Our program offers a unique solution to the challenges faced by urban youth; it’s a comprehensive, relational model based on some of the following research:

• According to Dr. Del Elliott, senior scientific research for the University of Colorado and former editor of the Surgeon General’s Report on Crime and Violence, kids need one positive, adult, caring relationship in order to have a chance at a productive life. (1998)
   
• Character education is becoming a priority in our nation’s education reform as we are increasingly realizing that character development must be an intentional part of education rather than just a process that happens naturally.
  (Haynes, C C., & Thomas, O. (2002). Character education. Finding common ground A guide to religious liberty in public schools (pp. 151-166). Nashville: First Amendment Center.)
   
• After-school programs can promote learning, protect youth from negative peer pressure, and create opportunities for them to form relationships with caring, non-parent adults. (Research June 11, 2010, Youth Mentoring In Perspective)
   
• Relationship longevity is a particularly important, especially since youth who are referred to mentoring programs often come from single-parent homes, and many have experienced multiple failed or disappointing relationships with adults in the past. (Research June 11, 2010 Youth Mentoring In Perspective)
   
• Our full-time staff members go through extensive training and are available to kids 24/7. A survey of more than 700 mentoring programs found that 36% of volunteers received less than 2 hours of training, and 22% received none at all. (Research June 11, 2010, Youth Mentoring In Perspective)

Click here for a list of resource sites used for statistics.

Click here to see our results.