Learning Center
The learning center program provides a multitude of educational opportunities through classrooms, a dedicated library, and a computer lab. Youth can further their educational goals through community partnerships with Silver Marine Institute and the Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) at the learning center. An onsite schoolhouse program helps alleviate the issues related to youth being moved from one school to another while they are residing at Arnette House. It is often necessary to remove youth from their home school because of the large geographical area that Arnette House serves. Youth served by Arnette House will be introduced to an alternative educational program that is tailored to meet their needs and is provided in a familiar setting.

The learning center is host to two classrooms that serve as both a tutoring lab and the educational site for Silver River Marine Institute’s (SRMI) education program. SRMI, a part of AMI, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help troubled youth develop into responsible and productive citizens.  Tutoring services are provided in the classrooms four evenings a week by tutors provided by the Marion County Public School’s Homeless Children and Youth program.

The Learning center is designed with technology in mind. The facility hosts an eight-station computer lab. The lab serves as a vehicle to help youth prepare for the real world. They can work in the lab to improve their research and job skills. Youth can learn to access job search databases that are available online. Today’s employment world demands that technology be second nature to workers.

Daniel Memorial Independent Living software is installed in the computer lab. The Independent Living Skills (ILS) System is a software assisted, systematic, competency-based approach to life skills training. The system combines timesaving technology with a comprehensive assessment and reporting package to produce skill plans and transition plans tailored to the individuals needs. ILS is in widespread use by hundreds of programs nationwide and Canada. 13 states are currently using the ILS system as their primary tool to assess and teach independent living skills. The independent living skills system will:

• Assess life skills
• Create detailed skill plans based on assessment results
• Create independent living transition plans
• Tracks progress and completed skills training
• Establish training priorities
• Generate customized reports

The dedicated library complements the classrooms and computer lab by housing educational and leisure reading materials. Youth can browse through magazines, novels, reference books and manuals, and other reading materials. The members of American Pen Women and Altrusa have provided the majority of library materials. Various community members have donated other reading supplies

The learning center, providing classrooms, a library and computer lab are significant enhancement to the services provided by Arnette House. These aspects help youth focus more clearly on their educational goals and progress, better relate to technology, and prepare more effectively for the challenges they will face in the work force.