Life Skills
In addition to our hallmark therapeutic dance program for girls, we offer focused workshops and strengths-based learning opportunities focused on pragmatic and social skills helping youth transition to higher education and adult life. Our work is gender inclusive, truly serving beyond the binary.
Program Pillars
Job Preparation
We work on skills and strategies for finding the right job, getting hired and staying employed.
Financial Literacy
We help our youth learn to manage their money wisely to set them up for financial independence.
Goal Setting
Setting specific and achievable goals is a key to success. We work with our youth on goal setting and strategies for success.
Parenting
Many of the youth in our program are also parents of their own children. We introduce them to healthier and more effective parenting skills.
“I’ve seen these young people transform from closed, scared and hardened to vulnerable, brave and open to change. They’ve gone from ‘you can’t tell me nothing’ to ‘can you help me?’”
— Ruth Tyson, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer
Debutante Ball
The Swan Within’s annual social event, the Debutante Ball, presents 14-18 year-old “debutantes” who are striving to achieve high moral character and are dedicated to serving others through school and community activities.
This transformational evening is the culmination of seminars and workshops the youth have participated in on financial literacy, the arts, college and career readiness, etiquette, social skills, and community service.
This program assists youth in their presentation and right for a second chance in society and gain self-respect. Donned in donated one-of-a-kind gowns, styled by a hair and makeup team, and escorted by their guardians or members of the probation staff, each Swan is presented as a lady of grace.
In addition to being a night to remember, participants have proven to demonstrate a reduction in symptoms of depression, anger, sadness, and fatigue.
G.E.N.T.S.
The G.E.N.T.S (Growth, Empathy, Never, Through, Strength) program harnesses the power of creativity to transform the lives of justice-involved youth through life skills training, arts education, individualized case management, and employment preparation.
After participating in the program boys have lowered recidivism rates, a stronger ability to develop healthy relationships, a desire to live and engage as a productive citizen.