"I like the program because it helps me be calm”
- Mentee
About
Choose to Change (C2C) is a mentoring program serving and empowering youth in Little Village Academy, Farragut H.S., Gary, and Eli Whitney, impacted by violence and trauma.
At the core of the C2C model is the combination of intensive wraparound services and advocacy, trauma-informed group therapy, and the program’s ability to uniquely serve youth who are disengaged or in the process of disengaging from school. The key components of this model include:
–Relentless Engagement – Advocates do not give up on participants, especially those who are difficult to engage.
–Applied Learning – Advocates attend group therapy and help youth identify contexts where CBT skills can apply.
–Decision-Making – Participants learn tools to disrupt negative thoughts, resolve conflict, and build self-efficacy.
–Strong Relationships – C2C staff bring lived experiences and compassion to build life-long relationships.
Blanca Gomez, Director of Mentoring BlancaG@newlifecenters.org
95
youth being mentored
8
mentors
History
Choose to Change (C2C) program was launched in 2022. It is a private-public partnership with CPS, Children’s Home & Aid and Youth Advocate Programs. Children’s Home & Aid implements group cognitive behavioral therapy while our New Life mentors focus on the mentoring component of the model. We work with YAP to guarantee that we deliver the highest quality mentoring and advocacy services, and to ensure that our services align with the C2C model.