The Early Birds Social Worker Development program directly serves high school students attending Auburn High School who have an expressed interest in the mental health field. The Early Birds program at Auburn High School focuses on equipping students with comprehensive social work education and practical experiences through apprenticeships. This initiative not only educates students on critical community issues but also empowers them to apply their knowledge in real-life settings, promoting community improvement and personal development.

During the 2025–2026 School Year, the Early Birds Program:

Reached 92 youth through violence prevention programming, social work education, and student-led activities that promoted mental health awareness, leadership, and community engagement.
Served 24 active Early Birds students at Auburn High School, providing access to social work education, hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and opportunities for personal and professional development.
Achieved a 92% program completion rate, with 22 of 24 active students successfully completing program services, exceeding our projected 75% completion benchmark.
Expanded our reach beyond program participants, engaging 13 additional Auburn High School students through a student-led mental health awareness event and 55 elementary-aged youth through Early Birds-led interventions at Ellis Elementary School/Zion West Enterprise.
Invested over $11,000 in student stipends, recognizing participants for their commitment, engagement, and successful completion of program activities.
Empowered students to become community changemakers by applying their knowledge and skills to educate, mentor, and positively influence other young people in the communities where they live, learn, and play.

Help Us Build on This Success!

The continued success of the Early Birds Social Worker Development Program for the 2026–2027 school year depends on the support and collaboration of individuals, businesses, and organizations that believe in investing in our youth.

Early Birds is more than a program. It is an opportunity for young people to discover their potential, develop leadership skills, explore meaningful career pathways, and become active participants in creating positive change within their communities.

Your contribution helps us provide educational experiences, mentorship opportunities, student stipends, and resources that make these opportunities possible.

With your support, we can continue turning education into action, students into leaders, and their potential into lasting community impact.

Invest in our youth. Support the next generation of changemakers.

Early Birds Social Work Development Program at Auburn High School

Providing the youth of Rockford with an unprecedented access to a social work education and practical career pathways experiences!

Team Members