Arizona MethSMART© Works!! 

There are 1.2 million kids in AZ between 6-18, all who need the prevention message. 

Cost Effective:  In the first three months of MethSMART©, starting in October, 2006 – December 2006, utilizing the first portion of a state grant, the Arizona Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs provided MethSMART© curriculum to the following:

Youth:

o       Ages 6-9 = 809

o       Ages 10-13 = 388

o       Ages 14-18 = 218

o       Grand Total = 1,415 for first three months

o       Cost:  $70 per child

Compare this to the cost of treatment:  now estimated at $4,200 per person

Compare this to the cost of incarceration:  now estimated at $75,000 per youth, more for adults 

Leveraging Resources:  Of the $98,000 for the first quarter of MethSMART©, another approximately $18k was utilized at the local Clubs to implement the program.  So, for every dollar the Legislature appropriates to MethSMART©, Boys & Girls Clubs are able to bring at least another 18% additional funds to the effort.  That is effective and efficient use of state funds. 

Arizona Military Sites and Indian Communities:  Of the 16 Clubs statewide who are implementing MethSMART©, two of the military facilities are Luke Air Force Base and Yuma Proving Grounds Facility; in addition, Pascua Yaqui, Salt River Pima Maricopa, Aha Macav, Hualapai Nation, Gila River, Yavapai Apache, and Yavapai Prescott Indian Communities.  

Notoriety of MethSMART©:   Many times we hear that Arizona is last in this; last in that category as compared to the rest of the Nation.  As it relates to Meth Prevention, Arizona is a leader:  When the United State Department of Justice heard about the Arizona MethSMART© program, they decided to pilot it in 20 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the country.  They determined that the curriculum was a unique and innovative drug prevention programs and exactly what is needed for youth in our country.  In addition, they provided U.S. Dept of Justice to grants to three Arizona Clubs. 

Partnerships with Schools and School Districts:  The Alliance of Arizona Boys & Girls Clubs has partnered with many schools around the state to implement MethSMART© in and outside of the classrooms.  We have many more schools we would like to work with, but the $480,000 grant only goes so far.
 
Arizona MethSMART© Works!!

Arizona State Youth of the Year

The Arizona State Youth of the Year Program, sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, is designed to promote and recognize service to Club and community, academic performance and contributions to family and spiritual life. Clubs select a Youth of the Year who compete in their organizations to represent them at the state level. State winners receive a plaque and enter the regional competition. Regional winners receive a $5,000 scholarship and enter a national competition held in Washington, DC. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $10,000 scholarship and is installed by the President of the United States.

Please check the Youth of the Year page for more information on this event as it is announced.

SMART Moves

The SMART Moves (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) prevention/education program addresses the problems of drug and alcohol use and premature sexual activity. Based on proven techniques, the program uses a team approach involving Club staff, peer leaders, parents and community representatives. More than simply emphasizing a "Say No" message, the program teaches young people ages 6-15 how to say no by involving them in discussion and role-playing, practicing resistance and refusal skills, developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and analyzing media and peer influence. The ultimate goal: to promote abstinence from substance abuse and adolescent sexual involvement through the practice of responsible behavior.

Arizona State Techathalon

Techathalon is a celebration of our members' confidence to command the technology tools that are shaping our future. Techathalon provides a unique venue for young people to showcase their technology talents as well as their ability to collaborate to maximize the return on these technological tools. There are 4 challenge areas for the event:

Graphic Design Challenge encourages members to use the latest design technology to create a digital representation of the Boys & Girls Club ideology.

SkillTech Challenge promotes the use of the Microsoft Office Suite to produce a professional presentation about the Boys & Girls Club.

TechHead Challenge embraces our members' ability to creatively build and troubleshoot computer systems.

Battle of the Brains supports our members in their quest to increase their knowledge about technology.

Campaign 3PM

Campaign is a new youth advocacy effort designed to promote the importance of a safe, structured place to go to after school. The campaign urges parents and caregivers to involve children in safe, supervised after-school programs, and encourages corporations, foundations and individuals to support the community-based organizations that provide these services every day.

Click here to view the Boys & Girls Clubs of America School's Out video (7.33 MB, Windows Media Format).

Cavity-Free Zone

Cavity-Free Zone was developed in response to the recent U.S. Surgeon General's report on oral health which revealed a silent epidemic of oral disease in America, especially among disadvantaged youth. Underwritten by Crest, Cavity-Free Zone aims to improve the oral health of Club members ages 6-18 nationwide. Through oral health educational program materials, a Web site and collaborative efforts with local dental schools, dental societies and other health care agencies, Cavity-Free Zone will be a catalyst for change in providing dental services to disadvantaged youth.

