Keene Housing Kids Collaborative is working to
help low income children reach their full potential. We give kids access to
opportunities that lead to success at home, in school and in the community.
We do this by connecting Keene Housing kids to
existing opportunities in the community – at no cost to their families – that
will give them the skills, competence and knowledge to succeed
In 2017, we made it possible for 221 children to
participate in more than 600 separate activities in the community related to
the arts, athletics and academics. These activities give kids the chance to
develop transferrable skills like teamwork, perseverance, goal setting,
communication, and confidence.
By giving kids access to programming in the
community, children from low income households have the opportunity to be an
active part of the community, build social capital with their peers, and come
into contact with caring adult mentors.
Investment in childhood results in economic
returns for the community when that child reaches adulthood. For example, a
recent study conducted in NH by the Rand Corporation estimated that every $1
invested in preschool for a low income child would return a savings of $4 in
adulthood. This is based on higher economic productivity, reduced incidence of
crime, less reliance on social safety net programs and improved health
outcomes.
Out of school activities give kids a chance to
develop life skills like confidence, teamwork, communication, perseverance and
goal setting. These are the things that the Kids Collaborative is really aiming
for in getting our kids into activities – we know these are transferrable
skills that kids can take with them into the classroom and the community.
The future of our community depends on the
ability of all children to become contributing, successful adult members of our
community. The Kids Collaborative is working to ensure that kids living in low
income households have the same opportunities to become fully engaged and
contributing members of our community now and in adulthood
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