EVOLVE

History/Background

Youth Guidance’s Evolve program is a social-emotional learning (SEL) program designed to cultivate a district-wide culture of support and trauma-informed engagement by delivering training and resources to school-based staff to implement the most effective components of the organization’s most renowned programs – Becoming a Man (BAM) & Working on Womanhood (WOW).

The Evolve program model creates the space for youth to thrive in a school ecosystem of supportive, emotionally attuned and culturally competent adults.

The urgency to create trauma-informed school culture increased as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine.

87% of public schools reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted student’s social-emotional development (NCES, 2022).

The Evolve Model addresses this urgency by bridging the therapeutic principles used to support youth growth and development in a mixed-gendered environment, with relatable engagement formats delivered by trusted school leaders, professional development opportunities, unlimited access to the Evolve Curriculum and youth engagement resources through Evolve Central.

THE EVOLVE EXPERIENCE

Evolve Circles

Relationship-centered safe spaces providing youth with the ability to see and be seen authentically, and the opportunity to learn, practice and internalize social-emotional skills

Collaborative Community of SEL Leaders

Direct collaboration between Evolve Team and School Behavioral Health Team empowering all school staff to become Circle Leaders

Universal Training

Annual school-wide training to support a healing-centered approach to serving youth and enable success of Evolve Circles

Evidence-Informed Curriculum

Schools are equipped with a SEL curriculum with 16 lessons focused on self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, self-management and responsible decision making

Access to Evolve Central

An online learning community inclusive of the full Evolve curriculum, SEL resources, adult wellness activities, Facilitator coaching and PD opportunities

Comprehensive Program Evaluation

Tools and resources to assess program impacts on staff & youth well-being, engagement, and achievement

Learn More

Bring the Evolve program to your schools. Tell us about your school district and connect to learn more about how our program can serve you and your students.

EVOLVE PROVIDES SCHOOL-WIDE TRAINING ON THE EFFECTIVE COMPONENTS OF BAM & WOW

Becoming A Man® program (BAM®) is a school-based group counseling program that guides young men in 7-12th grades to learn, internalize and practice social cognitive skills, make responsible decisions for their future and become positive members of their school and community.

BAM integrates clinical theory and practice, men’s rites of passage work, and a dynamic approach to youth engagement.

Working On Womanhood (WOW) is a multifaceted, school year-long group counseling and clinical mentoring program.

WOW works to improve social-emotional competencies for girls in 7th-12th grade exposed to traumatic stressors in high risk and under-resourced communities.

Using a trauma-Informed approach, WOW targets young women with significant risk factors for dropout or delinquency such as: teenage pregnancy, trauma, drug or alcohol abuse, self-harm, gang involvement, fighting, academic failure and discipline referrals.

STAFF & YOUTH THRIVE WITHIN THE EVOLVE ECOSYSTEM

STAFF

Advance youth social emotional development as Evolve Circle Leaders
Identify trauma-related symptoms that impact youth engagement
Support youth healing from trauma and catalyze healthy social, emotional, and academic development
Develop mindfulness skills to promote personal wellness

YOUTH

Thrive in a school environment of support attuned and culturally competent adults
Develop a sense of identity, agency, belonging, collaborative problem-solving and curiosity
Demonstrate safe and healthy behaviors

Learn More

Bring the Evolve program to your schools. Tell us about your school district and connect to learn more about how our program can serve you and your students.