AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST YOUTH MINISTRIES

OUR ORGANIZATION HAS PROVIDED AN OUTLET AND PLATFORM FOR GROWTH TO OVER 4,400 AT-RISK YOUTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND COMMUNITY YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TEXAS. AFC'S PROGRAMS ARE UNIQUELY STRUCTURED TO KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED IN SCHOOL, TO TEACH STUDENTS TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE, AND TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS WHILE WORKING WITHIN A TEAM-ORIENTED, COOPERATIVE LEARNING FRAMEWORK. THROUGH THE ENHANCEMENT OF THESE SKILLS, STUDENTS ARE BETTER PREPARED TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES EFFECTIVELY AND CREATIVELY IN ANY SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, THUS BOLSTERING THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE AND WORK. TESTIMONIES FROM YOUTH PARTICIPANTS, TEACHERS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS CONFIRM THAT OUR PROGRAM PRODUCES POSITIVE RESULTS BY CURTAILING MANY OF THE INNER CITY PROBLEMS THAT CHILDREN AND YOUTH FACE TODAY, INCLUDING HIGH STUDENT DROPOUT RATES, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, SUICIDE, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE. AFC ENJOYS THRIVING PARTNERSHIP WITH NEARLY 20 SCHOOLS IN THE ALIEF AND HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS OTHER YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. MANY OF OUR PARTNERING SCHOOLS ARE THE LEADING PROVIDERS OF ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS FOR THE MOST CHALLENGING, DISRUPTIVE, LOW-PERFORMING, CREDIT DEFICIENT, GRADE-REPEATING STUDENTS WHO ARE AT-RISK OF DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL. AFC IS ACCOUNTABLE TO A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS FISCAL AND LEGAL OPERATIONS. AFC HAS BOARD APPROVED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (P&P) AND A HUMAN RESOURCES MANUAL AS WELL AS QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS IN PLACE FOR WHICH ALL STAFF ARE TRAINED AND ACCOUNTABLE. SINCE 2012, AFC HAS IMPLEMENTED ITS PROMOTING HEALTH AMONG TEENS (PHAT), TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION, EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM TO OVER 1,200 YOUTH, THROUGH THE PREP FEDERAL FUNDING. LAST FALL (2015), AFC WAS RE-FUNDED BY THE PREP GRANT FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS. IN 2014, AFC WAS AWARDED TWO ADDITIONAL 3-YEAR GRANTS THAT TARGET RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND STREET YOUTH. ALSO IN 2014, AFC OPENED A DROP-IN AND RESOURCE CENTER THAT IS CATERED TO RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND STREET YOUTH NEEDING TO -DROP IN" FOR FOOD, SHELTER, AND/OR SHOWER AND LAUNDRY FACILITY. THE DROP-IN CENTER ALSO HAS A COMPUTER LAB, AS WELL AS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND CASE MANAGER READY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR TARGET YOUTH.