Saturday Institute for Manhood Brotherhood Actualization

WHAT IS SIMBA?

SIMBA, which stands for the Saturday Institute
for Manhood Brotherhood Actualization, is a Violence Intervention
Program for incarcerated youth in the Juvenile Justice System in Georgia.
SIMBA means "Young Lions".

SIMBA'S GOAL

SIMBA's goal is to provide a human service intervention program that addresses the high death rate of minority males due to violence and other healthcare factors such as substance abuse and AIDS.

The program seeks to build resiliency in young males through health education, cultural awareness and participation in the aesthetic arts.

Our Heritage is Great! Collage by SIMBA Students

SIMBA's RESULTS

• Increased coping skills
• Reduced aggressive and violent behavior
• Increased healthy lifestyle choices
• Increased vocational skills
• Increased cultural awareness
• Improved race relations

SIMBA's OBJECTIVES

1. Health
   • To increase healthy, lifestyle choices
   • To increase coping skills
   • To increase strategies for violence reduction
2. Vocational & Career Development
   • To increase employment competencies and job readiness skills
   • To increase job opportunities and provide vocational follow-up training
   • To increase entrepreneurship skills
3. African-American History
   • To build self-esteem
   • To increase self-discipline
   • To improve racial and human relationships
4. Aesthetic Arts
   • To increase aesthetic art talents in video, photography, silk screening, music, art and drama
   • To provide a channel for positive, creative expression
   • To increase employment and entrepreneurship skills in the field of art

Vocational Class at work

SIMBA Parenting Sessions

SIMBA's Parenting Sessions includes the following:

• Stress Management
• Anger Management
• Parenting Classes
• HIV/AIDS and STD's Education
• TAI CHI
• Qi Gong

SIMBA on Wheels

SIMBA on Wheels is an one day conference held at State and Regional Youth Detention Centers. The program is design to provide educational workshops on stress management,
violenc prevention, character development, STD's,
entrepreneurship, alcohol and drug abuse, job readiness,
African American history, abstinence, Tai Chi and art.

Vocation

SIMBA's Job Counselor provides:

• Job Placement
• Job Coaching
• Job Mentoring

Drama Troupe Performs

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

SIMBA has received the Governor's Exemplary Award and is a member of the National Network of Violence Practitioners.

In January 1994, SIMBA was aired on the Oprah Winfrey Show special on "Violence and Males".

SIMBA youth and staff pose for picture with Oprah Winfrey.

PARENT ORGANIZATION

SIMBA is a program of the Wholistic Stress Control Institute, Inc. (WSCI), a community-based non-profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia. WSCI seeks to increase personal resources for stress management through training, consultation and educational material. WSCI has developed a variety of model programs in the areas of prevention, intervention and treatment.

SPONSORS

A consortium was formed between WSCI and the Lorenzo Benn Youth Development Campus. WSCI received a three-year Minority Male Initiative Grant award to sponsor SIMBA from the Office of Minority Health (OMH) in May 1991. SIMBA is governed by a community coalition of several organizations and is presently funded by grants received from the state of Georgia, Fulton County and the City of Atlanta.

TRAINING AND REPLICATION

The SIMBA program provides training and consultation services. The program has developed a replication manual and training model.
(see catalog)

For more information, contact:

Wholistic Stress Control Institute, Inc. (WSCI)
2545 Benjamin E. Mays Drive, S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30311-0481

Phone: (404) 755-0068
FAX: (404) 755-4333

Internet e-mail: wholistic@mindspring.com

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