Bethany Christian Services of Michigan

Project Name: Transforming Communities: Advancing Equitable Futures (Equitable Futures)

Project Overview: Bethany Christian Services will implement Transforming Communities: Advancing Equitable Futures (Equitable Futures), a community defined and integrated model that provides access and seamless entry to a broad spectrum of community resources and activities for high school-aged youth who live in the urban core of Grand Rapids, Michigan. These youth are likely to be involved in multiple systems (such as the justice and foster care systems), living in poverty, from historically marginalized populations, have experienced trauma, and may be exhibiting high-risk behaviors. The project will implement an evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention curriculum and create a robust network of adults who interact with the project’s priority youth by connecting 5,400 caregivers/guardians and 1,400 local youth-serving professionals over five years.

Community(ies) Served: 49507 zip code and surrounding areas of Kent County, Michigan.

Target: Youth aged 14-19+

Geographic Area Served (Urbanicity of Community): Urban core of Grand Rapids, MI (Urban)

Average Anticipated Number of Youth Served Annually: 720