Anchors

Anchors provide support and guidance to young people during difficult times.  Each teen is paired with a personal coach, known as an Anchor, who helps with personal growth.

Our Anchors program is an important part of our career development strategy.  Anchors are matched with people who have similar career goals, and we offer career development seminars every Wednesday at 6:00 pm at The Lab -Tuscaloosa.  These seminars cover topics like goal setting, job readiness, technology, decision-making, trade skills, time management, and job applications.  Additionally, we offer exercise, tutoring, ACT/GED prep, and financial literacy training provided by AlabamaOne and members of the Warr Group at Morgan Stanley.

Mentorship Program

Each student will be assigned a personal enrichment coach/ case manager known as an Anchor to provide stability and mentorship during the storms we all experience in Life. The Anchor is a direct contact for the student who will help guide him/her throughout their adolescent journey.

  • Anchors develop personalized regimens or plans of action for each participant based on an initial consultation revealing subjective needs, goals, and obstacles.

  • Administer the Individual Strategic Plan (ISP) for students which includes career goals, achievement objectives, and coordinated services

  • Works closely with teachers and counselors at schools to monitor the student’s progress to encourage and support high academic achievement

  • Review and update the ISP at least every twelve (12) months or as necessary. Students who are deemed to be at higher risk should review and update quarterly. The Review shall include input from the student, athletic trainers, case manager/

  • Anchors meet with each student monthly, quarterly, and yearly to monitor their fitness, academic, and career goals, followed by an assessment to determine areas of success or needed room for improvement

Character Development

The Ivy Foundation provides students with Character Development Symposiums once a month. Life Skills training develops resiliency and instills the importance of critically thinking and analyzing situations prior to making decisions. Our guest speakers talk to athletes on different topics each month. These engagements teach character development, social capital, healthy communication methods, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership qualities. Critical thinking and crisis management skills are reinforced to develop a more pragmatic constituency as new problems enter society daily.

A strategically designed outreach/ marketing plan is utilized to recruit and select highly qualified mentors for the program. Mentors are recruited from a variety of community organizations and institutions such as colleges/Universities, fraternities, sororities, high schools, professional associations, and churches, etc… Mentors must pass a background check and agree to the terms of the Mentor Agreement. Mentors must have a sincere interest in serving young people and must be individuals who can connect with the youth organically by speaking their vernacular, this policy lies at the epicenter of The Ivy Foundation’s culture. The ability to speak the same language as the youth is imperative to building trust and general rapport. The integrity of TIF is protected by establishing policies and procedures that thoroughly assess and vet each individual during the recruiting, screening, and matching process of those selected to serve our youth.

Fitness/Skill Training

Objective:

To utilize sport as a microcosm of life, developing confidence thru victories, humility thru defeat, and leadership and service thru teamwork to prepare each student for the ultimate game of life Although athletic activities are important for physical fitness, the primary focus of this fitness program is to teach mental and physical health. Athletes will have an opportunity to participate in a “COMBINE” at least twice a year. The COMBINE is a thorough and intense physical fitness assessment and measurement test that gives athletes a comparative written score/rating on strength, agility, physical body, and abilities. This test helps athletes understand their strengths and weaknesses. Students will be connected with an elite athlete in their sport to serve as a trainer and mentor. Students showing exceptional athleticism will be taught the intricacies of the NCAA’s recruiting process to aid them in earning scholarships.

Academic Support

Objective:

At least 50% of the athletes in the program will maintain a minimum of a “C+” accumulative average in school. Education is a foundational element of The Ivy Foundation A Major emphasis is given to educational support by helping athletes reach their full academic potential. a. All students are required to be enrolled in school or some type of formal educational training such as (GED prep, vocational training, alternative school, or college). b. College campus tours (onsite & virtual) are scheduled throughout Alabama and surrounding States. c. All students will have access to free tutoring (Study Hall) offered at our headquarters, local churches, and other community centers provided by partners. Students falling below the required GPA will be mandated to attend Study Hall, this program was adopted by Greg Byrnes; Athletic Director at the University of Alabama to ensure his athletes remain eligible by providing them with a structured system and a designated location for them to complete their schoolwork while receiving help as necessary.

Career Development

Objective:

At least 90% of the participants will be successful in a paid work/internship experience for a minimum of 6 weeks. Job Readiness Training is a required 4-week course taken by each participant. The training is facilitated by The Ivy Foundation staff. The topics covered include; goal setting, job readiness, career choices, decision making, study skills, time management, character building, financial literacy, interviewing techniques, completing a job application, and work ethics. After completing the Job Readiness Training, students are provided a paid summer internship. Work/internship experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply accumulated knowledge and training to real-world situations that serve not only themselves but the community as a whole. Students have the opportunity to transcend rudimentary learning skills to become prepared for today's hyper-complex workplace. Additionally, students are scheduled to volunteer at least eight (8) hours per summer in a service learning or community project with another nonprofit organization to encourage them to give back to their community and to further instill the servant leadership mentality

Evaluation

The evaluation instrument used to assess the program’s efficiency is termed the Individual Strategic Plan (ISP) which contains the student’s personal profile, documented notes, fitness record, career profile, pre-post academic assessments, photos, copy of awards, report cards, and progress reports. This information is confidential. The Personal Enrichment Coach (Anchor) and Director will review information regularly to analyze and measure the student’s progress. The information documented includes but is not limited to 1. Observations 2. Participation in fitness/sports activities and other programs. 3. Assessments (pre-and post) 4. Attendance 5. School report cards and progress reports 6. Internship review 7. Strategic Goals & Weekly Register The ultimate goal of these programs is to create a renaissance young adult, with improved behavior/attitude in school. Increased interest in learning, improved grades, better social skills, and a vision-focused adolescent. Additionally, students will learn the importance of personal accountability, conflict management, goal setting, time management, financial literacy, and discipline.