Through the A PONY Program, PBJ Connections partners with local schools to provide psychoeducational groups to youth where they can work on leadership, coping skills, self-esteem and positive communication. The schools identify up to ten students at a time who are struggling with a diagnosed mental health issue, an issue with behavior at school, or a home life issue that is effecting their schooling. The school transports the students to PBJ Connections for 90-minute group sessions once per week for ten weeks.
The overall Goal of the A PONY program is to positively influence at-risk youth. This goal is supported by the objectives:
- Objective 1: To increase leadership, empowerment, and positive communication in participants.
- Objective 2: To show an increase in positive school attendance during the intervention weeks.
- Objective 3: Participants will gain insight into their own behaviors, mental health issues, and feelings.