Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlights a significant achievement: Mississippi fourth-graders have demonstrated the highest gains in reading scores nationwide in 2024. This remarkable progress is a testament to the dedication of educators, parents, and students across the state, and organizations like the DHA, through its Delta Cares Program, are playing a crucial role in this success story.
The Delta Cares Program embodies a comprehensive approach to improving the lives and futures of young people in the Mississippi Delta. Through various initiatives, DHA is actively working to enhance educational outcomes, promote healthy lifestyles, and foster a college-going culture. One key component of the Delta Cares Program is the Literacy Fellows program, implemented within DHA’s Promise Communities. This initiative directly addresses reading proficiency, and data reveals its positive impact. In Leflore County schools with DHA Literacy Fellows, first-attempt passage rates on the third-grade reading exam have significantly increased since the Leflore Promise Community’s inception. This early success lays a strong foundation for students as they advance to the fourth-grade NAEP assessment and beyond. Mississippi also celebrated a record-high percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced across multiple grade levels and subjects, further underscoring the collective efforts driving academic improvement.
The Delta Cares Program extends beyond literacy to encompass the holistic development of students. The Delta Better Futures (DBF) program, a vital part of the Delta Cares Program, focuses on equipping adolescents and teens with essential life skills. Recent DBF events at Promise Christian Dance Academy and W.A. Higgins Middle School exemplify this commitment. Using the evidence-based Positive Potential curriculum, DBF Teen Educators engage students in discussions about navigating peer pressure, addressing sensitive questions from friends, and making informed decisions to protect their health.
DBF’s work with partner schools and communities throughout the Delta region aims to improve adolescent health outcomes, setting students on a path to success beyond high school and enabling them to reach their full potential. Another example of the DBF program in action, under the Delta Cares Program umbrella, is their engagement with 6th graders at Oakhurst Elementary School. The DBF team led interactive sessions focusing on the “five parts of the whole self” – mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and physical health. These activities helped students understand the interconnectedness of these aspects and their influence on overall well-being.
Furthermore, DBF’s outreach extends to older students, as demonstrated by their session with 7th graders at Coahoma County Junior High. This engagement focused on crucial topics like setting boundaries and self-awareness, equipping students with skills to make positive choices and protect their health as they navigate adolescence.
The Delta Cares Program also recognizes the importance of creating a supportive school environment. The recognition of four schools within DHA’s Promise Community footprint on the Lt. Governor’s Attendance Award list underscores this. Leland School Park Middle School, Amanda Elzy High School, Amanda Elzy Junior High, and Leflore County Elementary School were honored for achieving chronic absenteeism rates of 15% or lower. This achievement highlights the dedication of school districts, parents, and Promise Community staff in fostering opportunities for Mississippi Delta children through initiatives supported by the Delta Cares Program.
During Red Ribbon Week, Delta Better Futures Teen Educators led an anti-bullying poster contest at Davis Elementary, further demonstrating the Delta Cares Program’s commitment to student well-being. This event, part of a national effort to raise awareness about bullying and drug prevention, provided a platform for students to express themselves creatively and learn valuable lessons about making healthy choices.
Another impactful initiative under the Delta Cares Program is the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program. The “Drop Off with Dads” event, hosted across all seven elementary schools in the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District (GLCSD), witnessed remarkable father figure involvement. Several schools more than doubled participation from the previous year, with Claudine Brown Elementary leading with over 90 dads. This program not only boosts student motivation but also positively impacts school attendance, reinforcing the Delta Cares Program‘s holistic support system.
DBF’s lessons on boundaries, self-awareness, and self-control with middle schoolers at Leland Park School further illustrate the Delta Cares Program’s dedication to equipping students with essential skills for navigating adolescence and making responsible choices.
Similarly, role-playing scenarios conducted by the DBF team at Threadgill Elementary helped students develop strategies for resisting peer pressure and escaping harmful situations, reinforcing the practical life skills component of the Delta Cares Program.
The Delta Cares Program also extends to promoting healthy eating habits through initiatives like Delta EATS. Students at Bankston Elementary and Davis Elementary are gaining hands-on experience in cultivating school gardens, learning about healthy food sources and developing skills to grow their own gardens at home. This program introduces healthy eating habits in a tangible and engaging way.
For older students, the College Promise Initiative (CPI), another key component of the Delta Cares Program, focuses on college readiness. Data demonstrates that students participating in DHA’s CPI in Leflore County high schools achieve ACT composite scores almost three points higher than their peers not enrolled in the program. CPI provides ACT tutoring, college planning assistance, academic counseling, mentoring, and college tour opportunities, fostering a strong college-going culture and improving students’ chances of accessing higher education.
Finally, the Delta Cares Program provides essential support at the beginning of the school year. The Leflore Promise Community team assisted seven elementary schools in the Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School District on the first day of school, demonstrating their commitment to ensuring a smooth and positive start to the academic year for students of all ages.
In conclusion, the Delta Cares Program stands as a beacon of hope and progress in the Mississippi Delta. Through its multifaceted initiatives encompassing literacy, youth development, college readiness, and community support, the program is demonstrably empowering students, improving educational outcomes, and building a brighter future for the region. The recent NAEP gains are just one indicator of the positive trajectory being forged by the collective efforts of the Delta Cares Program, DHA, schools, families, and the wider community.
