Teen REACH After School Program starts September 2
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
File photo
SCHD’s Teen REACH After School Program starts for the 2025-2026 school year on September 2. The program offers after school activities for Scott County students between the ages of 6-17. Students are shown here on the first day of the 2024-2025 Teen REACH After School Program at WHS. Payton Gieseke, Owen Evans and Jacelyna Adcock concentrated on finding the right pieces to build a Lego structure.
The Scott County Health Department (SCHD) recently announced that the Teen REACH After School Program will begin on Tuesday, September 2. The program is open to Scott County youth from 6-17 years old.
Teen REACH is a grant funded program of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). SCHD first started receiving the grant in 2024.
According to information provided by IDHS, the goal of the Teen REACH program is to expand the range of choices and opportunities that enable, empower and encourage youth to achieve positive growth and development, improve expectations and capacities for future success, and avoid and/or reduce risk-taking behavior.
To reach the program’s goals, IDHS stipulates that each Teen REACH program provide participants with safe environments and caring adults and guide them toward educational success, marketable skills and opportunities to serve their communities.
Program services available to participating youth at the SCHD Teen REACH After School Program include but are not limited to academic support, life skills education, recreation and sports, as well as cultural and artistic activities.
Daily attendance is not required and the program is free of charge which is the result of funding from a grant the Health Department received for the purpose of enriching the lives of children and teens during unsupervised hours during the day.
The program is supervised by former Winchester School District Art Education teacher MacKenzie Gieseke and additional helpers.
Email [email protected] or call the Scott County Health Department at 217-742-8203 for more details on meeting times or to register.
