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Educational Programs
- Early Childhood Education Program
The Early Childhood program at Operation Breakthrough earned national accreditation in 2005 from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.) It provides hands-on learning experiences, supportive teacher interactions and language-rich environments for 320 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years. Developmentally appropriate programming is guided by Head Start and Quality Rating System (QRS) with the goal of preparing children for success in school. The Early Childhood program operates weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. to enable parents to work full time and support their families.
- Before and After School Program
About 140 children, ages 5 to 13, come to Operation Breakthrough before and after school and summer vacations for tutoring, homework help, book club meetings, supervised outdoor play, peer support groups, classroom enrichment activities and other special programs. While at Operation Breakthrough, children get the chance to explore and develop their talents in special interest areas such as tennis, computers, dance, athletics, drama and art.
- Summer Enrichment Programs
Operation Breakthrough provides a full summer of fun and educational activities for about 140 children, ages 5 to 13. Our Summer Enrichment Program includes job shadowing with professionals in the community, swimming lessons, field trips, art classes, sports camps, reading programs, community service, math and science activities, life skills classes and performing arts experience.
Click here to support the Summer Enrichment Program.
- Mentoring/Tutoring
Community volunteers visit the center regularly to read one-on-one with children, help with schoolwork and to give time and attention to children who need a friend.
- Literacy Program
Preschoolers regularly attend Story Hour and read with community volunteers in Operation Breakthrough's 10,000-volume library. School-age children are tested to determine their reading levels and matched with books at their level using the Accelerated Reader Program. They strive toward reading goals and win special privileges, such as field trips and enrollment in arts classes, by reading books and passing computerized quizzes that measure their reading comprehension. Many children also attend weekly book club meetings and strengthen their skills by reading to preschoolers as part of our Peer Reading program.
- Violence Prevention
Through the Second Step program, preschoolers participate weekly in singing, role playing, puppet shows and discussion that teaches them to share, compromise and express their feelings through words. Preteens and adolescents learn about nonviolent communication and healthy relationships in the Boys' or Girls' support groups.
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Pediatric Health
- USDA-Approved Meal Program
The children are served a hot breakfast and lunch and an afternoon snack each day. These meals are the main source of nutrition for many children.
- Children's Mercy Clinic
A nurse practitioner and other health care professionals diagnose and treat children, perform well-child checkups and developmental screenings and offer health education for parents in an on-site clinic, operated in partnership with Children's Mercy Hospital.
- Immunizations
In collaboration with the Kansas City Health Department and Children's Mercy Hospital, immunization clinics are held monthly for the children at Operation Breakthrough, which has resulted in a near 100% immunization rate at our center.
- Dental Clinic
Dentists and Dental Hygienists offer free cleanings, preventative and corrective care for Operation Breakthrough's children in our on-site dental clinic.
- Speech and Language Therapy
Master's level Speech and Language Pathologists provide therapy for our children birth to five years of age on site at Operation Breakthrough. This early intervention helps children with speech and language impairments in meeting developmental milestones.
- Therapy
Five master's level mental health clinicians specially trained in play therapy techniques to provide individual and group therapy to children who have experienced loss, abuse, witnessed violence or other traumatic events in their homes or neighborhoods. The department also has a full time music therapist who provides classroom, group and individual interventions. In addition, our child therapy department partners with the University of Kansas Medical Center Outpatient Psychiatry Department to provide a weekly onsite outpatient clinic for children to receive psychiatric assessments and medication therapy, if needed.
Operation Breakthrough has one licensed clinical therapist on staff to provide therapy and support for parents struggling with stress and other mental health issues. The adult therapist offers both individual, family and group therapy for the adults. Staff therapists also offer parents the opportunity to learn how to strengthen their bonds with their children through playful activities and family interventions.
- Occupational and Physical Therapy
Occupational therapists from Children's Mercy Hospital and volunteer Physical Therapists provide therapy for our children birth to five years of age on site at Operation Breakthrough. This early intervention helps children with motor and/or sensory impairments in meeting developmental milestones.
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Parent Programming
- Family Nurturing Program
Through the parent education program, Operation Breakthrough offers classes on topics in child development and household management. Additionally, support groups are held to help parents cope with the challenges of child-rearing. Operation Breakthrough also has four family advocates on staff who work one-on-one with parents to create the best possible environment for their child's healthy development.
- Adult Therapy
Operation Breakthrough has one licensed clinical therapist on staff to provide therapy and support for parents struggling with stress and other mental health issues. The adult therapist offers both individual, family and group therapy for the adults. Staff therapists also offer parents the opportunity to learn how to strengthen their bonds with their children through playful activities and family interventions.
- Emergency Aid to Families
Operation Breakthrough provides groceries from its food pantry, clothing, furniture and household supplies and utility assistance to families in need.
- Housing
Along with supporting families in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing within the Kansas City community, Operation Breakthrough currently has a permanent, supportive housing program for 6 families. The Program is designed to promote healthy family relationships, positive mental health, and support within a community in a drug and alcohol free environment.
- Helen Gragg Adult Clinic
In collaboration with Truman Medical Center, adult clinics are held once a week on-site for our parents at Operation Breakthrough who have lost health insurance. Parents are able to receive primary care, women wellness exams and other health care supportive services in their visits with the volunteer doctors and nurse practitioners.
- Women Infants and Children (WIC)
is a service offered on-site in collaboration with Truman Medical Center. WIC provides nutritional education, counseling and assessments for pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women and their children under the age of 5. Our mothers receive vouchers for milk, formula and cereals.