Fitness Authority

FITNESS AUTHORITY®, a new small-group program sponsored by The Sports Authority, Inc., promotes fitness in all youth. FITNESS AUTHORITY provides a fun-filled, motivating fitness experience for members. There is a 12-week curriculum for each of three age groups: FITNESS SQUAD, 6-9; FITNESS MASTERS, 10-14 and FITNESS ALL-STARS, 15-18. Weekly sessions cover every aspect of fitness, drawing upon themes of sports culture and history, self-esteem, nutrition and physical fitness. The annual FITNESS AUTHORITY Club-Wide Pentathlon competition allows Club members of all ages to demonstrate and test their fitness levels.

ImageMakers: National Photography Program

Funded by the Circuit City Foundation, this comprehensive photography program encourages girls and boys to learn and practice photography, expressing themselves in creative and innovative ways. The national initiative delivers a state-of-the-art photography curriculum, provides photographic resources and opportunities for Club members to compete on a national level. ImageMakers provides local, regional and national recognition through an annual photography contest. Winning photos will be displayed nationwide at museums as well as at B&GCA's annual National Conference.

The Circuit City Foundation ImageMakers funding is being passed through to 60 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide to help them implement a photography curriculum. Ten additional sites were selected for grants to strengthen and highlight excellent photography programs in place. All Boys & Girls Clubs across the country receive the ImageMaker resource guide and materials.

National Fine Arts Exhibit

View the 2001 National Fine Arts Exhibit Virtual Gallery.
Sponsored by L'Oreal, this contest, which encourages creativity through a variety of media, is made up of local, regional and national exhibits. Young people are encouraged to create artwork in any of the following categories: monochromatic drawing, multicolored drawing, pastels, water color, oil or acrylic, print making, mixed media, collage and sculpture. Artwork selected through a national competition is displayed at B&GCA's annual National Conference.

National KidDay

National KidsDay is the first Sunday every August. It's a day to celebrate and honor children through the gift of meaningful time. Meaningful Time is time spent between adults and children that both consider engaging, important, and enjoyable.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA, in collaboration with KidsPeace, and other leading youth-serving, community and educational organizations, is spearheading National KidsDay. We remind you to mark your calendar and begin preparing for National KidsDay which will be celebrated on August 7, 2005.

NIKE Sports Program

The NIKE Sports Program is composed of the following components: NIKE University, NIKE SWOOSH Clubs, NIKE Sports Leadership Camps, NIKE Girls Sports, NIKE Games, and NIKE Daily Challenges. A program overview brochure is available upon request.

Project Learn

Project Learn reinforces and enhances the skills and knowledge young people learn at school through "high-yield" learning activities at the Club and in the home. Based on Dr. Reginald Clark's research that shows fun, but academically beneficial activities increase academic performance, these activities include leisure reading, writing activities, homework help and games like Scrabble which develop young people's cognitive skills. Project Learn emphasizes collaborations between Club staff, parents and school personnel. Formally evaluated by Columbia University, Project Learn has been proven to boost the academic performance of Club members. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is the generous sponsor of Project Learn.

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI)

Through a collaboration with Major League Baseball, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has expanded or established baseball and fast-pitch softball programs in more than 50 communities nationwide. All RBI leagues incorporate Quick SMART!, a condensed version of Boys & Girls Clubs of America's SMART Moves prevention/education program designed to teach players to avoid alcohol and other drug use and premature sexual involvement.

TEENSupreme® Keystone Clubs

Keystone Clubs are chartered small group leadership development clubs for young people ages 14-18. Keystoners elect officers, choose their own activities and plan and implement community service projects. A national charter entitles a Keystone Club to participate in regional and national Keystone conferences. The TEENSupreme Keystone Club program is sponsored by the Taco Bell Foundation.

Torch Club

This small-group leadership development program, sponsored by THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION, is targeted for youngsters ages 11 to 13. Within some 339 Torch Clubs across the country, members elect officers and plan and implement their own activities and community service projects. Each Torch Club receives an official charter from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Ultimate Journey

This internationally recognized, award-winning program leads Club members ages 6-12 on a fun-filled journey into the amazing world of plants and animals. The Ultimate Journey motivates young people to develop an understanding of and sensitivity to the environment, helping them build the knowledge and motivation to protect our natural resources.