Is a healthy child a direct reflection of a healthy community? Yes! When we improve the health of youth and families, our community improves too. By creating community connections in our schools, we can create positive and life-altering outcomes for children and families
Impact
Consistent Effort,
Serious Impact.
Last year’s efforts contributed to lasting impact across 8 schools:
2024-2025 Impact Report
During the 2024-2025 school year, Higher Ground turned 18! Our work has evolved from tutoring and martial arts in our co-founder’s living room to serving as the lead agency for a nation-wide community development model and being regarded as an expert in practical applications of executive function work.
This year tested our resilience in unexpected ways, but it also continued to clarify what has always been true: Higher Ground’s work is needed, effective, and worth sustaining.
And as Higher Ground has evolved to meet the need of our communities over these last 18 years, we have remained true to our mission of empowering one life at a time to reach, transform, and elevate their community through love and character-building.
Previous Reports
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End-of-Year Report 2024-2025
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2025 Letter to the Community
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End-of-Year Report 2023-2024
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First Semester Report 2023-2024
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End-of-Year Report 2022-2023
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First Semester Report 2022-2023
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Annual Report 2021-2022
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Annual Report 2016-2017
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Annual Report 2015-2016
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Annual Report 2015
Overall Impact
Restart SMART is Higher Ground’s adaptation of the Community School Model. We work at schools in Southern Arizona using a trauma-responsive, multi-generational framework. Community School systems have existed in the US for decades with proven results in community empowerment, lower chronic and situational poverty, lower dropout rates, higher attendance, higher rates of attainment for students, and healthier community economic metrics.
Our teams support, streamline, expand, and create systems for schools' existing efforts around:
Family and community engagement
Trauma-informed care
Multi-generation approach
Behavioral, social, and emotional development
Workforce & career skills
Addressing the Eight Dimensions of Wellness
Executive functions
Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS)
Enriched learning time and opportunities
After-school and summer enrichment programs
Your Donation Helps Us Empower Arizona.
Every contribution, no matter the size, plays a vital role in advancing our mission. Donations made to Higher Ground are used where the need is greatest. Your support allows us to further our mission of empowering one life at a time to reach, transform, and elevate the community through love and character-building.