Alternatives For Girls

TO HELP HOMELESS AND HIGH RISK GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN AVOID VIOLENCE, TEEN PREGNANCY, AND EXPLOITATION, AND TO HELP THEM TO EXPLORE AND ACCESS THE SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARY TO BE SAFE, GROW STRONG, AND MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES

THE SHELTER/TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM ASSISTS HOMELESS YOUNG WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 21 BY GUIDING THEM TOWARD SUCCESSFUL, SAFE, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS PROGRAM.THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH SAFE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO THE RUNAWAY, EMERGENCY SHELTER, AND TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENT LIVING PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL AND AFTERCARE SERVICES. DURING THIS TIME, GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN CAN TRANSITION INTO INDEPENDENT LIVING, WHERE THEY ARE SUPPORTED IN DEVELOPING NECESSARY LIFE SKILLS. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY COUNSELING AND SUPPORT, AS WELL AS PARENTING SKILLS (WHEN APPLICABLE), EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS AND REFERRALS, AND A STRUCTURED COURSE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, ARE PROVIDED. THESE SERVICES CONTINUE TO BUILD ON EACH PARTICIPANT'S SKILLS AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR EACH TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENT LIVING. THE TOTAL PROGRAM SPANS UP TO 21 MONTHS OR A YOUNG WOMAN'S 21ST BIRTHDAY, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF PARTICIPATION OF 10 MONTHS. THOSE PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE DEEMED ELIGIBLE BY THE CITY OF DETROIT'S SHELTER ASSESSMENT INTAKE SERVICE, WHICH CAN INCLUDE YOUNG WOMEN OR YOUNG MEN, AGES 18 TO 24, ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S "RAPID REHOUSING" PROGRAM, PROVIDING RENT SUBSIDIES AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT. THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVED 112 YOUNG WOMEN, INCLUDING 25 MINORS, WHO RECEIVED A COMBINED 6,257 NIGHTS OF CARE. 32 UNDUPLICATED YOUNG WOMEN RECEIVED AFTERCARE SERVICES. 18 YOUNG WOMEN SERVED WERE PREGNANT AT INTAKE, 33 WERE PARENTING, AND 6 WERE BOTH PREGNANT AND PARENTING. IN ADDITION TO THE PREGNANT AND PARENTING MOTHERS, 46 OF THEIR CHILDREN LIVED WITH THEM IN THE PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS WERE PROVIDED COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT ALONG WITH LIFE SKILLS CLASSES, SUPPORT TO ATTEND SCHOOL, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT.

THE PREVENTION PROGRAM TARGETS AT-RISK GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN AGES 5 TO 21, TO HELP THEM - AND TO HELP THEIR FAMILIES HELP THEM - STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE, AS WELL AS TO AVOID DRUGS, GANGS, VIOLENCE, AND SCHOOL DROPOUT. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS PROGRAM.THE PROGRAM'S GOALS ARE TO INCREASE THE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN'S SELF-ESTEEM, STRENGTHEN THEIR PERSONAL VALUES AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEERS AND ADULTS, IMPROVE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND PERFORMANCE, AND ULTIMATELY HELP THEM BUILD THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES FOR THEIR FUTURES. THIS PROGRAMMING IS PERFORMED THROUGH WORKSHOPS, FIELD TRIPS, MENTORING, SPECIAL EVENTS, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY CASEWORK, AND A SUMMER PROGRAM. A COLLEGE-PREPARATION COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM BEGINS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, OR OTHER POST-HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OR TRAINING, ACADEMICALLY, FINANCIALLY AND SOCIALLY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN'S FAMILIES IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THEIR SAFETY, STABILITY, COMMUNITY CONNECTEDNESS, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM'S GOALS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS TO THRIVE, AVOID RISKS, AND ACHIEVE SCHOOL AND LIFE SUCCESS. 191 GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN AFTER-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, MENTORING, AND THE SUMMER PROGRAM. 178 HOURS OF AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING AND HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE WERE PROVIDED TO 71 PARTICIPANTS. 144 HOURS OF SUMMER PROGRAMMING WERE PROVIDED TO 63 GIRLS. 178 HOURS OF STAFF-LED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING WERE PROVIDED. 42 HIGH SCHOOL YOUNG WOMEN WERE EMPLOYED IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM.

THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM'S OUTREACH TEAMS HELP GIRLS AND WOMEN ENGAGED IN HIGH-RISK ACTIVITIES (SUCH AS SEX WORK, ENGAGEMENT WITH AND VICTIMIZATION BY SEX TRAFFICKING, DRUG USE, AND GANG INVOLVEMENT), UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF SUCH ACTIVITIES AND TRANSITION TO SAFE CHOICES AND HEALTHY LIVES. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS PROGRAM.OUTREACH SERVES AS A LIFELINE TO MANY GIRLS AND ADULT WOMEN SEEKING TO EXIT SEX WORK, ESPECIALLY SEX TRAFFICKING SITUATIONS, AND OTHER RISKS TO THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING, ACHIEVE SAFETY, AND TAKE STEPS TOWARD EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. EITHER THROUGH VAN OUTREACH OR COMMUNITY EDUCATION EFFORTS, INDIVIDUALS REACHED ARE PROVIDED MATERIAL ASSISTANCE, RESOURCES, AND SKILLS TO REDUCE THE RISKS IN THEIR LIVES. FURTHER, THE PROGRAM OPERATES THE ORGANIZATION'S CRISIS RESOURCE CENTER, A 24-HOUR CRISIS AND REFERRAL LINE AND WALK-IN CENTER. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A PEER EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR HIGH-RISK YOUTH, AS WELL AS FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN EXITING THE SEX INDUSTRY. PEER EDUCATORS ARE HIRED AS MEMBERS OF THE STAFF, FACILITATE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, SUPPORT OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN PREPARATION OF THESE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, AND WORK TO REDUCE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL RISK BEHAVIORS AND BUILD RESILIENCY AND LIFE SKILLS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A SMALL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROJECT TEACHING GIRLS AND WOMEN TO SEW SO THAT THEY MAY ACHIEVE EMPLOYMENT OR START BUSINESSES OUT OF THEIR HOMES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION REGARDING AWARENESS OF SEX TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNITY RESPONSES. 891 PARTICIPANTS WERE DIRECTLY SERVED ACROSS REGULAR PROGRAMMING. 11,003 PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED FOOD. 694 INDIVIDUALS WERE SEEN IN THE CRISIS RESOURCE CENTER. 7,740 REFERRAL AND INFORMATION HANDOUTS WERE DISTRIBUTED ON THE STREETS OR IN COMMUNITY OUTREACH. 3,168 SEWING EDUCATION AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING HOURS WERE PROVIDED VIA SEW GREAT DETROIT.