Alternative Solutions for Women (ASW), is an organization that works with young adults and women from low-income families in Flint, MI and surrounding areas. Our mission is to help them achieve their full potential and become active members of their communities by building academic and social competence. ASW offers a support system that will teach young women how to avoid the pitfalls that can derail their lives by empowering adolescent girls and young women to make smart choices and become confident, capable, and self-reliant women. We provide 24 development programs to assist in the growth for all ages.

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MENTOR PROGRAM:

Our Mentor Program matches our girls to professional women who meet with them regularly to provide a positive influence and opportunities for exploration and fun. Participants develop a one-to-one mentoring relationship and meet independently in the community at-large. Students have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities throughout the Flint area. Our mentees have the opportunity to discover who they are, receive advice and support from inspirational women, and gain courage to accomplish their dreams. These valuable tools will help mold our girls to succeed in their futures.

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Our Mentor Program provides positive female role models and strong support structures to motivated teenage girls who are ready to explore who they are and discover their community at large. Girls attending are ages 12 and older, are eligible to participate in our community-based Mentor Program. The program launch as a means of providing teenage girls with year-round support networks during the challenging teenage years. 

                                 

TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM:

Our Teen Leadership Program trains older girls to be peer counselors and provides year-round opportunities to learn together and cope with the many changes and challenges of adolescence.

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Teen Leadership Program (TLP) is established to Create Self-Worth through Self-Discovery in every female young and old. Our goal is to generate inner respect, love, and self- empowerment in teen girls that are, or have been in dysfunctional and/or disadvantaged lifestyles through a positive, productive and beneficial environment.

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Programs and services are designed with compassion to improve self-esteem, build confidence, and increase self-reliance skills of women facing various social and economic barriers that may impede them from reaching their full potential. We also assist in raising funds for various community-based programs that are geared towards the same goal.

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TRANSITION PROGRAM:

The Transition Program, is designed with compassion to improve self-esteem, build confidence, and increase self-reliance skills. This is a 6-week program offering girls ages 8-16 support, skills and knowledge they need to successfully navigate the challenges of adolescence. The program provides structured learning experiences that enable girls to become socially, academically, emotionally, economically, spiritually and physically strong, successful and healthy. The program includes life skills training, mentoring, community service, experiential learning outings and other educational activities designed to prevent high-risk behaviors.

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Girls increase self-esteem as they gain the ability to make wise healthy choices in consideration of their life goals. They also gain the ability to analyze their own strengths and weaknesses, set personal and vocational goals, and have the self-esteem and external support to obtain their goals. The program objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among its participants and includes role-playing, self-discovery assessments, group discussions of current events and public speaking. The overarching program goals include fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, decreased depression and suicide attempts, as well as fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems, reduced violence and gang activity and fewer confrontations in the juvenile justice system.

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DIAMONDS IN DEVELOPMENT:

The Diamonds in Development Program is geared toward girls ages 4 - 9 and offers monthly educational and entertaining activities. The purpose of the program is to build self-esteem, character, faith and friendships and to build a strong foundation.

 

Diamonds in Development offers activities for our girls and parents including:

Character building workshops

Community service projects

Craft activities

Field trips

Reading club

Special events

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THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT:

Based on the metamorphosis stage of butterflies, The Butterfly Project is a program developed to help women and girls ages 16 and up grow from unemployment and uninformed citizens to full/part time employees and college ready applicants. The Butterfly Project is a job development and career preparation program, that assist women and girls in the following areas: resume’ writing, proper procedures for filling out job applications, proper dress attire for an interview, filling out college applications and applying for college and financial aid.

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MORNING MOCHA:

Morning Mocha is a series of monthly etiquette training's and seminars for women and girls ages 16 and up. Workshop topics include, but are not limited to: Dating Etiquette, Telephone Etiquette, Business Etiquette, etc.

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ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION PROGRAM:

Offered to girls who have been placed on two or more days of out-of-school suspension. Girls are required to attend a minimum of six additional weeks of program activities after completing their out-of-school suspension.

 

Program activities may include:

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Journal writing; conflict resolution and reconciliation; life skills; fitness/exercise; yoga/meditation; alcohol/substance abuse education; community service projects; individual, group and family counseling sessions as needed.

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SAVING DENNIS: (NEW PROGRAM)

Saving Dennis promotes a culture of respect and nonviolence with children and youth at an early age, to prevent future violent behavior. Saving Dennis domestic violence prevention and awareness programs provide resources that are geared toward working with children and youth. We provide workshops, training's and a 14-day in school intervention program targeting self-awareness and positive behavior.

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Our support groups are held twice a month to inspire and support young people 12 - 24 to build healthy relationships and create a culture without abuse. We allow them a space to grieve and support to heal. We also hold monthly meetings for grieving parents that have lost a loved one.

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VOICES: (NEW PROGRAM)

Voices youth peer leadership program is a program to empower our youth in the city of Flint. The Youth Peer leadership program serves youth year-round as an after-school and summer program to provide youth with an outlet to express themselves through a series of workshops intended to teach the youth about the following:

- Trauma-informed Leadership

- Workforce preparation

- Post Secondary preparation

- Academic tutoring

- Peer to peer support

- Professional development and so much more

Through the Youth Peer Leadership Program, Voices gives the youth a platform to express themselves freely, a space to speak and reflect on occurrences happening in their lives and in the community. 

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