Stages of Life Empowerment Program (SOLE)
Supporting Youth on their Path to Greatness
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Native American Community Services
Program Offerings through the
Stages of Life Empowerment (SOLE) Program
The following programs can be conducted through a variety of venues in Erie and Niagara Counties for FREE, including but not limited to schools, youth programs, family nights, parent events, etc.
Please contact Simone Alston, Program Director, at 874-2797 ext. 310 for more information.
*All programs can be adapted to meet your group’s specific needs*
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Target Population |
Program Name |
Program Description |
Implementation Guidelines |
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EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA FOR YOUTH *These curricula have undergone rigorous scientific evaluations that have shown their effectiveness. * *Ask about our other Evidence Based Programs* |
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Youth, Ages 11-13 |
Making Proud Choices! |
Evidence-Based Curriculum that provides youth with a comprehensive approach to gain the confidence and skills necessary to reduce their risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and pregnancy. |
-Eight, 50 minute sessions -Out-of-school setting |
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Youth, Ages 13-18 |
Be Proud! Be Responsible! |
Evidence-Based Curriculum that provides youth with a comprehensive approach to gain the knowledge, motivation and skills necessary to change their behaviors in ways that will reduce their risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and pregnancy. |
-Seven 50 minute sessions -In Various settings |
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YOUTH WORKSHOPS *Workshops Available upon request: Financial Budgeting, Effective communication, Barrier Demonstrations, Consent, etc.* |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
A Youth’s Guide to Adolescent Development |
Helps youth understand the changes they undergo during adolescence, and pays special attention to developing one’s positive identity, building a strong self-esteem, fostering a healthy body image and encourages respect for racial and ethnic diversity. |
-Approximately one 45 minute session -Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
Female Puberty: We All Go Through It! |
Walks young females through the biological changes they will encounter during puberty with special attention on anatomy, hygiene and menstruation. *Recommended workshop prior to Evidence-Based Curricula* |
-Approximately one 45 minute session -Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
Male Puberty: What to Expect |
Walks young males through the biological changes they will encounter during puberty with special attention to one’s anatomy and hygiene. *Recommended workshop prior to Evidence-Based Curricula* |
-Approximately one 45 minute session -Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
A Youth’s Guide to Healthy Relationships |
Allows youth to explore the basics of healthy relationships (romantic and platonic) and provides insight to keep their current relationships healthy. |
-Approximately one 45 minute session - Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
Safer Sext: Online Safety, Privacy, and Digital Intimacy |
Offers youth helpful tips about safe social media, as they begin to use social media more frequently highlighting the consequences of sexting, sexual harassment and cyber bullying. |
-Approximately one 45 minute session - Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
Skills for a Healthy Life |
Focuses on the importance of healthy life skills, as they are the building blocks for overall health and wellness. Special attention is paid to decision making skills, interpersonal skills and stress management. |
-Approximately one 45 minute session -Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
You Have Rights: Minors’ Rights to Reproductive Health Care |
Provides an overview of minors’ rights in accessing sexual and reproductive health care services in New York State. Many youth are unaware that they do not need parental consent to receive these services. |
-Approximately one 45 minute session -Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
A Youth’s Guide to Boundaries |
Offers youth the helpful tools to establish consent and create and enforce boundaries in a relationship. |
-Approximately one 45 minutes session -Various settings |
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Youth, Ages 10-18 |
Clinic Tours
Clinic Transportation |
This is an opportunity for youth to receive free scheduled tours and education of their local reproductive health clinics and facilities in order to reduce any associated stigma with receiving services. We pick you and your youth group up and drop you off!
We offer (youth) group’s transportation to and from clinics and health care facilities for appointments in order to eliminate obstacles that prevent youth from being healthy. |
-Groups of 5 or more -Approximately one-two hours -By Request only-Call for further info. -In clinic setting |
*Adult workshops available upon request, please contact Simone Alston for more information*
· Peer Mentoring Program: The Peer Mentoring Program selects 6 high school students, ages 14-18, from Erie and Niagara counties through an interview process. Our Peer Educators work to connect with their communities, lead and assist workshops, and develop personal and professional skills through events, outreach, and trainings.
