School Board hears update about Ballinger Action Teens (BAT)

School board meeting highlights from March 1. Part 3
Contributed by Debi Ehrlichman, Board Member

Brian Schultz, Executive Director of Schools, presented.
Mr. Schultz introduced Morgan Moore and Tanya Schaeffer from the Center for Human Services (CHS), a community-based, not-for-profit youth and family services agency that has been a resource to children, adults and families since 1970. Ms. Moore provided a quick overview of CHS, which is comprised of four departments--Substance Abuse, Loving Families, Family Support, and Family Counseling. CHS administers the following programs at the Ballinger Homes site in Shoreline:

• Play and Learn Group
• Early childhood programming
• Birth to five years
• Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Adult Programming
• Open House hours for resource and referral (Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm)
• ELL/citizenship tutoring
• Parent group facilitated by Gayle McDougall-Treacy
• Homework Factory
• After school program located at Ballinger Homes
• K-12 programming Monday thru Thursday 3:00-6:00 p.m.
• Family Advocate Access
• Camp Ballinger
• Ballinger Action Teens (BAT)

Ms. Moore was joined by students who assisted with the presentation. The purpose of BAT as described by the students: “To help the community around us, while having fun, in order to learn more about the world and therefore also help ourselves.” 

In addition to helping the community, the 25 students involved in BAT also participate in hiking and camping trips. Their community outreach includes environmental projects, participation in the groundbreaking ceremony at the new Shoreline City Hall, planting trees and shrubs, cooking and serving food for the homeless, painting murals, and volunteering at the Homework Factory assisting elementary students. The students shared with the Board a video that was made for the 2009 Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union Operation Cooperation Competition. As indicated in the video, BAT students attended a Prevention Summit where they learned how to prevent drug and alcohol abuse in the community.

The Board praised the students for the work they are doing as well as the poise and enthusiasm reflected in their presentation.