The Housing Authority of the City of Austin Drop Out Prevention program focuses its efforts on keeping children in school. Working with the community, HACA sponsors after-school tutoring programs on-site at HACA communities, in-school case management services for students, incentive programs and a higher education scholarship program. Additionally, HACA's Drop Out Prevention Program coordinates with local providers of quality after-school non-scholastic programs to ensure public housing youth are engaged in healthy, safe and meaningful activities outside of school hours.

Youth Academic Incentive Program
HACA strives to provide the means for all residents to become economically independent. Promoting education as a pathway to success in life is an important role of the Community Development Department. In an effort to encourage success in school, HACA developed an incentive program for school-aged children. Every nine-week reporting period, students who have made the A/B honor roll and/or have perfect attendance turn in their report card to their Family Self-Sufficiency specialist and receive a special award. Past incentives include trips to the IMAX Theater and Brick Oven Pizza, the Paramount Theater followed by dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse, an afternoon at the Millennium Youth Center and various gift cards from local area retailers.

HACA also partners with area schools that serve HACA youth to recognize students’ academic achievement at schools’ student recognition ceremonies. In addition, HACA is partnering with the Austin Independent School District to provide a unique volunteer opportunity for all HACA employees to interact one-on-one with a student through a school-based mentoring program. The mentoring partnership works with area schools serving HACA residents to raise the achievement of HACA residents and to contribute to their overall economic improvement and prosperity.

Communities in Schools
2001 marked the beginning of a great partnership between HACA and Communities In Schools Central Texas. With funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Southwest Housing Compliance Corporation, HACA and CIS developed a set of programs designed to decrease the dropout rate of school-age youth living in public housing.

Located in the schools, CIS helps HACA students overcome barriers to school success. Case management services include counseling, motivational activities, tutorial/intensive academic remediation services, crisis intervention, mentoring and advocacy. HACA also works with CIS to provide after-school tutoring services, called SmartKids, to students at six public housing developments.

Since 2003, CIS and HACA have partnered to provide a program focused on high school students living in HACA communities. As one in four ninth graders drop out of school, it’s understood that conventional approaches are not keeping students in school. HACA is providing alternative measures to increase graduation rates for high school public housing residents. HACA also supports the XY Zone, a male empowerment project at Johnston HS. Young men involved with theproject work on leadership and service while exploring the five R’s – Respect, Responsibility, Relationship, Role modeling and Reaching out.

Other Youth Oriented After-School Programming

The Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Capital Area provide safe, positive places where children can build their futures as responsible and caring citizens. These programs are available to children ages 6-17 years of age. The East club is located directly across the street from Booker T. Washington Terraces. Programs are designed to build self-esteem, confidence and respect for the community through sports, computer labs, tutoring, career development and other activities. The South club transports kids from three schools serving HACA students. The Club’s programs include character and leadership developments, education and career development, the arts, alcohol and drug awareness and prevention, belonging and power of influence. With two traditional clubs and over 10 school-based clubs currently providing services to over 75 HACA youth per month, the Boys and Girls Club is the positive place for kids!

Phoenix House Program
Phoenix House provides on-site and off-site prevention/intervention groups for male youth, ages 8-13, living at Meadowbrook.

YWCA
The YWCA provides services to girls, ages 8-17, of Meadowbrook and Bouldin Oaks Apartments. This program consists of school-based groups, after-school programming and a summer day-camp. The school-based groups focus on education and skills training. After-school programs provide recreational and cultural activities, as well as prevention education on a variety of high-risk issues for adolescent girls. At summer day-camp, groups are based on increasing resiliency traits, recreational, cultural and educational activities, as well as drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Workshops are held with the girls and mentors to discuss goal setting, social skills, decision-making and communication.

Scouts
Girl Scouts is the opportunity of a lifetime and is open to all girls ages 7-11. Girl Scouts exposes girls to the "real world" and prepares them to meet the challenges of tomorrow's society. The Lone Star Girl Scout Council serves HACA youth from Georgian Manor, Santa Rita, Shadowbend and Goodrich. A new troop, lead by community volunteers, is now meeting at Booker T. Washington in the Neighborhood Network building.

The Boy Scouts of America provide an educational program for boys and young men to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness. The Boy Scouts meet at Santa Rita every Tuesday. The Booker T. Washington troop, led by an Austin Police Officer, is sponsored by the Austin Police Department and meets every Wednesday evening at the Neighborhood Network building at the Booker T Washington community.

Parenting Classes
Parenting Classes are offered at various HACA family properties. Classes include parenting skills for parents of pre-k through graduation age children and groups for the children. The parent groups explore issues such as communication and active listening, emotions, setting limits, encouraging independence, discipline and media influence. Children’s and youth curriculum includes similar themes, so parents and children can discuss and practice new skills in the home together.

Youth Sports
The HACA Dropout Prevention program strives to engage youth in positive activities - academic, social and physical. Efforts to introduce youth to the rewards of sports and fitness include weekly tennis classes with the Central Texas Tennis Association. HACA also partners with the Lone Star Soccer Club to provide soccer camps and soccer scholarships for interested youth. Recently, HACA began working with the Austin Striders Running Club, to offer track and conditioning activities to resident youth. Through this participation, youth reap the benefits of physical activity and positive adult role models. HACA also provides sports equipment including soccer balls, cleats and shin guards, tennis racquets and sports shoes, so youth can fully participate.