The Avengers Program (T.A.P. Program)

Due to the sensitive nature of health disparities in low-income communities along with a rise in heart disease cases/deaths throughout the region of NYC, CPR Courses International L.L.C. (C.C.I.) is committed to impacting its community and families through educating and empowering families. The following studies prove there is a direct correlation between low-income communities and the increase in unhealthy environments, severe carbon footprints, and the detrimental effects of heart disease in poverty stricken neighborhoods, such as Bronx, New York. According to a 2016 Daily News article, “Though Bronx residents are living longer than they were 15 years ago, they aren’t living as well as they are in other places. The rate of childhood poverty in the Bronx is 43 percent, which is nearly double the statewide number. The high school graduation rate is 56 percent, compared to 77 percent statewide and unemployment is 9.8 percent, compared to 6.3 percent statewide, all factors that led to it being last in statewide statistics." Additionally, NBC reported, "The Bronx is one of the fattest communities in New York with the highest rate of child poverty, according to the annual national County Health Rankings. Of the 62 New York communities ranked, the Bronx came in last on the list that measures the health of different areas based on data from a range of different factors. The factors include high school graduation rates, obesity, smoking, mental health, unemployment, access to healthy foods, the quality of air and water, income inequality and teen births in nearly every county in America."

The Center for Educational Innovation has partnered with CPR Courses International L.L.C. to help launch The Avengers Program (CPR Squad), which connects students grades 4th through 12th from low-income neighborhoods throughout New York City, the eastern region of the United States and Puerto Rico, to obtain a CPR/AED and First Aid certification while learning what to do in case of an emergency. An anti-bullying campaing is also initiated in each school registered under this pogram. Courses are available in Spanish and English.

Trainers: Trainers would consist of high school alumni, who would in-turn train and educated the underclassmen who are still in high school. Requirements for trainers are as follows:

• Must be a high school graduate from a NYC accredited public high school
• Must currently be enrolled in SUNY North Bronx Program towards career and college readiness
• Must currently be enrolled in an accredited college or university
• Must be able to pass instructor's training program and accreditation

Capacity-building instructional Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automatic External Defibrillator, and First Aid certification courses are for grades 4th-12th grade and college students in low-income communities. A piloted initiative for high schools on the Walton Campus, Clinton Campus, Jane Adams Campus and Evander Childs Campus, where both classes of juniors and seniors (total certifications for 3000 students, Fridays, 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1:45 p.m., will be initiated for a total duration of 25 weeks to enhance youth attendance, emergency skill level readiness, team building, building healthy communities, and instructional retention rate. This program can also be tied into career enhancing options including Home Health Aid Certification, Certified Nursing Assistant, Life Guard Certification, and Paramedic/EMT Certification along with an anti-bullying campaign. A grant would cover promotional t-shirts, gloves, certificates, wallet cards, masks, and courses for each student.