Help and Hope for Troubled Teens - Salvation Army "Bridging the Gap" Program Expands to Homewood

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Nov 25, 2013, 07:15 ET

CARNEGIE, Pa., Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Salvation Army is committed to "Bridging the Gap" between success and struggle for at risk and high-risk youth. The organization's life skills curriculum based program focuses on educating, motivating and supporting troubled youth and families will soon serve residents of Homewood. The goal is to intervene or prevent negative behaviors and instead provide students the tools to reach their fullest potential regardless of poor decisions from the past or obstacles they may face in the future.

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Candidates for "Bridging the Gap" are males and females, ages 12 to 17 who are nonviolent offenders, having truancy issues and/or those with behavioral issues as well. This 12-week life changing experience will inspire participants to make positive changes within their lives. The program introduces educational, social and career resources available within the participants' community. The curriculum focuses on a number of topics including: self-reflection; developing talents and interest; effective communication; legal issues; career exploration; financial planning; ethics; self-esteem and peer pressure; anger management; decision making; addiction; relationships; and teen pregnancy.

Currently, "Bridging the Gap" is operational in two Salvation Army Worship and Service Centers: Pittsburgh's and in Armstrong county at the Kittanning facility. A third site is slated to open December 3, 2013 at The Salvation Army Pittsburgh Homewood-Brushton Worship and Service Center. Upon completion participants and their families attend a graduation celebration and receive a certificate of completion.

Youth can be referred through school counselors, principals, truancy officers and social workers within the school system. Students can also be referred by social service providers, youth-oriented agencies, juvenile probation, local police and/or District Magistrates. To obtain a referral form and discuss the program in depth please contact: BTG Divisional Director, Tanoya Bennett-Lemon @ 412-446-1532 or [email protected].

Both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 126 countries worldwide. The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log onto www.salvationarmy-wpa.org, twitter.com/SalArmyPGH or facebook.com/SalvationArmyWesternPA. The Salvation Army … Doing the most good . . . for the most people . . . in the most need.

SOURCE The Salvation Army