1432 N St. Lincoln, NE   Phone: (402) 434-3494

Survival Skills is a comprehensive adolescent pregnancy prevention program for male and female youth.

Survival Skills is a comprehensive prevention program for male and female youth between the ages of 10-17, for females and 13-17 for males, living in Lincoln, with special emphasis on reaching youth with risk factors in their lives. Survival Skills is a collaborative project based on the successful model designed by Dr. Michael Carrera in New York City.

A Little History.

Since 1991, Survival Skills has offered Lincoln youth a place to have fun, meet new friends, and try out new things in a supportive educational environment. Survival Skills helps to solve problems before they happen. The program is designed to prevent teen pregnancy, alcohol and other drug use, premature withdrawal from school and youth violence. Youth build self-esteem, learn communication, problem solving and decision making skills and explore positive ways to interact with their peers and other adults. In 1996, a special group For Girls Only, began reaching preteen girls ages 10 to 12 years of age.

Survival Skills meets three weeks of every month, September through December and February through May. Participating youth attend either a Tuesday or Thursday evening session in addition to a Saturday afternoon session. Survival Skills provides fun, challenging activities that includes problem solving components, discussion groups, and field trips within the community. Over the course of the year, sessions are offered to each social group covering topics such as family life education, career planning and employment, creative self expression, fitness, Learn and Serve America (citizenship and community service), and independent living skills. Leadership development, peer mediation peer education, conflict resolution, tutoring and counseling are also available to the youth in the program. All activities are led and supervised by trained adult staff members.

A key component of the Survival Skills program includes parent education and support. Parents and other significant adults important to each youth are invited and encouraged to attend monthly classes and workshops designed to meet their current needs. Dinner, an informational program and support group are all part of the fun. Child care is provided.

Program meets Tuesday or Thursday evening from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Youth and staff from both nights come together as a whole group Saturday afternoons from 1:00 -3:30 p.m. Free transportation is provided within the Lincoln City limits.

Thanks to the generosity of local foundations, public and private grants, and individual and corporate donors, Survival Skills is pleased to be able to provided service to participants free of charge.

To register, you can contact the Program Coordinator, Shelley Swartz at 434-3494 ext.143. A subsequent home visit by the Program Coordinator is arranged in order to complete the registration process. If you are interested in the Survival Skills program, contact Shelley Swartz, at the YWCA of Lincoln at 434-3494 ext. 143.

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1432 N St Lincoln, NE 68508-1880       Phone: (402) 434-3494       Fax: (402) 476-0519