Team Up exists to nurture at-risk children and youth toward spiritual and emotional health and practical success as an adult through mentoring and wrap-around family support.

Currently, Team Up provides a mentoring program during the school year and an eight week summer enrichment program to achieve these goals.

Team Up’s ultimate vision centers on providing a private Christian school environment for at-risk youth with a boarding option for those whose family environments necessitate removal from the home. In addition to operating a school, Team Up will continue to provide wrap-around services for families and mentoring services for youth involved in programming.

Team Up Mentoring began in March 2006 with a mentoring program for 11 children under a grant from Project Healthy Grandparents. A group of committed volunteers came together, motivated by the need in Monroe for a program that would reach out to some of the most impoverished families in the area. Since that time, Team Up Mentoring has more than doubled in size and offers wrap-around services for youth and families.

Team Up exists to nurture at-risk children and youth toward spiritual and emotional health and practical success as an adult through mentoring and wrap-around family support. Team Up uses the following objectives and strategies to accomplish our mission.

1. Youth will make healthy choices in school related to drugs and alcohol, sex and relationships, and behavior choices (fighting, etc).

A. Team Up will teach a variety of curricula related to drugs and alcohol, sex and relationships and behavior choices.

B. Team Up will model and teach appropriate behaviors in one-on-one settings (e.g. – teachable moments).

2. Youth will graduate from high school or earn a GED.

A. Team Up will provide individualized tutoring services for youth and support related to materials and technology.

B. Team Up will provide transportation support for parent/teacher/student conferences and after-school tutoring activities.

C. Team Up’s staff and volunteers will be intimately involved with each student’s progress in school, providing accountability, encouragement, and counseling when needed.

3. Youth will have employment experiences before they leave high school.

A. Team Up will provide part-time summer jobs and/or help youth secure jobs in the area.

B. Team Up will teach appropriate curricula related to job-readiness and work skills.

4. Youth will understand and be able to apply key Biblical truths related to salvation and character development.

A. Team Up will teach Biblical truths in the form of devotions and small group Bible study on a consistent basis.

B. Team Up will encourage all youth to be actively involved in church.

C. Team Up’s staff and volunteers will model Christian character and leadership.

5. Youth will involve themselves in other positive groups/organizations outside Team Up (church groups, school clubs, sports teams, etc.)

A. Team Up will encourage and provide transportation support to other positive outlets geared toward youth (including Vacation Bible Schools, Youth Camps, school sports and events).

6. Youth will live in a stable home (e.g. – consistent power services and food, consistent adult supervision) without violence. This home will be free of substance abuse, physical and other types of abuse, and neglect.

A. Team Up will teach curricula to parents of youth related to parenting skills and healthy life choices centered from a Biblical perspective.

B. Team Up will provide or refer families to counseling services and refer for family needs related to finances.

C. Team Up will provide food and hygiene items to families when needed.

E. Team Up staff and volunteers will be intimately involved with each family to offer support in healthy decision making and family processes.

F. Team up staff and volunteers will immediately report any concerns related to the home environment to the proper authorities.

Team Up seeks to serve the most needy children and youth in our community. Children who enroll in Team Up must meet a minimum of 5 out of 7 of the following criteria:

1. Child is living in poverty (required)

2. Child is reading below grade level (must have verification from academic records)

3. Parent/guardian has no High School diploma or GED

4. Family has a history of or present DFCS involvement

5. Parent(s) or guardian(s) chronically unemployed

6. Child has experienced loss of parent or guardian due to incarceration

7. Child is living in a home with a poor support network