About Kids On The Move

Amy Devos and Peggy Davenport are the founders of Kids on the Move. The backgrounds of the founders are well-suited to meet the needs of the targeted children within the Kids on the Move program. Amy Devos has completed teacher certification course work and substituted for two and a half years, working primarily with behaviorally and emotionally disturbed children. She is a CASA volunteer, working with children involved in abuse and neglect cases. Margaret Davenport has been a physical fitness instructor for all age groups, served as Business Manager for the Metropolitan Denver Girl Scouts Summer Program, and worked with a national food and nutrition program for children.

Target Population

Kids on the Move believes that children in the foster care system are presented with many challenges and many lack needed support and resources. Being removed from their homes and placed in foster care is a difficult and stressful experience for any child . However, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that most foster children show remarkable resilience and determination to go on with their lives. Kids on the Move intends to help them do just that. Kids on the Move will focus 100% of its time on programs for these children.

Foster children are busy with school, and for many of them much of their free time is spent in therapy dealing with the stresses of having been removed from their homes. Kids on the Move can make a positive difference in the lives of some of these children by providing fun and educational activities.

PROGRAMS

Phase I - Summer 2006

The inaugural groups consisted of pre-teen girls and boys, ages 7-12. A seven week session ran from June to August, 2006, and activities were planned for once a week. The seven sessions were divided between physical activities (i.e., hiking and swimming and educational/cultural activities (i.e., museums and cultural facilities). Throughout the summer session, participants had the opportunity to bond with and establish a network of peers. The focus was on improving the children's quality of life through these experiences.

SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM – Phase II

In September 2006, Kids on the Move continued to work with the Jefferson County Department of Human Services to extend its program throughout the school year and additional children joined the program. Our sessions were moved to Friday nights and to Saturdays to adapt to school schedules. Our activities have included the Stock Show, IMAX and the Museum of Nature and Science, Disney on Ice, corn mazes and pumpkin picking, the Wildlife Museum, a Belle Choir Concert, and many other fun experiences.

March 2007
 
We are underway with our spring program and looking forward to the summer ahead and returning to our daytime, weekly schedule.

Often, foster children’s lives lack a sense of permanence, and Kids on the Move provides continuity and an important building block in the development of relationships. In this manner and in all aforementioned programs, Kids on the Move furthers its exempt purposes to improve the quality of life and create healthier individuals.