Youth And Childhood Development
The Office of Youth and Childhood Development’s mission is to work in partnership with citizens, businesses, governmental agencies and community-based organizations to strategically develop and strengthen programs and services for Norfolk’s youth.
21st Century Community Learning Centers After the Bell Program
After the Bell, an After School Program, incorporates the diverse resources of community partners to focus on the needs and interests of a unique middle school student population. By nurturing their development, students better achieve their potential while building positive relationships with caring adults. The After the Bell program is currently at Lake Taylor Middle School, Blair Middle School and Lafayette-Winona Middle School.For more information contact Clifton Russell, (757) 441-6045.
Form - After The Bell Registration Packet (.doc)
Norfolk Youth Council
Established in 1999 to identify priorities on behalf of the City’s youth and to provide policy direction for the future. NYC serves as the primary bridge between the city government and the youth of Norfolk. Youth Council members are 7th to 11th graders that represent public and private schools and communities.For more information contact Clifton Russell, (757) 441-6045.
Form - Application/Letter of Interest Norfolk Youth Council (.pdf)
Smart Beginnings South Hampton Roads
A Grant initiative sponsored by Batten Educational Achievement Fund of the Norfolk Foundation. The $2.5 million grant is intended to help South Hampton Roads implement a collaborative action plan to ensure that all children arrive at school prepared for success.The City of Norfolk’s initiatives are:
- Implementation of a Universal Screening and Referral System - for Newborns and Family Screenings. Routine screenings of all families at the time of each baby’s birth to identify psychosocial and emotional needs and match families with the appreciate community services and connect families to those services.
- Implementation of a Quality Rating & Improvement System (QRIS)- A quality assessment program for early child care centers to increase teacher education/qualifications, prepare children for kindergarten and improve and provide early learning materials that will enhance child-teacher interactions.
Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth
The Life Skills Education Program is sponsored by a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation, a division of the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth. It is a prevention program that provides students with the skills for enhancing self-esteem, learning creative problem solving, communicating clearly, reducing stress and managing anger. It empowers students with skills to build healthy relationships and strengthen their defenses against pressures to use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. It also provides pregnant teens and young mothers with life skills education for their infants and themselves.For more information contact Keesha Rodgers, (757) 441-6043.
Kids Priority One
Use the KidsPriorityOne website to search for an array of services, including basic needs, parenting support, early childhood services, resources for teens, and much more. In addition to a regional database, the website hosts a Community Calendar. For assistance finding services, call 757-244-5373. KidsPriorityOne is a program of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.
Let’s Move! Childhood Obesity Initiative
The Let’s Move! Initiative was launched by the First Lady to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity through a comprehensive approach that will engage every sector impacting the health of children and will provide schools, families and communities simple tools to help children to be more active, eat better and get healthy.For more information contact Valerie Beard, (757) 441-2137.
Saving Our Children
Saving Our Children is the City’s youth violence prevention program designed to attack the systemic root causes of youth violence and gang activity through collaborative efforts that prevent, intervene, suppress and change negative behavior.
Project Focus
Project Focus is a city initiative to help build strong, sustainable neighborhoods that are clean, safe and attractive with interdependent and capable neighborhood organizations.The Project Focus Neighborhoods are:
Denby Park
Bounded on the east by Tidewater Drive, the north by west Little Creek Road and the south and west by interstate 64.
Huntersville
Extends from Tidewater Drive along its eastern boundary, runs along 23rd Street on its northern boundary and Goff Street serves as its southern boundary.
Pleasant Avenue Corridor of East Ocean View
Extends from Ocean View Avenue to Pretty Lake Avenue and from Shore Drive to 5th Bay Street.
For more information contact Halima Arias, (757) 441-6046.
