Kokomo Urban Outreach
The Home of the UP™ Programs
Our Mission
Our mission is to ensure that every young person in Howard County has the education, work ethics, and life skills needed to transition successfully into a self-reliant adult.
The UP™ Program was established in November of 2016, starting with young men, 10-18 years old, in what was then called ManUP. In February of 2017, a girls' program was established called StepUP for girls. MiniUP™ (children three years old-9 years old was put in place in September of 2018). In all three programs, young people learned to live by the four Rs, I am Respectful, I am Responsible, I am Reliable, and I am Ready, as well as learning how to work. Pre-COVID, there were 100 children in MIniUP and 125 in ManUP with about 40 in StepUP. After the shelter in place due to Covid, changes had to be made, ManUP and StepUP were disbanded, and the young women and men were combined into one group simply called UP™. After Covid, we combined the young men (ManUP) and young women (StepUP) together and called it UP (which stands for Unlimited Potential).
UP™
Mini-Up™
Our Results
Each child and teen in the UP™Program is surrounded by caring adults who track their behavior at home and school through progress reports. Grades are tracked, and work effort and improvement are noted. By partnering with the school, home, and at times with the court or counselors, UP™ kid's progress is tracked. Grades have improved, school attendance is on the rise, attitudes have shifted. Parents report that since their children have joined the UP™ Program, homework times are easier, chores are completed and children/teens succeed. The longer children/teens are in the Program, and the more responsible they are with their money. As new life skills are mastered, self-esteem rises. And then there are the soft work skills—being on time, wearing the right clothing for the job, and hard work—that help children/teens become self-reliant.
