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PURPOSE /
MISSION
The overall mission of KICKSTART is to
change and save children’s lives. Resiliency is enhanced
through the values and philosophies taught through the
Martial Arts.
Specific goals of the program are to
encourage students to resolve conflict productively, avoid
participating in gangs, choose drug-free lifestyles, and
remain in high school until they graduate.
Martial Arts training serves simply as the
vehicle to instill the values and skills necessary to combat
the drug and gang-related peer pressures. The core philosophy
of Martial Arts stresses the vital importance of a healthy
mind and body necessary to lead a productive life.
The KICKSTART karate program replaces
many missing elements of our students' lives including
offering a role model, a figure of authority, a chance to set
and reach goals, physical and mental conditioning and very
importantly, a feeling of hope for the future and belief in
themselves.
Houston and Galveston Independent School
District studies show that drug and gang related peer
pressure is the worst on the sixth grade level. The goal is
to instill protective factors in these children, so that they
will have the resiliency to combat these pressures. From
Chuck Norris’ vast experience working with children through
the Martial Arts, he is confident this program provides the
necessary tools for these children.
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BACKGROUND / HISTORY
During President
Bush's 1988 campaign, Chuck Norris spent several weeks
traveling nationwide appearing at fundraising events. It was
during these trips that Chuck had the opportunity to discuss
his idea of creating a Foundation that targets and instills
protective factors which are known to enhance resiliency.*
Originally, the Foundation would target drug abuse
prevention. President Bush was very encouraging and set up
meetings for Chuck Norris with various government entities
including the U.S. Department of Education, and the Office of
National Service (Thousand Points of Light).
On August 16,
1990, the Kick Drugs Out of America Foundation was formed in
Washington, D.C. The Foundation
received its 501(C)(3) status on March 1, 1991. The headquarters for the Foundation is
located in Houston, Texas and also maintains an office in Dallas. Currently,
the Foundation has a national board with Chuck Norris serving
as Chairman, Houston and Dallas Advisory Boards, an Executive Director, a
Director of Operations, a Community and School Relations
Director, a Business Manager
and over forty Black Belt instructors. Funding
permitting, the Foundation will be expanding on a continual
basis.
Beginning in
2003, in order to widen the focus of the anti-drugs aspect of
the program, and to better represent the core values
and philosophy of encouraging every child to lead a
productive and healthy life, the Board decided to change the
working name of Kick Drugs Out Of America to KICKSTART.
The Foundation still maintains its official name as Kick
Drugs Out of America Foundation, but now it has added a
"dba" (doing business as) KICKSTART.
There has been an
on-going evaluation since 1992. Through constant reevaluation
of program goals and
impact, program directors have come to appreciate that
KICKSTART has the potential to impact the children in
various ways. Not only may the program help children resist
using drugs, but the program is also contributing to the
development of conflict resolution skills and a reduction in
youth violence.
*Resiliency is
invulnerability to stressful situations and problems
Protective factors include:
1)
attachment to a caring adult
2) independence and competency
3) high aspirations
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PROBLEM STATEMENT
The overwhelming problems resulting from
tobacco, alcohol, other drug abuse, youth violence and gangs
in our country are staggering. In the inner-city schools and
in many suburbs, the drug and gang-related peer pressure is
at an all time high. It is evident that there is very little
family structure, little or no guidance and direction for the
youngsters, and often no positive role models, even at the
schools. Our youth are conditioned for failure, feel there is
no future for them and have often lost all sense of hope.
Their sense of value for life itself is often non-existent.
KICKSTART's primary target population
is inner-city youngsters, but the program is currently also
meeting the needs of students in various environments. The
program generally begins on the elementary and/or sixth grade
level. Currently, the participants in the program include
Hispanics, African Americans, Asians, and Caucasians.
The extent of America's problems with its
youth is enormous. The Foundation's goal is to be part
of the solution to the problem. It costs an estimated $50,000
per year per youngster to be in a detention center or jail.
It costs less than $700 per child to be in our program.
KICKSTART, with the help of all Americans, can
make a difference for our children's future.
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KEY STRATEGIES
The program
targets and instills protective factors in the students,
which are known to enhance resiliency. Resiliency is
invulnerability to stressful situations and problems. It is
also the ability to bounce back from adversity and adapt
successfully.
Teach Discipline
All children are begging for discipline,
although they will never ask for it. Karate teaches
children how to discipline themselves and shows them how
critical a tool discipline is for achieving their desired
goals. The black belt instructors, trained by Chuck to
communicate most effectively with this age group, are
providing the discipline lacking in most aspects of the
youngsters' lives.
Instill A Sense Of Belonging
A sense of belonging is an integral part of
everyone's life and many of the inner city children turn to
gang-related groups because they feel they fit in nowhere
else. The Foundation offers them a positive alternative.
When students join the program, they earn the right to
belong to the Chuck Norris Team - "T" for truth, "E"
for esteem, "A" for attitude, "M" for motivation.
Provide
Opportunity For Meaningful Participation In Communities And
Schools
Opportunities are afforded the students by
the instructors to exhibit their skills at outside
organizations, help raise funds for their school program,
offer their services for outside community service
programs, etc. In addition, a citywide community is
developed among participants at each of the schools.
KICKSTART hosts several events, which allow for student
participation, including tournaments for students from all
schools to compete together. There are also joint community
service projects.
Set Reachable Goals
Each student will strive for small goals
set by the instructor which helps the student realize
he/she actually can succeed. Goal-setting is a very
important asset, which will be valuable throughout their
lives.
Create Reflective Individuals
Provide an environment where the child can
recognize his/her insecurities and develop a sense of
responsibility toward self and others.
Increase Family Participation
One of Chuck Norris' major concerns is the
disintegration of the family unit in today's society. The
Martial Arts program focuses on involving the parents and
family members in the program's activities. School district
officials are shocked at the phenomenal results to date. In
all of our participating schools, the average for parental
attendance for school functions is 5%. For every Martial
Arts ceremony or function at the school, over 85% of the
families attend. The families are truly proud of their
son/daughter who are part of the Chuck Norris T.E.A.M.
There are many other events and activities in which the
parents are invited to participate as members of a "Parent
Booster Club".
Transfer Skills
As the program has progressed, teachers as
well as the karate instructors are noticing improvement in
overall behavior and attitude. Attendance rate is improving
significantly, self-discipline, conduct grades,
self-esteem, and respect for others is on the rise and the
sense of TEAM and belonging is evident at each school.
Collaboration With Faculty &
Administrators
One great advantage of this program being
part of the daily curriculum is that our instructors
communicate on a regular basis with other teachers and
counselors and together they can work with particular
problems of students. The instructor becomes an integral
part of the school community.
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