Our Programs
Long-term Commitment
Parent and Caregiver Involvement
College and Career Support
Scholarship
Mentorship
Choosing a Class Cohort
Unique Funding Model
Once a Dreamer Scholar, Always a Dreamer Scholar Philosophy
Long-term Commitment
IHDF works with each individual student from first grade through high school graduation, and then into their post-secondary program. Each student attends after-school and summer programming for 10-12 of their elementary, middle, and high school years. Students receive academic, socio-emotional and life-skills support.
Parent and Caregiver Involvement
Parent and caregiver meetings, home visits, and support during parent-teacher conferences allows our staff to help parents and caregivers advocate for their child. Parent/Caregiver Leadership Councils help increase parent and caregiver involvement and lead certain programming.
College and Career Support
Youth are told from day one that a post-secondary education is not only an option for them, but an expectation. IHDF ensures youth are prepared to meet with this expectation with college tours, paid internships, job shadows, and more. Students receive individualized support through the post-secondary application process.
Scholarship
IHDF provides each Dreamer Scholar with up to $10,000 in last-dollar tuition scholarship funds towards a post-secondary education of their choice. IHDF also has secured additional scholarship funding so that its Dreamer Scholars and youth at its partner sites can potentially attend college or post-secondary education programs debt free.
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Mentorship
IHDF’s goal is to pair each youth one-on-one with a mentor by partnering with A Precious Child to match Dreamer Scholars with a mentor – Learn more (you will be redirected to A Precious Child’s website). *Make sure to say you were referred from IHDF and you’d like to be matched with a Dreamer Scholar on their waitlist.
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Choosing a Class Cohort
IHDF works with the local school districts and housing authorities to pinpoint the school or housing community that is most in need — determined by the number of low-income children and the resources (or lack there of) present for those youth. IHDF then launches a class cohort of 50-60 youth around the same age, committing to them for over a decade. Siblings and friends of Dreamer Scholars are invited to attend programming.
Unique Funding Model
IHDF has a unique funding model, and does not launch a class cohort until each Dreamer Scholar is “sponsored” by a community member or business. This guarantees them 10-12 years of after-school and summer programming, as well as a scholarship for their post-secondary education.
Once a Dreamer Scholar, Always a Dreamer Scholar Philosophy
If a student leaves the school or housing site and moves to a different location, IHDF does not abandon them. As long as the student (or student’s parents) keep in touch and set up a plan with their program director, IHDF is able to offer students connections to tutors and other supports, and they will still be eligible to receive their post-secondary scholarship. If a student does decide to leave the program, another student attending programming (often a sibling or classmate) is given the scholarship commitment.