'Eastern Baptist Association ' NY Youth Development Initiative'

The Eastern Baptist Association of New York is dedicated to providing New York City's most disadvantaged young people with the concrete services and support they need to develop the skills and confidence to make a positive transition from adolescence to a successful and productive adulthood. These services include Violence Prevention Anti-Gang Training and classes, college preparation and computer classes, preventative services, job placement and career development, and sports and recreational programs. The Eastern Baptist Association of New York's Youth Development Initiative (YDI) is designed to integrate experiential, cognitive expanding coursework with intensive counseling recreation and supportive services.

The proposed program will use a variety of supportive and therapeutic modalities, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, behavior modification, attendance outreach, art, music, dance and drama therapy to engage this very hard to reach, at risk population in the process of personal and social growth, resulting to positive changes in behavior in their communities and in other aspects of their lives. The goal is to develop to create a safe space/successful place model for youths many of whom are living in high-crime and demographically challenged areas of New York. The variety and easy accessibility of members of the Eastern Baptist Association of New York allows for a comprehensive youth development program using experiential and service learning opportunities. NCA/NCF