Whats Next Ministry

Whats Next believes that mental health is a crucial component of overall well-being and thats why we offer a variety of mental health support for our young men. Our mental health life coach provides individual counseling which allows for a more personal and tailored approach to therapy where the therapist can work with the individual to address specific mental health concerns. In addition we offer group counseling sessions where the young men can connect with their peers who may be experiencing similar challenges creating a safe and supportive space for them. Our mental health life coaches are licensed professionals dedicated to teaching young men the tools needed to manage their mental health and increase their capacity to cope with lifes challenges. We aim to increase mental health awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health by normalizing healthy conversations about it its challenges and empowering anyone who may be struggling with their mental health. Whats Next is committed to providing holistic mental health support for our young men. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive community that fosters healing growth and resilience. Our health coach is Jel Williams. 2. Jel has a custom meeting model for each young man but all are required to meet with her a minimum of once a month unless Jel deems it necessary to meet more often.

Post High School education support. For Whats Next young men that graduate from high school and desire to pursue higher education degrees Whats Next provides financial support for tuition and books at universities or community colleges. Eleven young men have received post high school support. Four young men have graduated a university through 2024. There are currently three young men working toward a university graduation. There is one young man currently enrolled in utilities work program. High School Graduation is expected and monitored for all of our participants. We have a 98% high school graduation rate. However we understand that a high school degree usually does not guarantee success for our participants. Therefore our graduated young men remain in our program unitl age 26 with support and expected outcomes to further increase their chance of success in adulthood. By age 19 each participant is expected to be enrolled in one of the following: A. 4 year college university B. 2 year college to obtain an associate degree C. Military D. A certification class fr a particular trade at a local community college or other non profit associations providing these types of certifications. We provide financial and personal consulting support in all four of these areas. Each young man and his path choice are monitored in our Casebook software by our staff to ensure proper progress and completion. Other expected outcomes that are measured for our high school graduates are as follows: 1. Full time job making a minimum of $35,000 by age 22 2. Ownership of a car and ability to pay for car insurance and maintenance. 3. Visit Whats Next and meet with staff rep once a month to monitor progress. 4. Financially self sufficient concerning car housing and other bills. 5. Complete a certified credit training course given by the Whats Next Success coordinator by age 22. 6. Complete father husband workshop provided by Whats Next and our mental health director. Full time job making a minimum of $55,000 by age 26.

Academics are important. GPA is important. College is a great goal. However our experience has taught us several lessons about academics as it relates to our young men. Not all are interested in or capable of attending college. College is not the best choice for each young man. Academics can be difficult and a huge negative for some of our young men. School is not only a challenge but can be the most painful part of the day for some. This is why we have developed a unique academic plan for each student. The goal may be accomplishing a task. It may be making up an assignment. It could be to prepare a young man for a college entrance exam. Each student is on a different level due to their academic experiences prior to high school. Our main goal is to develop confidence and instill a work ethic in each student so they take pride in each successful step of their plan. Two days of academic tutoring led by staff and volunteers occur each week. Additional tutoring is available during exam weeks and upon student request. The staff knows each students grades attendance and frequently has discussions with their teachers guidance counselors and parents. This academic support combined with our mental health approach helps grow their confidence level and desire to be better. Our academic support has been influential in helping students attend college become eligible for high school sports develop a skill and most importantly gain self-confidence. A robust support model is available for those students seeking further education after high school. Application support FAFSA student loan guidance school tours and experienced advice from staff and partners help the student choose the appropriate 4-year school community college 2 year junior college or trade school. The Whats Next Wilton Parr Education Endowment offers financial assistance to help cover the cost of student needs and assist in lowering their overall school loans. Expected outcomes for our academic model are as follows : 1. Have at least 1 academic session grade check with a WN Life Coach. 2. No zeros in any class reported on the Power School student report. 3. Less than 9 absences in any class for the semester. 4. Based on the individual the expected GPA can vary from 1.5 to 3.5. 5. Complete 2 IXL self-learning sessions on the IXL software in the WN Academic Success Center these sessions are in math and reading comprehension and all young men have a base line grade level once they enter into the WN organization. 6. High School graduation by age 19. 7. A minimum level of 10th grade math and reading comprehension upon high school graduation.