2016 Goals

Increase College Scholars’ Responsibilities
Since we started our College Scholars Program in 2014, our College Scholars have worked at Casa VISEDAL for approximately 8 hours each week, tutoring our younger scholars and helping our staff with office work. In exchange, the College Scholars receive a monthly stipend and a full college scholarship. The program has successfully provided our college students with an opportunity to manage their own money, maintain a consistent work/study schedule, and gain valuable work experience, while also helping VISEDAL.
In 2016, our College Scholars will also assist our staff with their monthly school visits. This involves visiting every school attended by VISEDAL scholars to monitor scholars’ behavior in school, attendance, and grades and to communicate with teachers and administrators about any developments or concerns. This added responsibility will help our staff and provide our College Scholars with additional work experience.
Since we started our College Scholars Program in 2014, our College Scholars have worked at Casa VISEDAL for approximately 8 hours each week, tutoring our younger scholars and helping our staff with office work. In exchange, the College Scholars receive a monthly stipend and a full college scholarship. The program has successfully provided our college students with an opportunity to manage their own money, maintain a consistent work/study schedule, and gain valuable work experience, while also helping VISEDAL.
In 2016, our College Scholars will also assist our staff with their monthly school visits. This involves visiting every school attended by VISEDAL scholars to monitor scholars’ behavior in school, attendance, and grades and to communicate with teachers and administrators about any developments or concerns. This added responsibility will help our staff and provide our College Scholars with additional work experience.

Better Encourage and Track School Attendance
As a result of several scholars’ attendance-related academic issues in 2015, we will roll out two programwide initiatives in 2016 aimed at improving attendance. Our new attendance incentive program will award scholars who achieve stellar attendance records. In addition, for cases of repeated unexcused absences, we are prepared to reduce some of the benefits our scholars receive.
We will fully introduce and explain these two new initiatives to our scholars and their families.
As a result of several scholars’ attendance-related academic issues in 2015, we will roll out two programwide initiatives in 2016 aimed at improving attendance. Our new attendance incentive program will award scholars who achieve stellar attendance records. In addition, for cases of repeated unexcused absences, we are prepared to reduce some of the benefits our scholars receive.
We will fully introduce and explain these two new initiatives to our scholars and their families.

Store and Distribute Medical and School Supplies at Casa VISEDAL
We will purchase basic medical and school supplies in bulk and store them at Casa VISEDAL, which will allow us to better meet our scholars’ needs and save us money.
Finish Our Program Evaluation and Implement the Top-Priority Recommendations
In the first half of 2016 we will wrap up the program evaluation we started in 2015, in which we’re evaluating every aspect of our organization. We will then review our findings and act on as many of the highest-priority findings as possible.
Continue Developing a Long-Term Plan for VISEDAL’s Future
VISEDAL staff and board members will build on the findings from our program evaluation to determine our long-term goals and then identify actions to take to achieve those goals.
We will purchase basic medical and school supplies in bulk and store them at Casa VISEDAL, which will allow us to better meet our scholars’ needs and save us money.
Finish Our Program Evaluation and Implement the Top-Priority Recommendations
In the first half of 2016 we will wrap up the program evaluation we started in 2015, in which we’re evaluating every aspect of our organization. We will then review our findings and act on as many of the highest-priority findings as possible.
Continue Developing a Long-Term Plan for VISEDAL’s Future
VISEDAL staff and board members will build on the findings from our program evaluation to determine our long-term goals and then identify actions to take to achieve those goals.