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In order to reach more
elementary school students, KAPOW has developed a system of affiliates, meaning
that a community can identify an entity such as a Public School System, local Chamber of
Commerce, School-to-Work office or another non-profit willing to act as the
"governing entity" of the program. Full-fledged KAPOW affiliation is a
three-year process during which a national KAPOW representative works with the affiliate
and identified local coordinators to prepare them for increasing "ownership" of
the community’s KAPOW partnerships. The membership fee provides the affiliate’s
partnerships with multiple services and materials including a tested curriculum, ongoing
technical assistance, and national activities and resources.
WHAT IS A
KAPOW PARTNERSHIP AND HOW DOES IT OPERATE?
A standard KAPOW partnership is defined as
one business and one elementary school. Business volunteers recruited from a variety of
departments and positions are released during working hours to teach children about the
world of work, focusing on critical topics including communication, positive work habits
and attitudes, decision-making, and overcoming bias and stereotyping. Business volunteers
are trained to use the KAPOW curriculum and every child within a participating grade is
included in the program.
HOW DOES THE
AFFILIATE DEVELOP KAPOW PARTNERSHIPS IN ITS COMMUNITY?
Once your community identifies the
organization that will serve as the governing entity or affiliate, a KAPOW representative
from the national office is assigned to assist in the planning of KAPOW partnership
implementation. This assistance includes development of strategies for recruiting
appropriate business and elementary school participants, providing insight as to how
partnerships have been developed by veteran affiliates in other communities, and
guaranteeing high quality programming.
WHAT
DOES IT TAKE TO BE A KAPOW AFFILIATE?
 Business and school contacts within the
community
Staff to implement and monitor the program effectively
Training for all local coordinators
Annual affiliate membership fee
KAPOW
Quality Points
The following points define the KAPOW structure and minimum standards.
1. The goals and objectives from each lesson in the KAPOW curriculum are accomplished
during the classroom visit.
2. All children in a grade level in an elementary school
participate in KAPOW.
3. All KAPOW classes participate in at least one worksite
visit per school year and at
least seven classroom visits each school year.
4. All business volunteers and teachers participating in KAPOW will be trained in the
goals, objectives and expectations of KAPOW as well as the use of the KAPOW curriculum.
5. The classroom visits are spread out throughout the school year, ideally once each four
weeks.
6. Business volunteers are assigned to specific classrooms for the entire
school year so that the children see the same faces each KAPOW visit.
7. The teacher and business volunteer participate together in planning the KAPOW classroom
lessons.
8. Business volunteers display positive work habits -- being on time,
prepared, professional, and following all school rules.
9. Business volunteers are never left alone in the classroom -- the teacher does not leave
the classroom during a KAPOW classroom visit.
10. There are no commercial activities conducted by the business volunteers. No
promotional items, coupons or samples are distributed to the children.
11. Business volunteers will not use KAPOW as an opportunity to develop personal
relationships with the children. No business cards or phone numbers shall be
distributed to the children and the business volunteer will not be alone with an
individual child or children while in the KAPOW context.
If you are interested in becoming a KAPOW affiliate or you would like to learn more
about different ways to work with us, please email us at NCLCKAPOW@aol.com
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