The Gloves Against Drugs Foundation:
Social & Emotional Learning (S.E.L/Life Skills) sessions (45 minutes each)S.E.L/Life Skills
the Gloves against drugs foundation is the 2024 state & regional Novice Golden Gloves champions in the Light Weight & Heavyweight divisions . Youths participate in boxing and physical fitness programs to develop healthy lifestyle choices and discipline. Our boxing program allows youth to shine in and out of the ring and builds resiliency and Lowes the social acceptability of substance abuse.
The Gloves Against Drugs Foundation:
Empowering Youth Through Prevention Programming
At The Gloves Against Drugs Foundation, we specialize in youth prevention programming using an evidence-based curriculum federally approved by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA). Our comprehensive life-skills education curriculum focuses on social and emotional learning, cognitive-behavioral skills, decision-making, self-esteem, and the prevention of violence and substance abuse. We provide pre- and post-test data for thorough evaluation.
Summary of Our Programming and Its Impact on Reducing A.C.E.s (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
The Gloves Against Drugs Foundation employs the Centers for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Model across all strategic programming, which includes:
Prevention Education / Life-skills:
Social & Emotional Learning (S.E.L/Life Skills) sessions (45 minutes each)S.E.L/Life Skills
Alternative Prevention Activities:
Boxing, fitness, and fun sessions (1 hour 15 minutes each)
Information Dissemination:
Engaging children, youth, and families via social media
Community-Based Process:
Fostering community engagement and building coalition support with stakeholders such as coaches, small businesses, civic associations, and religious groups
Environmental Data Collection:
Collecting and analyzing data from participant surveys, pre- and post-tests, and school surveys to develop a sustainable logic model, build protective factors, and increase the perception of risk factors, thereby fostering resiliency
Identification & Referral:
Establishing a referral network of clinicians and health professionals to support participants in need of services
Our comprehensive after-school resiliency and prevention program equips youth with tools to manage peer influence, violence, substance misuse, and life skills. Daily physical fitness activities enhance protective factors and reduce the social acceptability of risky behaviors.
Foundation Goals:
Engage Youth with S.E.L/Life-skills Programming:
Evidence-based programming that has been proven to result in successful participant outcomes, fostering resilience and resistance to risky behaviors.
Youth Retention and Parental Engagement:
Ensuring continuous youth participation throughout the year and involving parents/guardians in the process.
Data Collection for Sustainability:
Gathering survey data and pre- and post-test results to support future programming and create a sustainable logic model.
Long-Term Community Impact:
Establishing a community-based after-school resiliency/prevention program that incorporates partnerships to provide safe spaces, mentorship, education, fitness, and fun for Wilmington's youth. By enhancing protective factors, we help youth overcome Adverse Childhood Experiences (A.C.E.s) and socioeconomic challenges, leading to healthier outcomes.
Our Vision for a Resilient Future
Our prevention services aim to reduce the risk factors associated with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and increase protective factors for youth aged 18 and under. Prevention activities are crucial in reducing alcohol abuse and prescription drug misuse through a comprehensive set of strategies, emphasizing policy and environmental changes. Wilmington’s youth need a robust community infrastructure focused on resiliency and prevention. By providing education, information dissemination, and fitness activities, we empower and inspire young people to unleash their full potential.
Lions Only is a Gloves Against Drugs Foundation initiative specifically focused on addressing and preventing gang violence. The Lions Only fitness and boxing program will attract youth that are searching for a sense of "brotherhood/sisterhood, while decreasing the social acceptability of risky choices such as gang association, substance use, and violence. Studies have shown that daily physical activity increases a youth's resistance toward risky choices.
Lions Only offers youth employment services, soft-skill training, job-readiness, and job placement. Our young people need life-skills, basic job search knowledge, employee best-practices, and introductions to prospective employers. For many this will be their first contact with employment. Earning a paycheck gives our youth a sense of accomplishment, self-worth, and improves resiliency.