“The program is just phenomenal. I’ve learned so much and I am so excited to become a parent and have the support system here. I know I can always come back and rely on them for help.”
– Mary Ellis, Family College parent
In Newark’s South Ward, a community rich in history, 56% of children are living in poverty—nearly double the national rate. Only 68% of South Ward students graduate from high school, while a mere 8% go on to earn a college degree. The South Ward Children’s Alliance is committed to breaking this cycle of adversity in this high-poverty New Jersey neighborhood.
Established in 2014, the mission of the South Ward Children’s Alliance (SWCA) is to dramatically improve the trajectory of children’s lives in the South Ward community. Housed under the BRICK Education Network, an interlocking network of education, social services, and community-building initiatives, SWCA was born of the idea that underlying issues of poverty impact students’ academic performance and must be addressed to affect real change.
SWCA’s multifaceted cradle-to-career model centers around four primary components: early childhood care and education, parenting support and intervention, family support and family health, and resource connection. Key programs include:
Family Hub, supporting families’ primary needs in health and well-being, housing and economic security, and positive youth development.
Family College, an evidence-based parenting education program.
A health and wellness initiative focusing on prenatal care and better access to healthcare resources.
Early childhood education, including a network of high-quality community centers and Pre-K programs.
Since 2018
691
families
1,134
children
have served through the South Ward Children’s Alliance
3,377
children
reached through the South Ward Promise Neighborhood network
125
parents
graduated from Family College
SWCA shares in The Burke Foundation’s unwavering belief in the importance of early intervention and in the idea that the quality of children’s early experiences has a profound impact on their lives. Alongside The Nicholson Foundation, the Turrell Fund, and a $30-million grant from Promise Neighborhoods, a US Department of Education program dedicated to significantly improving the educational and developmental outcomes of children and youth in our most distressed communities, The Burke Foundation is joining forces with SWCA to ensure that every South Ward student will enter elementary school safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
South Ward Children’s Alliance
Program in Action
“The South Ward Promise Neighborhood has a unique opportunity to provide resources which will aid in breaking down generational barriers starting as early as birth. With this influx of support through various partnerships, we can develop a sustainable and thriving South Ward.”
– Jasmine Spencer, Director of Early Childhood, SWCA
“What truly separates us from other organizations is that we genuinely believe that in order to serve our children, you have to be able to partner with other organizations and create an ecosystem for children to be successful. We accomplish this by having a robust pipeline of partnerships to support our families and children around housing, health, and economic mobility services.”
– Dominique Lee, BRICK Education Network Founder and CEO
