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Eastside Academy 

Description

Eastside Academy (EA) serves teens who have experienced challenges such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, dysfunctional and abusive homes, criminal history, mental health issues and expulsion from public schools. Students who come to EA are in crisis, and arrive with a variety of emotional and developmental scars. We serve these youth holistically, providing them with an education, while at the same time treating the underlying issues that prevent them from being successful in all areas of their lives.

Mission Statement
Eastside Academy exists to inspire change in the lives of at-risk youth through high school education, counseling, recovery, and life skills programs in a Christ centered environment.  Eastside Academy serves all youth regardless of their financial status, ethnic background or faith.
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Eastside Academy
1717 Bellevue Way NE 
Bellevue 
WA
98004-2853 
(425) 452-9920 

Ms. Toni Esparza 
Executive Director 

Programs

Eastside Academy Programs

Students' needs are met through the following programs:

Education
Students who come to EA have traditionally failed in 2-3 other schools. EA provides students with small class sizes and a highly individualized learning plan to ensure that every student receives the attention they need to succeed academically.

Drug and Alcohol Recovery
Over 80% of EA students struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. These youth participate in daily recovery classes with a professional Drug and Alcohol Counselor, as well as participate in random drug and alcohol testing.

Mental Health Counseling
Students who come to EA are overwhelmed with the challenges of unstable home lives, abuse, homelessness, and more. Every student is provided with weekly one-on-one counseling with a professional Mental Health Counselor. Here they begin to face the trauma experienced in their lives, and work toward building a healthy lifestyle.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

"I have never spoken with my father. He left as soon as he found my mom was pregnant with me. But, there were a lot of other men involved in my life when I was growing up. My mom would meet guys on the internet. One of my mom's fiancees took advantage of me when I was 12. My best friend made me tell our 5th period teacher. That man is now in prison. But my mom didn't believe me when I told her. She thought I seduced him and so did some of my sisters. They said I did the whole thing to get attention.

It was also at the age of 12 that I first used drugs and started cutting. Most people get drunk or do drugs to escape, but I cut. That was a stronger addiction for me than marijuana ever was. It released all my anger, frustration and hatred towards everyone. It got to the point that I just didn't care. I finally got fed up with my mom; she never gave me a chance to prove myself. She didn't give me respect or trust, so I just left. I found out I was pregnant and things started to not go very well.

I moved in with a friend who told there was a school she wanted me to try: Eastside Academy. EA is different than other schools. I didn't just become another student. People here actually care about each other. When I started to get behind, they were on my case. I never understood the material at my other schools. Here the teachers actually care and I understand.

At Eastside Academy, I have a counselor that I was able to open up to. She's honest, straightforward, and she understands. She helped me open up and learn to trust people more. I also realized that in previous relationships I was looking for the wrong thing. I did things just to make the other person happy. Now, I've decided I'm not going to be in a relationship for a long while.

Eastside Academy gave me the amount of support that I needed to graduate. I have learned to be patient. I have also learned self-confidence and self-control. I have been very successful with both my attendance and grades. There have been a few people that said that I could not and would not make it to graduation. Yet, today I am able to announce that I am a high school graduate!"

Eastside Academy's program rely on community support in order to continue. Students who attend EA contribute tuition on a sliding scale, based on family income. As a result, tuition accounts for only 6% of our budget. We rely on the commitment and support of foundations, corporations, churches, and individuals to continue to ensure that these are students are provided with an opportunity to turn their lives around and earn a high school diploma.

Evaluation


Eastside Academy (EA) provides an education to high school youth with wrap around services including mental health counseling, drug and alcohol recovery and mentoring.

Proven Success
Teens are treated holistically through supportive programs. All students attend counseling every day in order to normalize rather than stigmatize the therapeutic process. The Academy represents the last chance for these youth, most of whom have attended and failed in 2-3 other high-schools prior to enrolling at EA. Since 2007, 75% of Eastside Academy’s graduates are employed or enrolled in college.

Use of Best Practices
Youth served by Eastside Academy arrive with academic and emotional challenges. They have received little, if any counseling, and have failed in other recovery programs. Their academic struggles, behavioral challenges, psychological needs, and recovery efforts compound one another. EA’s model is unique, and they offer programs that are give youth and their families the tools they need in order to break cycles of abuse, successfully raise their own families, pursue careers and higher education, and manage their sobriety.

Financial Health
Eastside Academy conducted an assessment of their fundraising activities. They learned that they had a good base and have made some modifications and additions to their activities. This past year they saw a 30% increase in support from foundations, and have increased the number of fundraising campaigns and saw a 5% increase in individual donations. They have also reduced overhead costs when possible and have been able to meet their budget.

Sustainability
Eastside Academy faces the challenge of being able to serve all of the youth who come to them looking for help. They have seen an increase in demand, and their waitlist continues to grow. The Eastside Academy staff and Board of Directors have identified the need to expand our services in order to adequately meet the needs of teens seeking an education and treatment. They are exploring the possibility of replication their model in another community. They have been in conversations with various organizations about the possibility of helping to establish and/or house another Eastside Academy program.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
6/10/2010 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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