AMERICAN YOUTH COUNCIL INC

The GOALS (Going Over and Above in Leadership & Service) program is a new partnership for the American Youth Council, Inc. with schools, coaches, counselors, law enforcement and substance abuse intervention organizations.

AYC believes that high school athletes are 'game changers' and have the potential and influence to model and change behaviors in their peer groups. In particular, the GOALS program is structured to address the pressing need for intervention into the use and abuse of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs that are plaguing U.S. schools.

The curriculum for the program is based on the U.S. Government Learn and Serve program:

• K-12 Service Learning Format - partners high school athletes with elementary and middle school students
• Has a powerful Youth Voice - in generating ideas, designing and planning, implementation, and in creating an environment of trust and open expression of ideas
• Is tied to grant funding requirements - enabling schools and sports teams to qualify for substantive national grants
• Is linked to curriculum - provides enrichment of existing school subjects and teaches students how to transfer skills from one environment to another
• Develops citizenship standards through addressing community needs
• Creates Sustainable Outcomes
• Develops healthy team disciplines:
  RESPECT
  DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
  LEADERSHIP
  CONFLICT RESOLUTION
  OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES
  GROUP DECISION-MAKING