Kids at Work!Kids at Work!Empowering at-risk youth through the culinary arts

What we offer teens (12-17) What we offer teens (12-17) and their familiesand their families

•Professional cooking instruction

•Academic enrichment and tutoring

•Interpersonal and communication skills training to teens and their parents

• Counseling and mentoring

•Healthy living skills

•Environmental and social awareness

•Workforce preparation and Job placement

Professional cooking Professional cooking instructioninstruction

Curriculum modeled after foods I and II course from NC Department of Education and AB Tech’s culinary program.

Each student receives 46 cooking classes for a total of 115 contact hours of instruction.

Two schools have offered credit for participation in our program

– Alternative Learning Center (ALC) in Waynesville, NC– Jackson County School for Alternatives (HUB)

The experience The experience takes only 2.5 hours, but can takes only 2.5 hours, but can

last a lifetimelast a lifetime………… Daily Check-in Brief classroom group lesson Individual hands-on cooking lesson (current appropriate music on!)

– Chef and Counselor cook along side Teens helping guide them through technical and academic concepts

Each team of 2 students works on 1 recipe– Emphasis on technical skills, recipe mastery and creativity and intuition

Heavy emphasis on healthy and well balanced meals– We consistently offer nutritional information during every step of the

process Examples: The nutritional difference between deep frying vs.

sautéing vs. steaming

• Fat content

• Alternative sugar choices

Family style mealFamily style meal A magical timeA magical time

– Music is turned down or off– Table set by Teens– Meal served by Teens– Meal conversation gently guided by Chef and Counselor

Increase food vocabulary – Examples:

• Student: “Ugh, I hate tomatoes”• Chef: “rather than saying “ugh, I hate tomatoes”, try it and describe

what it is that you do not like about it”• Student: “it’s too squishy”• Chef: “So it’s the texture that you don’t like”

Each team shares methods and ingredients of their finished dish

Academic EnrichmentAcademic Enrichment We emphasize the mastery of academic concepts while cooking

Mathematics– measurements – Recipe scaling

Reading– Recipe comprehension and interpretation– Food Labels

Writing and Research– Menu planning– Recipe creation– Internet research skills

Science – Baking– Cooking methods– Food safety and sanitation

This gets students excited about learning academic concepts because they can directly apply it to their life experience.

Increases motivation for higher education and to excel in school

Entire group cleans together until the kitchen is returned to Health Department Standards.

This allows Teens to develop:

• Self Motivation• Self Direction (identifying a needed job and taking

initiative)• Group collaboration • Focus (until the job is done)• Pride in high standards of cleanliness

CleaningLife is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to

write a masterpiece. Nadia Boulanger

Experiential summaryExperiential summary

This experiential structure gives Teens instant gratification for their hard work. They learn that with hard work they can be successful and it can be really fun and engaging.

Most importantly, they created something that they can now reproduce at home for their family. It helps to increase their confidence of their ability to replicate other successes such as schoolwork, sports, and communication.

Interpersonal and Interpersonal and Communication skills training Communication skills training

Say-it-straight training Daily check-in Conflict resolution Counseling and Mentoring

Say-it-Straight TrainingSay-it-Straight Training

Say It Straight Training has been designated as an Evidence Based Program for promotion of Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools, good communication skills, positive relationships, self-awareness, personal and social responsibility; and for prevention of violence, substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors by:

– ● U.S. Department of Education, 2001  – ● Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (National Institutes of Health), 2003  – ● Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2005  – ● Re-reviewed by SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and

Practices in July 2010.     

Delivered in 8 one-hour group sessions to Teens Four 2-hour group sessions delivered to parents

– Teens cook for parents during parent groups. We all sit down and share a family style meal served by Teens to their Parents.

Counselor and Chef gently guide conversation

Daily check-inDaily check-in We sit in a circle and simply “check-in” by talking about how we are doing today. This helps to develop awareness of self in the present moment Learn skill of listening without having to solve another’s problems Let’s Teens appropriately describe where they are at right now, so peers know how to

respond to them throughout the day– Example:

Teen: “My mother kicked me out of the house today and I’m fuming”. Counselor: “So what do you need from the group today” Teen: “Everybody to leave me alone” Counselor: “Can everybody do that for her?” Chef: “Would you like to work alone today?”

Allows Teens to “vent” whatever is on their mind so that they can focus more when they are in the kitchen.

Important for the physical, emotional and psychological safety of the group. Helps Counselor, Chef and Peers to appropriately support Teens.

Conflict ResolutionConflict Resolution

Kitchen gets hot and we work hard. Conflict is bound to arise. We create an environment where conflict is safe to explore.

