Vineyard Family Services of Central Alabama, Inc.

Program Overview and Background

Vineyard Family Services of Central Alabama, Inc. strives to offer a quality mentoring program to at–risk youth through our Wise Advisors mentoring program. Our program goals center around decreasing recidivism, reducing risk–taking and antisocial attitudes, increasing positive interactions with law enforcement and family, and increasing financial self–sufficiency. In pursuit of the stated goals, VFS seeks to help youth to understand the consequences of substance use, violence and risk–taking and increase their drug resistant skills, developing strategies for making healthy decisions, reducing stress, and managing anger. Using an evidence–based curriculum, Botvin Life Skills, VFS seeks to increase self–efficacy and resilience in program participants. Building on our foundation of responsible parenthood, we strive to increase parent involvement.

Program Services

Partnering with Compact 2020, Shelby County Arts Council and Alabama 4H, VFS seeks to enhance character development of youth participants through art and sports mentoring, team building activities, and community service projects. The Wise Advisors program seeks to enhance social development of youth participants through healthy, trusting relationships, and provide opportunities for youth to engage with law enforcement and other caring adults in healthy and fun activities.

Target Population

Our target population is youth, ages 12–17, at risk of substance abuse, aggression, and justice involvement.