streEtleader counseling
Adverse childhood experiences
Several years ago, our UrbanPromise staff began to realize the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on our StreetLeaders. We discovered that, on average, our StreetLeaders had ACE scores of 4.5.
Research around ACEs has revealed a strong correlation between childhood trauma and academic & behavior problems in school, as well as the chronic diseases people develop as adults. Additionally, a wide range of research has linked poverty to lower ratings on measures of well-being.
Furthermore, our StreetLeaders, like many low-income adolescents, are less likely to receive needed mental health services. One study estimates that among children and youth experiencing poverty who are in need of mental health care, less than 15% receive services [1].
Our desire to care holistically for our StreetLeaders and provide them with needed mental health services compelled us to start our Counseling Program during the 2017-2018 school year.
About OUR Counseling Program
Through our Counseling Program, UrbanPromise provides all of our StreetLeaders with free year-round counseling from licensed professional counselors. The ultimate goal of the counseling program is that StreetLeaders will improve their emotional, psychological, and social well-being and build healthy and resilient lives.
UrbanPromise partners with Christ-Centered Community Counseling (C4) to provide counseling for our StreetLeaders. UrbanPromise staff members refer StreetLeaders to C4, and licensed professional counselors from C4 meet one-on-one with StreetLeaders weekly or bi-weekly.
NOTE: Although C4 operates based on Judeo-Christian values, StreetLeaders are not required to practice Christianity in order to participate in counseling or work at UrbanPromise. StreetLeaders of any race, religion, sex, national origin, or sexuality are welcome.
