At-Promise Initiative

The At-Promise Initiative’s mission is to reduce crime by diverting susceptible young people from mischief and petty criminal activity toward productive lives.

More than 2,000 youth have formally enrolled in the At-Promise programs since operations began in 2017. APF has estab­lished three At-Promise Centers with plans to open a fourth in 2024.

More than 30 social service agencies work as partners of APF and APD, surrounding enrollees with professional services including psychological counseling, tutoring, men­toring, and health & wellness program­ming. Individualized programs are based on a comprehensive therapeutic assess­ment for all enrollees.

Additional services provided include individual therapy, group therapy, educa­tional assistance, GED classes, skills testing, workforce prep, and arts & music instruction.

The national recidivism rate for youth is an appalling 70%. Recidivism for At-Promise enrollees is a small fraction of this, with a current rate of about 5%.

The At-Promise Initiative has introduced a pilot program, At-Promise At Work, designed to take enrollees through an intensive 10-week program on skills train­ing, interview training, and sharing the information that a young adult needs to secure an entry-level job. Though the program is still in its first year, 90 percent of At-Promise At Work participants have successfully secured entry-level jobs with major national organizations.

The At-Promise Centers are deliberately located in neighborhoods where crime and truancy are concerns and successful career opportunities are limited:

• Westside’s At-Promise Center on Cameron Madison Alexander Blvd. opened in 2017
• Southside’s At-Promise Center on Metropolitan Parkway opened in 2021
• Southwest’s Truist Andrew & Walter Young At-Promise Center on Campbellton Rd. opened in 2022
• The new At-Promise Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is slated to open in 2024