Who We Are
We facilitate service system and community resource collaboration, using a socio-ecologically based and trauma-informed model of collaboration, which promotes the use of best practices for trauma-informed violence prevention among youth service providers within targeted communities.
What is
Our Vision
Affirming Youth Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with the vision to curate safe spaces for youth to address their traumatic experiences and discover their strengths.
What is
Our Mission
Our mission is to improve social and emotional outcomes for all youth and families by providing wellness support, coordinated services, and trauma-informed care.
Know About
Our Story
Affirming YOUth Foundation, Inc., (formerly Jonathan Spikes Foundation, Inc.), founded in 2011, is a not-for-profit community-based organization established to provide trauma-informed supportive services emphasizing prevention, harm reduction, mental health education, screening for trauma exposure and related symptoms, and evidenced-based, culturally relevant programs to youth and families in Liberty City, Miami, Florida.
We combine community expertise, local knowledge, experience, resources, school district leadership, university human capital, and strategic service providers positioned to reduce the incidence of violence through evidenced-based services to trauma-impacted youth. The objectives of our interventions are to improve youth social and emotional wellness, increase student’s life and coping skills, improve academic performance, reduce the occurrence of violence, improve school and community climate based on participants, and improve family engagement.
The goals of our interventions are to reduce the incidence of violence through health and wellness services to trauma-impacted youth; lower rates of aggression and violent behavior by assisting youth to develop emotional self-awareness and control, positive social skills, problem solving, conflict resolution, and aspiration for positive academic and social outcomes; provide intensive wraparound services that address environmental factors, family and daily living; and implement a community-based platform to improve positive youth and family outcomes while preventing violence, delinquency, and victimization through a continuum of care.