In 2010, the Library created the Homework Helper initiative to provide homework help and mentorship to students to serve youth and communities experiencing poverty, where extra, free, and/or frictionless additional educational support is not or may not be available. As community needs and economic demographics shifted in recent years, the need to serve additional branch locations with this free service was recognized, growing the service footprint to include additional branch locations across Hamilton County.
Participating branch locations serve students 4 days a week for 3 hours in the afternoons to any youth in the branch. Helpers are available to students as skilled aides and mentors, delivering positive educational assistance in a student-centered manner, with help provided on any subject. Homework Helpers frequently coordinate their hours and service location to when/where afterschool snacks are being served. Helpers will provide individual structured attention to youth or work with groups of youth, as needed, helping to drive student achievement, confidence, and life-long success. When youth have no homework, Helpers focus on Summer Reading, playing games, and doing activities with youth to keep them engaged and learning.
In 2024, nearly 15,300 students received assistance from Homework Helpers at 27 Library locations across Hamilton County.
In addition to funding from The Library Foundation, Homework Help is also supported by The Charles H. Dater Foundation, the H.B., E.W, F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, The Scripps Howard Foundation, and The Turner Company Construction Foundation.