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YES!Atlanta's mission is to enhance the lives of "at-risk" teenagers in metropolitan Atlanta. Its voluntary programs are based upon long-term, empowering contact with caring adults and a wide range of support services offered by collaborative partnerships with other agencies.
All programs are based on principles evolved over a period of twenty years, and have as their primary objectives the following:
- Increase in academic performance
- Reduction in delinquent behavior
- Increase in self-esteem
- Better relationships with family, peers, and authority figures
Our programs are designed to foster these core values in the youth:
- POSSIBILITY: Your future can be different - you need not become a statistic
- RESPONSIBILITY: Know that your future is really in your hands
- COMMITMENT: Learn to make and keep promises to others -- and to yourself.
- SUPPORT: How to ask for and accept support from caring adults and others
- FORGIVENESS: Letting go of past hurts allows you to look hopefully to your future
PROJECT LIFT
A new mentoring program for the Roswell community based on the principles of YES!Atlanta's Coaching for Success.
Project Lift seeks out young people in need of support and empowers them to become sustainable and contributing members in their communities. It directly supports teens 13-17 during the school year and until they graduate. Participants set goals for themselves and work with a personal coach and or mentor to increase their academic performance and enhance their abilities to withstand daily challenges of the teenage years. At least 90 percent of participants are from Fulton County, and are typically referred by Fulton County Schools and parents.
Youth are required to attend educational and personal development support sessions held weekly and a monthly youth development workshop usually scheduled on Saturdays.
Mentors (Coaches) are carefully screened adult volunteers who are trained to coach, “not judge”, and to see their assigned youth at least once a week during support sessions. Coaches also attend to monthly workshops based on various themes, to further support their assigned youth and to assist in monitoring and reporting on the youth’s progress.
For more information call 678.596.5438
COACHING for SUCCESS
This comprehensive educational planning and mentoring program was originated by YES!Atlanta in 1990. It is designed to assist youth who:
- Are doing poorly in school
- Lack motivation
- Have dropped out or have been withdrawn due to absenteeism.
The Coaching for Success curriculum empowers youth to voluntarily commit to their education and personal development, to take personal responsibility for their future, to operate above their circumstances, and to live in the presence of no excuses. It is highly structured and lasts from school year to school year.
Applicants for Coaching for Success are typically between the ages of 13 and 17. Participation is voluntary and free of charge. Participants identify for themselves barriers that have prevented them from succeeding, and set personal and academic goals. An academic evaluation is conducted. All of this information is used to develop a personalized plan for each youth.
A trained adult volunteer Coach will mentor the youth in accordance with this plan. Tutoring sessions are held weekly to support youth in their deficient areas and to constantly monitor the youth's progress. Participation in various workshops is also required to further enhance life skills and personal development. Youth may remain active in Coaching for Success until graduation or placement in college or vocational school.
Youth completing at least 6 months of Coaching for Success and are ages 15-18 are eligible for the Rising Star Youth Intensive.
RISING STAR YOUTH INTENSIVE
The Four-day Intensive, held out of town once a year, is designed to "break the emotional shell" in which many teens live. The Intensive involves many volunteers and staff, and is a highly structured, activity-packed course combining professionally guided group discussions with challenging physical activities intended to foster self-esteem and cooperation with others. The young people are taught an empowering procedure for dealing with mistakes and broken commitments, and learn the value of asking for and accepting the support of others, especially adults. The Intensive is particularly effective in increasing self-awareness and fostering the understanding of how choices they make today will affect their lives in the future. Upon completion of the Intensive, youth will continue their participation in the Coaching for Success program.
