My Brothers Keeper Inc

MISSION STATEMENT: SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2003 BY HARRY SYDNEY AS A NON-PROFIT 501C3 ORGANIZATION MY BROTHER'S KEEPER PROVIDES STRAIGHT TALK - SOUND DIRECTION MENTORING TO THOUSANDS OF MEN AND BOYS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LIVES AND MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. THE INTEGRITY RESPECT AND STANDARDS THEY LEARN WILL HELP THEM BECOME BETTER INDIVIDUALS FAMILY MEMBERS AND VALUED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS WE PROVIDE INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING GROUP FORUM SESSIONS AODA ASSESSMENTS AND JOB ASSISTANCE. ALL PERSONS ARE WELCOME REGARDLESS OF RACE CREED COLOR OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND. MANY OF PARTICIPANTS IN MY BROTHER'S KEEPER ARE LOW-INCOME BOYS WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS OR ARE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ALL CLIENTS ARE GIVEN THE OPTION OF PAYING FOR THE PROGRAM ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OVER 80% OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM PAY LESS THAN THE ESTABLISHED RATE.

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING CLIENTS MEET FOR 45-60 MINUTES WITH ONE OF OUR MENTORS. WE GET TO THE CORE ISSUES. PROBLEM AREAS ARE IDENTIFIED; CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS DISCUSSED; REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS ARE SET AND A GAME PLAN FOR CHANGE IS JOINTLY DEVELOPED. THE CLIENTS LEARN HOW TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T CONTROL AND TO BECOME ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS BASED UPON A PHILOSOPHY CREATED BY HARRY SYDNEY TITLED THE IRS CODE INTEGRITY RESPECT AND STANDARDS.

GROUP FORUM SESSIONS - AT SCHOOLS AND BROWN COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER GROUP FORUM SESSIONS FOR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT PROBLEMS EARLY. THE GROUP SESSIONS DEAL WITH ISSUES AFFECTING THE YOUNG MEN AND HELP PROVIDE THE LIFE SKILLS NECESSARY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES. THE SESSIONS TEACH THEM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DECISIONS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ETHICALLY AND HONESTLY REFLECT ON THEIR COURSE OF ACTION AND MODIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND THEM. THE SESSIONS TEACH THE STUDENTS THE POWER TREE - WHO'S IN CHARGE AND WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS FIT. ALSO THE SESSIONS LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND HELP IS AVAILABLE. WE HELP THEM WORK THROUGH THEIR PROBLEMS WITHOUT RESORTING TO DELINQUENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. PARTICIPANTS OF THE GROUP FORUM SESSIONS OFTEN ARE REFERRED TO FOLLOW UP ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING SESSIONS. THE BROWN COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER GROUP MENTORING PROGRAM OFFERS A UNIQUE MENTORING OPPORTUNITY. THE GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED EACH TUESDAY MORNING WHICH IS VERY EARLY IN THE DETENTION PROCESS. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE TRULY A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE WHO ARE SEEING FIRSTHAND HOW THEIR WAY IS WORKING HOW THEY HAVE CHANGED FROM A NAME TO A NUMBER. THE DETENTION CENTER IS WHERE THEIR LIFE CHOICES HAVE GOTTEN THEM. THEY ARE SEEING FIRSTHAND THEIR FUTURE IF THEY DON'T CHANGE THEIR LIVES. HOPEFULLY THIS IS THEIR WAKEUP CALL. BUT THAT REALITY CHECK ITSELF MAY NOT BE A SUFFICIENT DETERRENT TO CRIME WITHOUT THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FUTURE. THEY NEED TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY? THE GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS NOT ONLY PROVIDES A BRAIN TO PICK AND EAR TO LISTEN AND A PUSH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT ALSO A TOOLBOX TO USE IN MAKING SOUND LIFE CHOICES. THERE ARE NO PUNCHES PULLED IN THE SESSIONS. IT'S MADE CLEAR THAT THEY ARE AT A CROSSROADS. THE STRAIGHT TALK - SOUND DIRECTION IN THE GROUP MENTORING IS BASED ON MY BROTHER'S KEEPER IRS CODE - INTEGRITY RESPECT AND STANDARDS. THE PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW LIVE BY AND USE THIS CODE AS A TOOL TO HELP THEM MAKE SOUND LIFE DECISIONS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND HOPEFULLY CHANGE THEIR FUTURE

AODA ASSESSMENTS ARE TYPICALLY A COURT ORDERED PROCEDURE BUT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE CONCERNED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL'S ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE. ASSESSMENTS ARE A PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. THE AODA ASSESSOR MEETS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO DETERMINE THE INDIVIDUAL'S SUBSTANCE USE ABUSE. THE INDIVIDUAL'S LIFESTYLE AND CHOICES ARE EXAMINED TO HELP IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS THAT MAY JEOPARDIZE THEIR HOME SCHOOL WORK OR RELATIONSHIPS. STRATEGIES ARE DISCUSSED AND GOALS ESTABLISHED TO AID THE INDIVIDUAL GOING FORWARD TO MINIMIZE FURTHER COMPROMISE TO HIS QUALITY OF LIFE. THE AODA ASSESSMENT IS FOLLOWED BY INDIVIDUAL MENTORING TO REVIEW THE INDIVIDUAL'S PROGRESS. THE IMPACT OF MY BROTHER'S KEEPER'S PROGRAM EXTENDS WELL BEYOND THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED. FOR EVERY LIFE CHANGED THERE IS ALSO IMPACT ON THE PERSON'S FAMILY FRIENDS SCHOOL AND WORK ASSOCIATES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.