ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES
ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES
OVERVIEW 
HEA supports the launch and pilots of innovative initiatives across the lifespan. In the initial pilot phase, HEA supports coordination, capacity building, and evaluation with the goal of understanding the potential for community-level impact. All of HEA’s initiatives happen in collaboration with partners, and HEA works to evaluate when an initiative is a strong fit to be led and sustained by a partner organization and supports the transition process. In some cases, such as with ECoSistema, HEA continues to play a role in the growth and expansion, while in other cases, such as Reaching Higher and Tools of the Mind, individual organizations continue implementation once the pilot phase is completed.
OVERVIEW
HEA supports the launch and pilots of innovative initiatives across the lifespan. In the initial pilot phase, HEA supports coordination, capacity building, and evaluation with the goal of understanding the potential for community-level impact. All of HEA’s initiatives happen in collaboration with partners, and HEA works to evaluate when an initiative is a strong fit to be led and sustained by a partner organization and supports the transition process. In some cases, such as with ECoSistema, HEA continues to play a role in the growth and expansion, while in other cases, such as Reaching Higher and Tools of the Mind, individual organizations continue implementation once the pilot phase is completed.
Music Matters
There is almost universal agreement on the value of music and the arts for the healthy social, cognitive, and physical development of children and youth. The El Sistema movement has emerged as a global movement that promotes the engagement of children and youth in community and school-based music-making experiences. El Sistema-inspired programs can be based within schools, churches, afterschool programs, or community centers and are designed to foster a collaborative learning environment. El Sistema programs always include an ensemble experience, along with individual and group lessons and community performances. El Sistema is not a replicable program or curriculum, but rather a set of inspiring ideas, and a movement to use ensemble music to enable every child to experience being an asset within her or his community
Although many accomplished musicians have started their journey in El Sistema-inspired programs, ECoSistema is about creating citizens and building communities through music.
The Challenge
There is a growing “extracurricular gap” between children of different socio-economic groups. Involvement in music-making (learning to play an instrument, taking part in a choir) has lasting effects on children’s cognitive and socio-emotional skills, and engagement with these types of activities provides a sense of belonging and access to caring adults. Access to opportunities to be engaged in music-making are inequitable, however, especially in the early years, despite research that shows that learning to play an instrument as a child has lifetime benefits. ECoSistema aims to create access to music-making opportunities for all children in Elkhart County, starting at birth.
Music Matters
There is almost universal agreement on the value of music and the arts for the healthy social, cognitive, and physical development of children and youth. The El Sistema movement has emerged as a global movement that promotes the engagement of children and youth in community and school-based music-making experiences. El Sistema-inspired programs can be based within schools, churches, afterschool programs, or community centers and are designed to foster a collaborative learning environment. El Sistema programs always include an ensemble experience, along with individual and group lessons and community performances. El Sistema is not a replicable program or curriculum, but rather a set of inspiring ideas, and a movement to use ensemble music to enable every child to experience being an asset within her or his community
Although many accomplished musicians have started their journey in El Sistema-inspired programs, ECoSistema is about creating citizens and building communities through music.
The Challenge
There is a growing “extracurricular gap” between children of different socio-economic groups. Involvement in music-making (learning to play an instrument, taking part in a choir) has lasting effects on children’s cognitive and socio-emotional skills, and engagement with these types of activities provides a sense of belonging and access to caring adults. Access to opportunities to be engaged in music-making are inequitable, however, especially in the early years, despite research that shows that learning to play an instrument as a child has lifetime benefits. ECoSistema aims to create access to music-making opportunities for all children in Elkhart County, starting at birth.
TOOLS OF
THE MIND
Tools of the Mind is an evidence-based curriculum for preschool and Kindergarten children based on the developmental theory of Lev Vygotsky. Classrooms using this curriculum focus on creating an environment where children develop stronger executive function and self-regulation skills through rich opportunities for make-believe play, individualized instruction, and a focus on whole-child development. HEA supported the launch of Tools of the Mind preschools and Kindergartens in Elkhart County, providing training for practitioners, supporting implementation and evaluating results. These preschools and Kindergarten classrooms now continue to implement Tools of the Mind independently.
REACHING
HIGHER
The HEA Reaching Higher initiative encourages middle school students from minority, low-income, and first-generation populations to pursue education beyond a high school diploma. Reaching Higher helps students and parents understand how to pay for education and access financial aid opportunities such as 21st Century Scholars. HEA supported Elkhart County middle schools in developing, implementing and evaluating Reaching Higher programs for their middle school students and parents.
PAX GOOD
BEHAVIOR GAME
The PAX Good Behavior Game (PAX GBG) is a simple tool used during classroom instruction in the elementary school grades. It teaches children to have voluntary control over their attention and increase their ability to self-regulate. The game has shown improvement in life outcomes of each child. HEA worked with Elkhart County elementary schools to train teachers to use the PAX GBG and our local data demonstrated strong results in behavior improvements in classrooms using PAX GBG.
TOOLS OF
THE MIND
Tools of the Mind is an evidence-based curriculum for preschool and Kindergarten children based on the developmental theory of Lev Vygotsky. Classrooms using this curriculum focus on creating an environment where children develop stronger executive function and self-regulation skills through rich opportunities for make-believe play, individualized instruction, and a focus on whole-child development. HEA supported the launch of Tools of the Mind preschools and Kindergartens in Elkhart County, providing training for practitioners, supporting implementation and evaluating results. These preschools and Kindergarten classrooms now continue to implement Tools of the Mind independently.
REACHING
HIGHER
The HEA Reaching Higher initiative encourages middle school students from minority, low-income, and first-generation populations to pursue education beyond a high school diploma. Reaching Higher helps students and parents understand how to pay for education and access financial aid opportunities such as 21st Century Scholars. HEA supported Elkhart County middle schools in developing, implementing and evaluating Reaching Higher programs for their middle school students and parents.
PAX GOOD
BEHAVIOR GAME
The PAX Good Behavior Game (PAX GBG) is a simple tool used during classroom instruction in the elementary school grades. It teaches children to have voluntary control over their attention and increase their ability to self-regulate. The game has shown improvement in life outcomes of each child. HEA worked with Elkhart County elementary schools to train teachers to use the PAX GBG and our local data demonstrated strong results in behavior improvements in classrooms using PAX GBG.
