Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block finishes up their fiscal year with a 7 percent increase in both educational programs performed and number of children and adults served. During the 2017-2018 school year CKOB performed a record breaking number of 500 educational programs and workshops, serving over 64,000 children and adults in its 16-county service area in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Through individual donations, grants through foundations and corporate support, the educational programs are provided to schools free of charge.
“We are listening to the needs of the children and families in our community and providing awareness and prevention education to meet those needs. Through the current program focus topics we are providing soft skills that are lacking due to the digital age, as well as awareness for youth on how to talk about tough subjects to people they trust,” said CKOB Executive Director Kelly Williams.
In addition to focus topics currently presented to schools and the community, Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block added six new program topics to the 2017-2018 program line up. The new educational programs include:
- Cultural Differences: Multiculturalism
- How Do I Look?
- Cyberbullying/Safe at School
- Financial Literacy
- Autism
- Sun, Heat, Water & First Aid Safety
“Through donations, grants and fundraising events, we have been able to continue to provide our educational services free of charge to schools in our area. Our evaluations and surveys show a significant and positive impact in the lives of children and families,” said Ms. Williams. “We sincerely appreciate the support this year and as we begin another school year we hope the community will see how vital our services continue to be and that they are a well-made investment in our community.”
"Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block is an independent non-profit organization. Serving 16 counties in Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia and Alabama. For the past 39 years CKOB has been a vital resource for children and families in our region. Our educational programs and workshops focus on opportunities for children to develop “soft skills”; as well as, effective communication skills, provide awareness and prevention information to help keep children and families safe and healthy and to begin to open family dialogues of life lessons, positive self–esteem, respect for others and one’s self, responsibilities and consequences.
"The program curriculum uses the non-threatening medium of puppetry called Bunraku to introduce sensitive issues to children in the classroom or community setting. The puppeteers dress all in black becoming the shadow behind the puppet. This illusion allows for a unique and effective form of education. As our puppets come to life, children identify with them and open up as if they were trusted friends.
"Using one or more scripts paired together, each program is developed so that a number of important aspects about a specific topic can be explained adequately in an age appropriate manner. CKOB is licensed to perform all 45 of the national programs available to Kids on the Block troupes and have introduced six new programs this year during a research and development phase," officials said.
“This is a unique program that encourages open communication between children and parents and provides age appropriate information to children on difficult and sensitive topics and concerns,” said Ms. Williams.
"CKOB is one of the oldest, most active and most respected troupes in the United States. All CKOB puppeteers/educators are certified Bunraku artists and hold degrees in various disciplines, with extensive ongoing continuing education related to the program topics in efforts to maintain a high level of expertise.
"CKOB is now scheduling for the 2018-2019 school year. If you would like to schedule a CKOB performance or would like more information about their programs, visit www.kidsontheblock .net or call 423-757-5259. You can also visit their website to make a donation to support their mission of educating children in the community," officials said.