· Peer to Peer Workshops: Our peer educators are available to lead any of the youth or adult workshops offered by the SOLE program.
· PSA viewing and discussion: Our peer educators have written and starred in their own series of PSA videos on a variety of topics related to healthy living. The Peer Educators are available to lead discussions on these videos, which include topics of bullying, microaggressions, STDs, pregnancy, communication, condom use, suicide prevention, and many more!
MOCA is a participatory, discussion-based program, developed by our Peer Educators, which aims to provide teens the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make responsible decisions regarding sexual health, understand identities, and empower their peers to do the same. This program consists of a series of 6 discussion sessions and clinic tour.
Condom Availability Program
If your organization needs condoms or other barrier methods, the SOLE program can provide them to you via pick up or drop off. Contact Simone Alston at (716) 874-4460 for availability.
WHO WE ARE
Supporting Youth
The Stages of Life Empowerment (SOLE) Program is an adolescent pregnancy prevention program that offers programming for youth and adults in Erie and Niagara Counties.
Through our programming we work to ensure youth get the services, supports, and opportunities they need to make healthy choices:
- Age-appropriate and medically-accurate information about sexual health
- Knowledge about and access to reproductive health care services in their community
- Opportunities to develop healthy life skills, relationship skills, communication skills, and strong prospects for educational and career success
"Stages of Life" Concept
The "Stages of Life" concept is found in many Native American traditions. One variation of this concept holds that life consists of different stages, each presenting us with different tasks. The SOLE Program’s focus is to help youth develop those skills and abilities they’ll need as adults, while enjoying their youth and holding off on the more adult role of becoming a parent.
WHAT WE DO
FREE Programs for Youth, by Youth
- Peer Education– the program employs youth ages 14-18 to educate their peers and raise awareness around issues of health and wellness.
- Transportation for clinic visits– throughout the year staff offer free transportation for youth groups ages 10-21 to attend reproductive health clinic tours and/or appointments.
FREE Programs for Families and Community
- Community events– throughout the year we host and participate in health fairs, traditional Haudenosaunee socials, and much more.
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOUR SCHOOL OR ORGANIZATION
We partner with a number of schools and community organizations to offer FREE programming for youth:
- Making Proud Choices! sex education curriculum for 11-13 year olds
- Be Proud! Be Responsible! sex education curriculum for 13-18 year olds
- Be Proud! Be Responsible! Be Protective! sex education curriculum for 7th-8th grade pregnant or parenting teen girls only!
- Reducing the Risk! sex education curriculum in High School setting only!
- Workshops for youth ages 10-21:
- Adolescent development
- Healthy relationships
- Positive parent-child communication
- Healthy life skills
- Minors’ rights to reproductive health care
- Workshops for adults and community:
- Minors’ rights and accessing reproductive health care
- Adolescent development
- Healthy relationships
- Positive parent-child communication
- Healthy life skills
If you would like to learn more about partnership opportunities, please call Casey Bednarski: 716-874-2797 x310.
WHO WE SERVE
Our programming is open to people of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds
OUR NATIVE PERSPECTIVE
There are a multitude of valuable teachings and traditions found in Native American cultures that can help people of all backgrounds achieve greater health and wellness. We draw upon and incorporate these teachings.
In addition to the SOLE Program, NACS offers a wide variety of programs and activities to support healthy lifestyles. Please call for more information: 716-874-2797 x318.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the SOLE Program, please call our Youth Empowerment Hotline: 716-874-2797 x318
Funded by: NYS Department of Health/Bureau of Child & Adolescent Health; NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services; as well as businesses, foundations, and caring individuals.
