Circle of Hope is a youth support group for participants of IEA - Inspire, Encourage, Achieve/Ben’s Kids.  Youth who have gone to detention, are on probation, or have been on probation and have a desire to make positive changes in their life attend this group.  With the understanding that no one is perfect and there is always hope every situation, youth have the opportunity to focus on personal improvement in their lives. 

IEA’s Parent Project is a parent education class for parents and caregivers of youth who receive services from Ben’s Kids, Jefferson County Juvenile Probation, Buckner’s STAR Program, or Communities in Schools.  The group provides a supportive network and resources that may be helpful in encouraging and motivating children to stay out of at-risk situations that lead to delinquency. 

Ben’s Kids meetings provide youth with a supportive network of mentors and community volunteers that help to encourage, motivate, and influence youth to stay away from at-risk situations that lead to trouble.  While youth are meeting, parents of Ben’s Kids participate in a parent support group meeting. 

Inspirational and motivational materials are used to encourage youth to overcome adversity while recognizing and developing positive attributes, strengths, and goals.  Start Something (a dream-building curriculum created by the Tiger Woods Foundation and Target Corporation) and Sidewalks (a therapeutic arts curriculum) are adapted and used as a basis for getting youth to think about their personal growth and reaching their full potential. 

With a focus on team-building, positive peer relations and character building, IEA’s basketball league provides youth with an opportunity to participate in an organized sport while also learning valuable life lessons.  IEA staff along with volunteer coaches and mentors, assist during practice times as well as during special events such as tournaments and group field trips. 

During the month of June and continuing for six weeks, Ben’s Kids are provided with a summer camp experience where they benefit from participating in activities that focus on personal growth and development as well as character-building.  Guest speakers/presenters discuss issues such as health, hygiene/appearance, etiquette, career planning, financial empowerment, citizenship, and positive life skills.  For the first time in 2008, IEA will be a sponsor of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Program.  Founded by one of America’s leading child advocates, Marian Wright Edelman, the CDF Freedom Schools Program is a literacy-rich model proven to increase the impact on reading achievement.   It targets low-income minority children and their families and empowers children to overcome academic, social and emotional challenges.    

In July 2006, IEA launched a mentoring advocacy campaign educating the public about the need for mentors in Jefferson County. Supported by the Governor’s OneStar Foundation Mentoring Initiative, Ben’s Kids Brighter Futures Mentoring Program, in collaboration with area school districts, churches and civic organizations, has successfully acquired 43 volunteer mentors over the past year.  Each mentor invests three to four hours per month to help a young person improve his or her life through telephone contact and staff-organized twice monthly meetings that include character development, guest speakers, and athletic and community service activities.

For more information about any of the activities offered or the services provided
by IEA – Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, please do not hesitate to contact
the IEA office at (409)839-8778.