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http://www.alternativesforgirls.org
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Categories: Community Service, Human Rights, [ view all ]
Alternatives For Girls Charity Profile
Alternatives For Girls (AFG) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization located in southwest Detroit, Michigan, serving homeless and high-risk girls and young women. Since 1987, AFG has provided critical services to program participants, including safe shelter, educational support, vocational guidance, mentoring and counseling. The goal is to empower girls and young women to make positive choices. AFG helps them repair their lives, rescue their dreams and restore their faith in the future.
Alternatives For Girls helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation, and helps them to explore and access the support, resources and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong and to make positive choices in their lives. AFG accomplishes this mission through three key services: AFG Prevention, the AFG Shelter and AFG Outreach.
Alternatives For Girls Volunteer Information
More than 300 volunteers give approximately 20,000 hours of their time and talents to Alternatives For Girls each year. New volunteers go through an orientation. Those working with girls and young women participating in AFG programs also receive training. Current volunteer opportunities include:
Mentoring: AFG needs adult women to mentor individual participants or small girls’ clubs (two-to-three girls).
Street Outreach: Volunteers go out in AFG vans on the streets of Detroit where they provide Help Cards, food, harm-reduction kits and transportation to young women in crisis or at risk.
Administration: Volunteers may assist with mailings, clerical duties, errands or facility maintenance.
Events: Volunteers may serve on event planning committees or assist with event tasks such as registration, coat check, set up and break down, silent auction, etc.
Prevention Program
Group Leader
Under the supervision of the Prevention Program Director, the Group Leader will serve as a positive role model for a small group of girls, ages ranging from 5 — 18, and will plan and carry out biweekly activities with the group.
Mentor
Under the supervision of the Prevention Program Director, the Mentor serves as a positive role model for assigned individual girl, meeting biweekly to engage in recreational/educational activities.
Transition to Independent Living Program
Volunteer Youth Specialist
Under the supervision of the Shelter Manager, the Volunteer Youth Specialist will be responsible for interacting with Shelter residents, supervising daily shelter activities, answering the crisis line, answering the front door, and working as a team member with the full Shelter staff.
Educational Forum Speakers
Under the supervision of the TIL Program Director Educational Forum Speakers do hour long presentations to shelter residents during the evening hours on such topics as independent living skills, substance abuse prevention information, health related issues (H.I.V./A.I.D.S., pregnancy, etc.), interpersonal skills, self-esteem issues, cultural diversity and awareness, etc.
Safe Choices Project
Casework Volunteer
Under the supervision of the Safe Choices Project Manager, the volunteer will assist with daily program operations including crisis calls, client advocacy, providing referrals, client walk-ins, acquiring and sorting donations and maintenance of program documentation. Program clients include women involved in prostitution and adolescents involved in high-risk activities. This volunteer position can be specially tailored to your individual interests.
Outreach Volunteer
Under the supervision of the Safe Choices Project Manager, the volunteer will participate in street outreach to women involved in prostitution. Outreach workers employ a harm reduction approach to addressing the risks of unprotected sex, drug use, violence and illegal activities. They engage women in conversation, offer material assistance and referral information.
Young Women's Leadership Project
Outreach Worker
Under the supervision of the Youth Outreach Coordinator and in cooperation with the teen peer educators, the volunteer will participate in street outreach to young women. During outreach, the team approaches young women to develop relationships, provide harm reduction, inform them about AFG, offer referral information and particularly to create links with runaway and homeless youth.
Special Projects Mentor
Under the supervision of the Youth Services Coordinator, the volunteer will work with teen peer educators to develop and plan special projects. The project can include creative, recreational or cultural activities, and community service for other young women. This position can be tailored to the volunteer's interests.
Adventure Club Volunteer
Under the supervision of the Youth Services Coordinator, the volunteer will work with teen peer educators to develop and plan special projects. The project can include creative, recreational or cultural activities, the newsletter, community service, and workshops for other young women. This position can be tailored to the volunteer's interests.
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Alternatives For Girls Donation Information
Traditionally, AFG has been fortunate to receive government and private foundation grants that go a long way to defray the cost of program expenses. More is needed, however to strengthen Prevention and Outreach efforts, and to increase shelter capacity — not just today, but for the long term.
In addition to programming, AFG is challenged to obtain funding for rising operating expenses (e.g., facility maintenance and repair, snow removal and lawn care, vehicle maintenance and repair, utilities, staff payroll, office supplies and insurance, among others), which are not funded by government or most foundations. We rely on corporate support and the generosity of individual donors to sustain these areas.
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Alternatives For Girls
