The purpose of College Bound is to introduce and expose Club members to the idea of college and prepare them for a successful experience. College Bounds one-on-one case management strategy, youth receive the guidance, support, and resources they need to meet the academic, financial, and testing requirements for public and private universities. The intensive and comprehensive case management serves as the heart of the program. Case Management provides teens (6th 12th graders) with guidance, encouragement, and resources that they need to obtain their educational goals. Currently, we provide intensive and comprehensive one-on-one case management to 550 teens, 159 of which are 12th graders.
The College Bound Case Manager works on three important items with each youth:
(1) The vision and belief that a college education is in their future
(2) The road map to achieve their college dream
(3) Building the skills to get to college
Case Managers track academic progress and note the classes needed to meet the curriculum requirements of the University of California, California State, and community college systems. Students are introduced to and begin preparing for standardized tests and applications. Over the course of the program, the Case Manager works with youth to develop academic goals. They guide youth through application and testing procedures, provide academic tutoring, assist with financial aid applications, teach youth to managing deadlines, advocate on their behalf, counsel parents, and provide cultural mentoring. In short, the Case Manager acts as the childs educational guardian angel, guiding each Club member through the unfamiliar and unpredictable landscape of college preparation, application process, eventual acceptance and transition.
The second component of College Bound is daily tutoring. Each day, the Teen Center implements Power Hour to ensure that all teen Club Members focus on academics daily. During Power Hour, teens receive tutoring and homework assistance. Through College Bound, youth receive an array of resources to help them reach their academic and personal goals resources that are not readily available or even accessible to the majority of our youth. These range from SAT prep classes, intensive scholarship application workshops, a financial aid fair, and college credit courses. These resources can make the difference between community college and a university for many youth. Weekly College Bound activities like A-G college requirement workshops, SAT classes, application workshops, writers workshops, and intensive scholarship application workshops, provide youth with knowledge and information. Exposure activities, trips to universities, mentors, and guest speakers help students believe that college is an attainable goal. College Bound resources and activities support the case management. Case Management is the key to the success and impact of the program. Case Management introduces youth to the idea of college, builds their belief that it is attainable, and motivates them to work towards college.

Communities of low-income and educational attainment and high crime and gang activity.
41% of youth in San Pedro live below poverty,42% in Wilmington
Wilmington has a higher percentage of low income families than Compton
Wilmington has a gang injunction

Youth interact with college professors, admission officers, test advisors, and career guidance counselors through mentors and resources brought to the club.

College Bound staff advocates for our students by communicating and working with high school counselors, and administrators to make sure that our students are enrolled in the correct courses for high school graduation and college acceptance.

Through intense case management, students meet regularly with staff. Staff makes sure that they are enrolled in the proper A-G classes, a much needed resource when almost half of the graduates in these communities do not have the required courses. When completed successfully students are eligible for UC and Cal State universities. Staff will assist with all college SAT, Financial Aid, and EOP applications serving as guides and motivators throughout the entire process.

To ensure our students graduate, we offer free daily tutoring at our Teen Center-including evenings and Saturday mornings tutoring support.

Youth in the program are exposed to experiences, people and places that open their minds to the idea of a college education.