Be there - the be there program aims to support youth experiencing daily grief, bereavement, and other major life-altering losses

This impact is quantified by measuring youth growth in coping with challenges, identifying emotions, solving problems, self-efficacy, empathy, and impulse control. Be there also impacts the academic success of the youth. Children and teens affected by the tragedy cannot focus, interfering with education. Helping children and teens learn to cope and overcome this grief will better prepare them for learning, leading to an increase in both proficiency and graduation rates. Research shows that increasing social and emotional support directly correlates to improved academic success in the long term. Benton harbor's unemployment rate is 14%, and 45.4% of families live in poverty, significantly higher than the national average (2019: ACS 5-year estimates subject tables, US census bureau). A growing number of members reside in south haven, michigan, where poverty rates are 12.7%, and ST. Joseph, michigan, where poverty rates are 7% (2019: ACS 5-year estimates subject tables, US census bureau). Approximately 93% of our registered members in 2022 participated in programming at our benton harbor locations, where youth attend 47 different area public, charter, school-of-choice, and religious schools, as well as homeschooling. Half of our members attend benton harbor area schools, but nearly 65% of all students in that district attend charter schools, religious schools, or schools of choice in five other school districts. In 2022, the club served over 1,600 youth in grades k-12. While membership continues to rise at all of our locations, there is more youth in our community who could benefit from club programming. In 2022, the club added seven new locations to serve youth. In the coming year, the club anticipates opening three additional locations in river valley, bridgman, and sturgis, where we will be positioned to provide be there to approximately 1,000 more youth. The boys & girls clubs of greater southwest michigan's measurement strategy utilizes the bgca national youth outcomes survey, school educational databases, and program pre- and post-testing or participant survey information to document and quantify the impact. Additionally, we monitor daily attendance records, program reports, and academic success plan records. These evaluation results are used yearly to improve the club's program delivery model as part of our continuous improvement process. Results are also used in communications to our board, donors, stakeholders, and community. Evaluation results can be made available to community partners if requested.