Transforming Communities, Changing Kids' Lives
ABOUT USHealing Through Discovery: A Pioneering New STEM Center
By Lily Baughan
October 2, 2024
Cutting-edge STEM education and compassionate care converge to transform the lives of young patients with the installation of a new Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center. This revolutionary new initiative at Covenant Children’s in partnership with H-E-B and Covenant Hospital Foundation aims to empower kids receiving long-term medical treatments to have access to STEM learning. This innovative program sets a new standard for hospital-based education by combining emotional support in a unique learning environment with state-of-the-art STEM education curricula.
At Covenant Children's in Lubbock, TX, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center is a major improvement in how pediatric patients receive educational support. This program combines the best elements of therapeutic care with STEM education. Designed to cater to the needs of youth undergoing extensive medical procedures, this STEM Center marks a significant advancement in establishing a nurturing, stimulating environment that fosters education and recovery simultaneously.
The STEM Center offers both mobile and classroom learning spaces furnished with advanced technology and interactive teaching resources. With this setup, patients can participate in interactive STEM activities that can be tailored for their medical needs and level of education. “This classroom allows education to be a part of our patient’s comprehensive medical care,” said Covenant Children’s CEO Dr. Amy Thompson. “To keep kids on track, we have to keep them in school and around their peers. This hospital-based school gives them the best chance to do that.”
The STEM Center hopes to improve patients' emotional and cognitive growth by incorporating these educational opportunities into their everyday routines. This will give patients a much-needed distraction and sense of normalcy as they undergo medical treatment. This Center also provides an engagement point for siblings of patients and high school-aged mothers, who may also participate in the program.
Over the last eight years, thanks to corporate, foundation, and individual donors, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has completed 560 STEM Centers in 24 states, impacting over 237,000 students with the help of over 13,500 trained teachers/mentors. Each STEM Center includes technology, educational STEM products, a customized curricula/lesson plans tied to Next Generation Science Standards, teacher/mentor training, and a furniture package. This STEM initiative is based on a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that encourages students to explore STEM concepts with hands-on experiences guided by trained teachers/mentors to give underserved youth access to year-round STEM education.
The Covenant Children’s STEM Center’s impact extends beyond improving education. The program seeks to improve the general health of its young patients by integrating STEM learning into their hospital stay. “This classroom allows education to be a part of our patient’s comprehensive medical care,” said Dr. Thompson. “We have to keep them in school and around their peers. This hospital-based school gives them the best chance to do that.”
This STEM Center is essential to their healing process in addition to providing educational stimulation. These kids feel engaged and accomplished when they work on STEM projects, and this can have a good impact on their quality of life and health outcomes. “There’s nothing better than getting to see that ‘aha’ moment when a kid figures out how to do something for themselves. Just getting to see those moments is why I keep coming back,” said Dr. Thompson.
Presenting an exciting addition to Covenant Children's, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation STEM Center highlights the integration of healthcare and education. For kids receiving extensive medical treatments, this program not only offers valuable educational possibilities, but it also strengthens their emotional and psychological resilience. This STEM Center has the potential to have significant long-term effects and can serve as an example for incorporating education into healthcare environments and show how teamwork can significantly improve children's lives.
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Reach and Impact
Reach & Impact
In 2023-24, the Ripken Foundation collaborated with 824 local youth-serving partners and law enforcement agencies in 331 cities and towns in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Virgin Islands to impact over 1.4 million at-risk youth. The Ripken Foundation Portal, which gives mentors access to our program curriculum guides, impacted 495,252 of those at-risk youth. In addition, we now have 599 STEM Centers completed in 25 states giving over 255,670 kids the early exposure and hands-on opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
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Mentoring
Mentoring
In 2023, over 25,000 coaches, law enforcement officers, teachers, volunteers, and other youth mentors worked with the kids in our programs. Badges for Baseball, our signature crime prevention and mentoring program, impacted 30,289 kids in 122 communities.
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Youth Development Parks
Youth Development Parks
We’re adding more of our signature Youth Development Parks every year—creating safe places to play and renewing community pride.
Score Big with Our Resource Portal
Create your free account to access a stellar lineup of positive youth development resources. You will find easy-to-use training materials, videos, and other tools to help coaches and mentors make a lasting difference.
Testimonials
We love to hear how the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has positively impacted the lives of our mentors and at-risk youth. If you have a positive experience with the Foundation that you would like to share, please submit a story. You might be featured below or on our social media outlets!
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“”I remember meeting Ernie Graham on the second day of the CRSF Summer Camp and listening to the story he told us about how he went from rags to riches to rags. I can honestly say that the summer camp was the reason I came back to school and decided to become a smart athlete.
Cornell PowellFormer Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Summer Camp Participant -
“”The Badges for Baseball program was a 100% law enforcement participation program and the kids that participated were at-risk kids who would never speak or communicate with the police. That has changed drastically, these kids now run up to the police cruisers and they want to talk to the police.
Sgt. Randy ShawStafford County, Virginia -
“”The Badges for Baseball program has yielded results that were unforeseen. The relationships made will be lifelong and the Green Bay Police Department is eager to continue on with the program.
Officer Kevin WarychGreen Bay Police Department -
“”This CRSF camp trip was packed with “first’s” for most of the members that joined me: it was the first time these members traveled out of state and for some, the first time at a baseball camp. Although the camp was loaded with memories, what stuck with my group of boys the most was the bonding they had with our roommates after all the activities were done.
BJ KolbBoys and Girls Club of Green Bay -
“”I can remember back to my first day in the Badges for Baseball program. The police officers were amazing, coming out to all the practices and games. They had a big influence on me, and because of them, I am now studying to become a police officer at Fox Valley Tech in Appleton, Wisconsin. It wouldn’t have been possible without Badges for Baseball.
Alex StewardFormer Badges for Baseball Participant -
“”I have seen students come out of their shells, they are answering questions, they are building relationships with police officers and it is a very positive program in the schools.
Tricia WinklerPrincipal, Lima South Science-Technology Magnet -
“”Although our gym can be quite chaotic during the Badges for Baseball program, it has been rewarding to see the kids practice sportsmanship and leadership during games. I've had multiple students ask me, ‘Can we come back every day?’ It's questions like those that make all the chaos worthwhile.
Carrie MarshMentor, Y of Central Maryland
Sponsors
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is grateful for the support of the generous sponsors who share our vision and make our work possible.
