School/Community Helping Hands Mentoring Program (S/CHHMP)

Mission Statement

The School/Community Helping Hands Mentoring Program empowers African American male students to be successful in the 21st century.

Program archive and audio podcasts:

Mentors Hold Education Summit

Vision Statement

Through the leadership skills development, character improvement, and academic enhancement services provided by the School/Community Helping Hands Mentoring Program, key stakeholders will effectively utilize educational and community resources producing intrinsically motivated life long learners. Student participants will take pride in their self-esteem, education, and the opportunity to provide mentoring services to their peers, while serving as a beacon and satellite for the Wake County Public School System and community based organizations. Empowered African-American male students will be productive students and citizens prepared for leadership opportunities in the Wake County Public School System and society with full access to all educational and social development opportunities.

Helping Hands Makes a Difference

Mentoring Program Offers Family Conference

Helping Hands Helps with Instruction

Helping Hands Results 2007-08: Grades 3-8

Printable Brochure (PDF-926 kb)

Program Overview

Traditionally, the development and academic achievement of African-American male students have lagged behind that of African-American female and other ethnic counterparts. In 1987, the Wake County Public School System initiated an innovative effort aimed at reversing that trend and helping African-American male students take full advantage of learning opportunities.

Formerly known as the School/Community Helping Hands Project, the program, the brain child of former Superintendent Dr. Robert E. Bridges, is the result of eight years of research into the achievement levels of young African-American males as compared with other groups of students. Dr. Bridges identified four key negative factors that hinder the development of the African-American male child:

• Lack of a touchable role model	• Fluctuating relationships with females
• Low involvement in school	• Poor academic skills development

With nearly twenty five years of positive existence, the program is now known as the School/Community Helping Hands Mentoring Program. The purpose of the program continues to team resources of both school and community in order to offer African-American male students unique help toward success in school and in life.

Programs Goals

The S/CHHMP will primarily focus on the following goals for student participants:

Academic – support students with accessing academic resources available through their assigned school
Suspensions – decrease the pattern of students receiving multiple short-term (one to nine days) suspensions or a long-term (10 or more days) suspension
Attendance – decrease the pattern of students with excessive absences (10 or more days)
Leadership Skills – increase the pattern of students participating in leadership roles

Specific multi-eligibility criteria for student participants:

Students that experience success as measured by the S/CHHMP goals will continue participating in the program. Multiple years of participation is strongly encouraged (the only exceptions would include students who transfer: (1) out the District, (2) to a different school that does not participate in the S/CHHMP, or (3) is otherwise transient).

The specific multi-eligibility criteria have been established for student participants.

WCPSS African-American male students in grades 3-8
Academic – demonstrates potential for academic success (evidenced by report cards, minimum of level 2 or 3 on both of the mathematics and reading EOG exams, teacher recommendations, etc.)
Suspensions – multiple short-term (one to nine days) suspensions or a long-term (10 or more days) suspension during the previous school year
Attendance – excessive absences (10 or more days) during the previous school year

Specific multi-eligibility criteria for schools and mentor/tudors:

Schools:

Elementary and Middle School Ranking of At-Risk Populations (Free and Reduced Lunch, Students with Disabilities, and Limited English Proficiency) – with the neediest schools receiving the priority.
Existing schools will be grandfathered into the S/CHHMP.

Mentor/Tutors:

Principals must approve mentor/tutors for their assigned school prior to their participation.
Mentor/Tutors not working within the WCPSS, are required to receive clearance through the WCPSS Volunteer Background Check.
Mentor/Tutors not working within the WCPSS, are required to submit a resume, interview with the S/CHHMP Leadership Team, and submit three references upon request.

For more information contact

Maurice L. Moore, Senior Administrator
K-12 Intervention
Curriculum and Instruction Department
Phone: 919-858-3230 • email

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