The Care Group Inc

Programs: Moore family connections program - the strengthening families program (sfp) is a family skills program. The goals of sfp are to increase family strengths and address behavioral, emotional, academic, and social problems. Sfp builds on protective factors by improving family relationships, parenting skills, and the youths social and life skills. Sfp is based on cognitive behavioral social learning theory and family systems theory. Sfp consists of 7 or 14 consecutive weekly skill-building sessions. Classes are highly interactive and fun. Parents and children work separately in training sessions and then participate together in a session practicing the skills they learned earlier. Childrens' sessions concentrate on setting goals, dealing with stress and emotions, communication skills, responsible behavior, and how to deal with peer pressure. Parent sessions concentrate on setting rules, nurturing, monitoring compliance, and applying appropriate discipline. Classes, transportation, dinner, and child care are provided free of charge.

the community-based mentoring program matches adult volunteer mentors who are willing to give their time, energy, and compassion to a moore county youth for one year. Our mentors work with young people who are between the ages of 6 and 14 and face many challenges. A mentor can help set and achieve goals, improve behaviors and raise self-esteem. Our mentors spend an average of 1-2 hours a week for a year with their young person working on goals and skill building. Moore buddies offers activities throughout the year to support and encourage these friendships.

the "in-school mentoring program" has six returning mentors renewing connections with students from the previous school year. We have three additional returning mentors, one who has begun meeting with a new mentee, one who is scheduled to meet with a new student, and one who will reconnect with his former mentee in november. We have six new mentors who have completed their training and have been matched with mentees. Students are excited to be participating in the program and look forward to meeting their mentors each week. In addition to spending time with their mentors, students have been identifying their dreams for the future and articulating goals for the school year. Also, students will be touring sandhills community college during second semester to help them realize the opportunities available to them after high school.