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Early Childhood Education Program
The Early Childhood program at Operation Breakthrough earned national accreditation in 2005 from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.) It provides hands-on learning experiences, supportive teacher interactions and language-rich environments for 320 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years. Developmentally appropriate programming is guided by Head Start, the NAEYC and Quality Rating System (QRS) with the goal of preparing children for success in school. The Early Childhood program operates weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to enable parents to work full time and support their families. |
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Before- and After-School Program
More than 300 children, ages 6 to 18, come to Operation Breakthrough before and after school for tutoring, homework help, book club meetings, supervised outdoor play, peer support groups and other special activities. Through a program called “Betsy’s Kids,” children get the chance to explore and nurture their talents in special interest areas such as karate, computers, sewing, photography, dance, athletics, drama and art. |
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Summer Enrichment Program
Operation Breakthrough provides a full summer of fun and educational activities for more than 300 children, ages 6 to 18. Activities include job shadowing with professionals in the community, swimming lessons, field trips, art classes, sports camps, reading programs, community service and performing arts experience. |
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USDA-Approved Meal Program
The children are served a hot breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack each day. These meals are the main source of nutrition for many children. |
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Children's Mercy Clinic
A nurse practitioner and other health care professionals diagnose and treat children, perform well-child checkups and developmental screenings and offer health education for parents in an on-site clinic, operated in partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital. |
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Immunizations
The Kansas City Health Department conducts blood screening and twice-monthly immunization clinics at Operation Breakthrough, which has resulted in a near 100% immunization rate at our center. |
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Dental clinic
Volunteer dental professionals offer free cleanings, x-rays and corrective care for children in our on-site, full-service dental clinic. |
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Play therapy
Six master's level social workers provide individual and group therapy to children who have suffered abuse or trauma or witnessed violence in their homes or neighborhoods. In addition, our play therapy department partners with the University of Kansas Medical Center Outpatient Psychiatry Department to provide school-age children with psychiatric mental health assessments and medication, if needed. |
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Violence prevention
Through the Second Step program, preschoolers participate weekly in singing, role playing, puppet shows and discussion that teaches them to share, compromise and express their feelings through words. Preteens and adolescents learn about nonviolent communication and healthy relationships in the Boys' or Girls' support groups. |
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Mentoring/Tutoring
Community volunteers visit the center regularly to read one-on-one with children, help with schoolwork and to give time and attention to children who need a friend. |
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Computer Center
Fully equipped by the community, Operation Breakthrough's computer center offers opportunities for preschoolers to work in small groups on educational software with a reading teacher. After school, older children visit the computer center to do Internet research, homework and send e-mail to their mentors, under adult supervision. Adults use the computers to learn job skills in our business class. |
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Literacy Program
Preschoolers regularly attend Story Hour and read with community volunteers in Operation Breakthrough's 20,000-volume library. School-age children are tested to determine their reading levels and matched with books at their level. They strive toward reading goals and win special privileges, such as field trips and enrollment in arts classes, by reading books and passing computerized quizzes that measure their reading comprehension. Many children also attend weekly book club meetings and strengthen their skills by reading to preschoolers as part of our Peer Reading program. |
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Family Nurturing Program
Through its parent education program, Operation Breakthrough offers classes on topics in child development and household management and support groups to help parents cope with the challenges of child-rearing. Operation Breakthrough also has four family advocates on staff who work one-on-one with parents to create the best possible environment for their children’s healthy development. |
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Adult Therapy and Theraplay
Operation Breakthrough has licensed clinical therapists on staff to provide therapy and support to parents struggling with stress and other mental health issues. Therapists also help parents learn to strengthen their bonds with their children through Theraplay, a program in which therapists model nurturing behavior and play simple games with children while parents watch, then encourage parents as they try out what they have learned in supervised play sessions with their child |
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Emergency Aid to Families
Operation Breakthrough provides groceries from its food pantry, used clothing, furniture and household supplies and utility assistance to families in need. |
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GED Program
Community volunteers help parents prepare for the GED exam by tutoring them one-on-one in reading and math. |
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Housing
In partnership with Jackson County and a private foundation, Operation Breakthrough helps very low-income families find housing and keep it by requiring parents to participate in the center's economic literacy, parenting and household management classes. |
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Occupational Play Therapy
Therapists from Children’s Mercy Hospital provide occupational therapy for toddlers and preschoolers on site at Operation Breakthrough. This early intervention helps children with delayed motor skills and/or sensory problems overcome these issues before entering school. |
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Parents as Teachers Program
The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program provides child development information and parenting support to parents/caregivers of children from birth to 36 months at Operation Breakthrough. Our teachers in classrooms for this age group have been trained and certified as Parent Educators through PAT and complete monthly visits with parents at Operation Breakthrough to discuss their children’s developmental progress and goals. They share what the child is learning and doing in the classroom as well as give information about developmental and health screens completed on the child. PAT also offers monthly group meetings where parents/caregivers can share information, develop relationships and learn about child development. |
