Explore AFG

Prevention

“I’ve learned how to be a better role model to younger people who look up to me.”
Tyshauna, Prevention participant

In the last 9 years, 100% of the young women in AFG’s Prevention Program who have graduated from high school have gone on to college.

The AFG Prevention Program:

  • Serves girls (ages 4-20) who are at risk of teen pregnancy, gang involvement and school truancy
  • Builds self-esteem
  • Strengthens families
  • Provides competent, caring mentors
  • Develops decision-making and leadership skills
  • Nurtures a commitment to education

After-School Programs

AFG’s after-school programs serve girls and young women in three different groups: elementary, middle school, and high school. After-school activities range from alcohol tobacco and other drugs (ATOD) prevention to the creative arts to healthy living and self-esteem.

Rise-N-Shine

Each summer, an influx of giggling girls invades AFG for Rise 'N Shine, our free summer program for Detroit girls. On any given day, it is not uncommon to walk the halls and see African dance, volleyball, and hip hop workshops all occurring at once. The program provides a variety of educational, cultural and social activities for approximately 50-75 girls. Organizing all of the fun are Youth Leaders, young women who have grown up as prevention program participants, and are now employed by AFG as leaders for the other girls. This experience teaches them valuable life skills, as well as provides the younger girls role models to look up to.

Parent Talk Time

Parent Talk Time (PTT) is a support group for parents in the community held every Monday evening at AFG. Parent Talk Time allows parents to discuss issues they face, share concerns, and discuss solutions.  At the same time, their children meet in separate groups to discuss the same topics. At the end of the night, families come together and talk about the issues they addressed earlier in the night. A wide variety of topics have been discussed, including financial literacy, domestic violence, mental health, and child growth and development.

Teen Advisory Panel

Teen Advisory Panel (TAP) is a young women's leadership training for girls aged 13 to 20. The members of TAP are poised to be the leaders of the future. They have met with the mayor, started a community-wide youth advocacy group, hosted youth conferences, and undertaken countless other efforts. Lawnya, a member of TAP, explains, “Now you see the youth standing up—we’re not just the future, we’re now and forever. Now is our time to shine.”

Mentoring

AFG’s Mentoring program matches caring adults with youth in need of a positive role model in their lives. As Dawn, a former mentor, describes, “I found this experience to be so incredible for myself. I love these girls as if they were my own daughters.”

Learn More about Mentoring>

For more information about AFG’s Prevention programs, please contact:

Valorie Evans
Director, AFG Prevention
Phone: (313) 361-4000
E-mail: vevans@alternativesforgirls.org

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Fast Facts

AFG Prevention:

  • Provides services to approximately 170 girls on an ongoing basis
  • Includes after-school programs, mentoring, a summer camp, and a teen leadership program
  • Last year, helped 100% of girls and young women participating in after-school workshops decrease their smoking and/or completely quit
  • Last year, helped 96% of girls and young women participating in after-school workshops increase their self-esteem (self-reported)
  • Last year, helped 77% of girls and young women receiving tutoring increase their grade point average by .5 or maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Supporters

AFG Prevention is supported in part by:

  • AAUW
  • City of Detroit Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery
  • Christ Church Cranbrook
  • DeRoy Testamentary Foundation
  • Free Press Charities, Inc.
  • Japan Business Society of Detroit Foundation
  • McGregor Fund
  • Michigan Women’s Foundation
  • The Skillman Foundation
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • The Youth Development Commission
  • The Young Woman’s Home Foundation
  • Zonta Detroit II