CORE | Coalition for Residential Education

What is National Residential Education Day?

National Residential Education Day is an annual opportunity for residential education programs to reach out on the local level to key policymakers, media, funders, and the community at large with awareness-building activities. This day-long national public awareness event is a concerted and powerful platform upon which to increase recognition and understanding of residential education and the important services it provides for children, families, and communities.

The month of May is National Foster Care Month. Across the country, leading child welfare organizations are coming together to increase awareness about foster care. This gives the residential education field an opportunity to leverage national efforts that raise awareness of the needs of at-risk children — and the promising and effective residential education programs that serve these children.

One day in May – this year May 6, residential education programs nationwide concentrate their efforts to reach out to local media, policymakers, decision-makers, and the community at large — greatly enhancing visibility of this crucial option for at-risk youth.

A Sampling of Events That Took Place Around the Country:

• “Open House” events and student-led campus tours, with invitations to the media, legislators, county social workers, supporters, alumni, and the community
• Campus-wide assemblies featuring presentations from youth who benefited from living and learning at a residential education program
• “Power Lunch” with key state legislators and local decision-makers
• Month-long series of inspirational speakers on campus for students, entitled “Power and Pizza”
• Student-made film – “A day in the life of…” with stories of several children living at a residential education program
• Student and alumni letter-writing campaigns to congressmen about the benefits of residential education
• Radio interviews discussing the crucial services residential education offers youth
• Student talent shows, houseparent and teacher “shadow” day, and special meals and festivities bringing together staff, supporters, and children
• Tying National Residential Education Day into the Philadelphia City Council honoring Girard College for 160 years of service to at-risk youth

Press Coverage Included:

• Residential Education to Be Honored, The Index-Journal
• Boys’ Home, Inc. Plans National Residential Education Day Celebration, The Allegheny Journal
• National Residential Education Day to Recognize Methodist Children’s Home, The United Methodist Reporter
• Former Resident Example of Why Methodist Children’s Home Will Receive Honor, North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church

We look forward to having you join us in next year’s efforts!