Communication breakdowns and conflict is not feared, but rather welcomed and processed for growth and development.

Stress “I” statements and taking personal responsibility for emotions and behaviors

“he made me so mad” gets re-framed to “he refused to help me wash the dishes and I feel angry.”

Sit one-on-one with Counselor for mediation Teens experience getting needs met in a safe and compassionate manner

When a conflict arises within the group, we have a process circle and the group comes up with solutions.

Counseling and MentoringCounseling and Mentoring

Teens are welcomed to use the Counselor as needed to help with life issues and crisis.– One-on-one face-to-face during program hours– Texting or conversation is available during off hours

Chef and Counselor also act as mentors for Teens and we may discuss life issues while cooking, at mealtimes, cleaning or during transportation.

Healthy Living SkillsHealthy Living Skills Cooking for self and family

– We received a text from a struggling 17 year-old student on a Friday night in the grocery store (with his mom) asking, “What was that special ingredient that made the Chinese stir-fry taste so good?”

Nutrition and healthy eating– We’ve observed a significant decrease in the amount of soda our Teens drink and

an increase in water intake at our table.– “Can you see this? I’m actually eating fish!”

Student age 15– “I’ve eaten more vegetables in 1 day here than I have in my whole life.”

Student age 14– Food Counseling

Weight loss Behavioral effect from foods Food related allergies

Healthy Living Skills cont.Healthy Living Skills cont.

Emotional maturing – Skill building to learn how to deal with intense emotions – Through group process, one-on-one counseling and mentoring and say-it-straight

training Personal responsibility (asking for what we need)

– Juan: “Come here and dry these dishes with me, please.”– Joe: “Hells no.”– Counselor: “Hey Joe, if Juan asked you in a different way, would you have helped

him dry the dishes?” “How could he ask you for you to WANT to help him?”– Joe: “Yes, I’d help him if he would ask nicely.”– Counselor: “Juan, can you ask him in a different way?”– Juan: “Sure. Joe, would you please help me dry the dishes”– Joe: “Sure.”

Hygiene awareness– Wearing uniforms – Frequent hand washing– Proper personal grooming (nails and hair)– Wearing clean clothing

Environmental, Social and Environmental, Social and Food AwarenessFood Awareness

We recycle and teach about the importance of environmental awareness.

We conserve water and teach lessons on water awareness.

We discuss global social issues during mealtime.– Welfare system and poverty– Child abuse– Domestic violence– Racism

Teens use their cooking skills once a month at a local soup kitchen and we discuss the experience

Workforce preparedness and Workforce preparedness and Job PlacementJob Placement

We work closely with Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) to help with job placement or placement into their Culinary Training program.

We constantly advise kids to stay in school and pursue higher education while developing skills for a job to pay for their schooling.

We help with job coaching, resume writing and interview skills.

We use a progressive discipline system similar to one in the work environment– Verbal warning, written warning, then “fired” or “your spot in the

program has been released to another person”. (We have only “fired” 2 out of 99 participants.)

– This helps to teach Teens logical consequences.

CateringCatering

Teens get valuable job experience through Kids at Work! catering local events for different organizations and agencies.

Helps teach:– menu planning

– Purchasing

– Large scale food production

– Realities of a job

– Problem solving skills

Family BanquetFamily Banquet

We organize a family banquet and graduation ceremony for each group.

Invite press and local leaders in the community to witness Teens.

Give certificate of completion, Chef Coat and Kids at Work! cookbook as a gift.

This event is transformational for the Teens self-respect

What makes a Teen “At-What makes a Teen “At-Risk”?Risk”?

As defined by NC Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) One or more of the following:

– Court complaint or charge filed– Runaway from home for 24+ hours– Use drugs or alcohol in the past 12 months– School behavior problems– General academic functioning (below grade level)– Negative Peer relationship (gang identified or associates with gang identified peers

or is rejected by pro-social peers)– Conflict in the home in the last 12 months– Substance abuse by household members (in the past 3 years)– Family criminality

SafetySafety Individual and group safety is our main concern.

– Teens are supervised at all times– Intensive 13 page handbook signed by Parent and Teen with clear policies regarding:

• Specific rules and expectations for Teens and Parents• Behavior improvement plan/interventions• Clear policies on smoking, drugs, weapons, violence, threats, cell

phones, uniforms, confidentiality, and more• Clear criteria for suspension and expulsion from the program

– Both the Chef and Counselor have been trained in PMAB (prevention and Management of Aggressive behavior)

• We are skilled in diffusing anger before it becomes aggressive– Both the Chef and Counselor are skilled at minimizing accidents through

professional cooking experience and delivering safety lessons in the curriculum.– We carry our own liability insurance policy through our parent organization Aspire,

Youth and Family, Inc (a non-profit org)– Proven track record of safety

• In 2 years of operation and serving 99 Teens, we have not had any acts of violence, accidents or injury

Funding SourcesFunding Sources

Year 1 and 2 was funded through the Governor’s Crime Commission

We served Haywood and Jackson County

We recently secured the 3rd year funding through the NC Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Community-Based Youth Gang Violence Prevention grant

July1, 2011 through June 30th 2012

Also, funding in part through Community Foundation of WNC to purchase a vehicle for transportation.

