Character Counts Kent County (CCKC) is a stand-alone non-profit organization that began as a member of the initial CHARACTER COUNTS! coalition under Character Counts Midshore in the 1990s. This coalition was part of the broader initiative launched by the Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics in 1992, which was founded by Michael Josephson in 1987 in honor of his parents. The initiative aimed to promote core ethical values across various domains, including youth, sportsmanship, business, public service, and policing.
The CHARACTER COUNTS! educational program originally focused on fostering core ethical traits known as the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Over the years, it evolved to include a comprehensive approach to student development, integrating academic, social, and emotional skills with ethical education.
In 2006, CCKC established its own advisory board and program director to adapt and sustain the initiative locally. Today, CCKC is a leading character education program in Kent County, Maryland, delivering approximately 2,783 hours of character-focused instruction annually to over 1,325 students in 68 classrooms, with the help of more than 45 dedicated volunteers, known as Character Coaches.
In 2019, The Josephson Institute transitioned ownership of the national CHARACTER COUNTS! coalition to The Ray Center at Drake University. The Ray Center now spearheads the effort to establish additional independent CHARACTER COUNTS! organizations across the United States. They provide curricular resources and professional development training to character education programs nationwide, and serve as a valuable resource for CCKC.
CCKC continues to emphasize the Six Pillars of Character, equipping community volunteers with the necessary tools and support to make a significant impact on the lives of children in their schools and communities.
For more information on the broader CHARACTER COUNTS! initiative and its national presence, you can visit charactercounts.org. This site offers insights into the program’s impact and its various affiliations across the United States.