With the decrease in funding in youth arts programming in our schools, the increase in teen drug and alcohol usage, teen pregnancy, and an over-whelming rise of juvenile offenders in our court systems, it’s not hard to see that our kids are in trouble. They are faced with the growing need for supervision, mentoring, and positive outlets for self-expression. It is a commonly used expression that “an idle mind is the devil’s playground” and research has shown that many troubled teens that commit crimes or make bad decisions in life do so because they lacked support, had bad influences, or were just plain bored. Kids Acquiring Real-life Education, Inc. was founded with those basic factors in mind. Established in April of 2001 in Houma, Louisiana, KARE 4 kidz was the result of several months of research and preparation that yielded a unique, educational and entertaining program that captured the minds of at-risk youth.

          Under the guidance and assistance of established programs like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, and several local area programs in the Houma area, KARE 4 Kidz became an instant success with not only the youth that participated in the various programs, but also the community as a whole. Forming alliances with mental health programs, after school programs, and city government agencies, KARE was able to reach out and service the vast population of the community. Our goal is to provide that same service and program success to at-risk youth in numerous communities around the country. We want to fill the void left by the lack of funding in educational arts programs and supplement the growth and development provided by mainstream education.