Mentors
Wanted!

The Project STEER program

The Project STEER program (Support, Treatment, Engagement, Education, and Resilience) is Gang Alternative’s prevention and mentoring program designed to support students in grades 4-8 from high-need neighborhoods. We equip young people in Miami-Dade County with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to avoid prescription drug misuse and other substance-use risks before they take hold.

Mentoring is an all-encompassing way to encourage personal and professional growth. It is a partnership between the mentor and mentee where together they seek to discover and develop the mentee’s strengths and abilities while encouraging the acquisition of knowledge, wisdom, and life skills. The mentor serves as a counselor, teacher, advisor, and positive role model, enabling the mentee to practice and strengthen their communication, decision-making, refusal, and emotional regulation skills. Through this shared experience, both the mentor and mentee have the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop a meaningful connection.

The Project STEER Mentor:

Project STEER mentors support youth through weekly small-group sessions held in school and community settings, as well as monthly one-on-one virtual mentoring for youth who may be impacted by substance use in their families or communities. Mentors help reinforce prevention lessons, encourage healthy decision-making, build resilience, and connect youth to additional support when needed. The program also engages caregivers through Parent Circles, family dinners, and connections to wraparound services through Gang Alternative’s UPLIFT Service Partnership.