South Florida CARES Mentoring Movement

National CARES Mentoring Movements South Florida affiliate, South Florida CARES Mentoring Movement (CARES), intends to teach socio-emotional wellness to underserved youth throughout Miami-Dade County via our evidence-based group mentoring curriculum, The Rising: Elevating Education, Expectations and Self - Esteem.
Ongoing cycles of poverty, crime, and violence have disenfranchised too many of Miami's youth. Because of this, they often feel as if there is no hope for a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Such feelings of hopelessness often result in addiction, recidivism, and a host of other destructive behaviors.
South Florida CARES utilizes The Rising Program and holds weekly Wellness Mentoring Circles that are facilitated by trained mentors. The Rising Program focuses on ten essential pillars such as stress, community, and heritage to equip our youth with the tools to transcend their current and future challenges.
The program methodology is unique in its demonstrated ability to shift consciousness, instill self-esteem and the courage needed to transform young, fragile lives. Buttressing school staff and working within the school day, The Rising Program's thirty-plus week curriculum is anchored by whole-school assemblies and weekly single-gender-identity safe spaces-Wellness Mentoring Circles (WMC). Facilitated by trained psychologists, social workers and wellness experts and bolstered by teams of trained mentors, WMCs serve as safe spaces where our children learn critical social and emotional skills, share triumphs and tribulations, be heard and acknowledged, and secure support from peers and caring adults.