The Whistle Stop supports two major programs that benefit children: The Visitation Program and DanceSport. The Whistle Stop supports two major programs that benefit children in different ways. The Visitation program exists for the benefit of families who need help during critical situations which include high risk custody or divorce litigation, children in foster care, and cases involving estrang
ed parents. We believe that children have a right to know both parents, regardless of their parents’ relationship, and that children benefit from regular contact with both. The Whistle Stop provides a safe and secure place for family visits in rooms that are comfortable with a home-like atmosphere and conducive to quality parent-child interaction. Children have interim visits with their non-custodial parents until a permanent visitation plan is in place. The Whistle Stop also provides life skill programs to children and teens from 5th grade through high school. Dancing Classrooms was introduced to SWLA in 2009, and is provided to approximately 1,500 elementary students each year. The DanceSport Academy was established in 2010, for Dancing Classrooms students who wanted to continue their DanceSport education. The Academy students attended their first USADanceSport competition at the Gumbo DanceSport Championship in Baton Rouge, LA, in the summer of 2010, and a new program was born – DanceSport. The DanceSport Academy has trained many competitive dancers over the past seven years, including dancers with nine National Titles. The Academy program has been a labor of love, hard work and success. Two of our students, Reginald Larkins and Victoria Self, are now teachers, working in elementary, middle and high schools. The Academy is the home of our research and development projects. With the help of our students, our DanceSport program has matured and is now successfully taught in 5th grade through high school.
