The Sledge Group, Inc.

Welcome

The Sledge Group Inc. (Sledge Group) provides one-to-one mentoring and a range of supportive services to adolescent males and females aged 13 to 18 and their families. The program targets the South Bronx and Harlem communities in New York City. These areas consist of predominantly African American and Hispanic populations and youth who are characterized by many of the following:
?• poverty and related social problems;
?• criminal activity and substance abuse;
?• failing in school or dropping out;
?• exposure to HIV infection;
?• becoming parents as adolescents;
?• lacking skills and training or unemployed; and
?• hopelessness about their future.

Sledge Group is strongly committed to helping underserved youth overcome such obstacles which hinder personal success and achievement.

A key service component of Sledge Group is one-to-one mentoring. Mentoring is a promising intervention that provides youth with support and guidance. Mentoring is also a means to address multiple risk factors, including the high prevalence of drugs, family conflict, academic failure, delinquent peers, and the inability to gain positive attention and engage in healthy relationships. Research has shown that youth involved in mentoring programs are less likely to start using drugs, become violent, have poor school attendance, fail to complete homework or experience problems in peer and family relationships.

Other components of Sledge Group include leadership and life skill workshops, community service, tutoring and parenting skills workshops/support groups for families served. Through these services young people gain the knowledge, skill and experience to achieve their personal goals and obtain success. Further, parents learn how to communicate with their children and how to support them in reaching their goals.