We currently serve Haywood and Buncombe counties

Measured ResultsMeasured Results

total Goal % of goalParticipants 99 100 99%Participants with 46+ contact lessons 31 50% 32%Participants with 17 weeks or more in the program

55 60% 56%

Increased Protective factors** 84 60% 85%Increased in vocational skills 99 67% 85%Enrolled in school or GED while in program 99 67% 100%Actual group lessons delivered 404Group contact hours 1010Cumulative lessons received 2413Cumulative contact hours 6032

**Protective factors**Protective factors

Protective factors reduce the risk that a Teen has for future offending. We measure:– Positive adult supports– Positive peer supports– Rewards for prosocial behavior towards

• Self• Family• Community• Friends• School peers• School staff• The environment

Kids at Work! in the pressKids at Work! in the press

2 cover page articles in the Mountaineer newspaper

– http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social/philanthropy-grants-gifts/14543303-1.html

1 article in the Smokey Mountain Newspaper

– http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/3865-a-recipe-for-helping-kids

2 spots on the WLOS nightly news

Kids at Work! collaborations Kids at Work! collaborations with local agencieswith local agencies

Cook once a month for Open Door Soup kitchen in Waynesville. Partnered with Open Door for local events. Cooked 300 muffins with Daydreamz project for Thanksgiving dinner

for the hungry. Cooked 600 cookies for Valentines day for local social agencies with

Daydeamz project. Catered volunteer dinner award ceremony. Catered local JCPC meetings. Catered Healthy Haywood event through DSS. Catered HUB (School for Alternatives) end of term school celebration.

Who we are…Who we are…

Kimberly Castano, MA, Executive Director

Ambra Lowenstein, Chef/Instructor

Corey Costanzo, MA, Program Coordinator/Counselor

Kids at Work! is a program of Aspire, Youth and Family, Inc., a schedule (c)3 non-profit entity based out of Clyde, NC.

Kimberly Castano, MAKimberly Castano, MA

Executive Director

Ambra Lowenstein, ChefAmbra Lowenstein, Chef

Chef/ Instructor Ambra began her career earning a bachelor of Science in Early Childhood

Education in the School of Education at Florida State University. From there she taught for several years throughout the Asheville community in the subjects of art, cooking, dance and acrobatics. After teaching English in Taiwan, Ambra returned to America and opened her own catering company. Simultaneously, Ambra earned a degree in the Culinary Arts at AB-Tech. When she discovered the fledgling Kids At Work! program, it was a natural fit for Ambra to come aboard to share her curriculum, content, cooking instruction and years of experience working with youth. In addition, Ambra is a seasoned circus performer and is currently part of the National “Vegetable Circus” performing arts troupe which offers nutritional (and wellness living) education in an entertaining and kid-friendly format.

Corey Costanzo, Corey Costanzo, MA, LMBTMA, LMBT

Program Coordinator/Counselor Corey earned a Master’s degree from the Santa Barbara Graduate

Institute in clinical psychology and is working towards licensure as a Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). He is a licensed massage therapist and teaches somatic psychology at a local massage school. Growing up in a mafia and gang ridden neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, gives him a unique perspective to understanding and communicating with at-risk teens. His passion and skill for helping people developed while living and cooking professionally at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. He currently lives in Asheville, NC with his wife and 2 daughters.

Current NeedsCurrent Needs

We have secured funding for Buncombe county and are looking for the perfect kitchen space to house the program.

Asheville City Schools could be a perfect fit if we were to dedicate the during school-hours group to students at Randolph school.

Program hours are flexible. We run Monday and Wed. There will be 1 group during school hours and one after school hours group. Each group is 2.5 hours long.

If food is the way to one’s heart, then Kids at Work! will get them If food is the way to one’s heart, then Kids at Work! will get them therethere

Developed internal motivation for learning Increased self-respect Increased self-sufficiency and life skills Solid job skills Ability to deal with intense emotions Increase refusal skills Increased connection with family, school and community Decrease risk taking behavior

In Summary, Teens who experience Kids at Work! have: