleasantly surprised that capacity could be increased to 120 children”, said Joe Tomchak, the new Assistant Executive Director.
“The hope is to reach 80 children by spring and then open the program to the 120 capacity by the following school year.”
With a new team in charge, the program is sure to be a continued success. Additional features added to the program will include new table games, play clothing, an imagination playground, puppetry and musical instruments that will allow the children a wide range of choice. Some highlights of our new program include: Club Techwhich teaches the fundamentals of technology, Healthy Habits a new cooking and nutrition instruction class, a STEM Program for a new mentoring component, Music Makers with Common Fence Music which will teach children different musical techniques and the Fine Arts Club with the Newport Art Museum which will allow children to learn different art styles as well as the ability to express themselves. The hope is to give children choices that cater to their interests, while allowing them to expand their creativity.
“We are excited about these changes,” said Tomchak, “and look forward to creating an environment that enables our young audience to realize their full potential.”
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need help most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For nearly 60 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Newport County has provided quality programming and services to all youth in the community. The Club is part of a nationwide movement of more than 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs, and provides services to more than 3,200 youth annually.
