Wellness &LEADERSHIP
YOUTH PROGRAM
Serving Northern, NJ and Northwest, IN
ABOUT US OUR SERVICES
Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. works at the intersection of health and education to advance the leadership and well-being of girls and all young people. We collaborate with public schools in high-poverty neighborhoods to expand the capacity of school social workers and strengthen school-family-community partnerships.
Our social-emotional learning program is designed specifically to address the unique developmental needs of middle and high school students. Using evidence-based practices and researchsupported methodologies, our workshops create a supportive environment where students can develop essential life skills, build resilience, and enhance their social-emotional competencies.
SEL Workshops & Coaching
Culturally-affirming and gender-informed activities and wellness coaching, focused on five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making
Caregiver Academy
Collaborative planning, implementation, and assessment of family engagement initiatives that are tailored to meet the needs of caregivers and adolescents
School Belonging Projects ptions 2 & 3)
dent-driven initiatives to positively impact school ture, belonging, and community-building
SELWORKSHOP STRUCTURE& METHODOLOGY
Our workshops incorporate the "SEL 3 Signature Practices" approach, which includes:
01
WelcomingInclusion Activities
Trauma-informed and healin centered sessions that begi community-building exercis at establishing psychologica and connection
02
EngagingStrategies
Interactive learning exper including role-playing, ref activities, and skill-buildin
Each workshop serves up to 24 students, creating an intimate learning environment while maximizing impact. Our approach emphasizes active participation and practical skill development through age-appropriate activities and discussions
Sample Workshop Topics
Building self-awareness and emotional vocabulary
Developing healthy communication and conflict resolution skills
Managing stress and regulating emotions
Setting goals and fostering personal growth
Cultivating positive relationships and community
On-site or virtual wellness coaching to support SEL growth and positive realtionship-building.
Structured session endings that promote forward-thinking and reinforce key learning concepts and relationship-building
MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS
6 - 8 GRADES TH TH
IdentityFormationSupport:Weekly journalingpromptstiedtomedialitera exerciseshelpstudentsdeconstruct societalmessagesaboutfemininity.
PeerMediationTraining:Structured protocolsforresolvinginterpersonal conflictswithoutadultintervention
TransitionReadiness:Collaborative projectswithhighschoolmentorsto reduceanxietyaboutthetransitionfro middleschooltohighschool.
- 12 GRADES TH
adershipLaboratories:Student-designed iativesaddressingschoolclimateissues
st-SecondaryBridgePrograms:Workshops nnectingSELcompetenciestocollege plicationprocessesandinternshipinterviews mmunityImpactProjects:Partnershipswith alorganizationsrequiringcross-generational mmunicationandstakeholdermanagement
CAREGIVER ACADEMY SUPPORT
Program Planning Implementation
01
We will collaborate with school staff to enhance family engagement through Caregiver Academy workshops, focusing on:
Assistingwithtopicselection, scheduling,andresource development
02
Facilitatingsessionsthatbuild caregivers'capacitytosupport theirchildren'ssocial-emotional development
Future Oriented
03
Evaluatingprogrameffectiveness andgatheringparticipantfeedback
OurCaregiverAcademyworkshopstypically runonweekdayeveningsorSaturday morningstoaccommodateworkingfamilies. Weusesystematicevaluationprocessesto continuouslyimprovecontentanddelivery, ensuringsessionsaddressthespecificneeds ofyourcaregiverscommunity.
FLEXIBLE PROGRAM DESIGN
Foundation Program (48 students)
$5,000
per school
Enhanced Program (48 students)
$10,500 per school
Expanded Program (96 students)
$16,200 per school
SELWorkshops&Coaching:MonthlySELsessions ($250each)for48students(2cohortsof24students each);virtualmonthlywellnesscoaching
CaregiverAcademy:Twoworkshopsperschoolyear (onepersemesterat$250each)
Timeline:Ninemonthlyyouthworkshopsfrom SeptemberthroughMay
Assessment:Basicpre/postsurveysforstudents andcaregivers
SELWorkshops&Coaching:Bi-monthly(twice monthly)SELsessions($250each)for48students (2cohorts);on-sitemonthlywellnesscoaching.
CaregiverAcademy:Fourworkshopsperschool year(twopersemesterat$250each)
SchoolBelongingProjects:Student-designed initiativeswithstaffguidance($500)
Timeline:18workshopsthroughouttheschoolyear
Assessment:Comprehensiveevaluation,including observationdataandqualitativefeedback
SELWorkshops&Coaching:EnhancedProgram for96students(4cohorts)
CaregiverAcademy:Fourworkshopsperschool year(twopersemesterat$250each)
SchoolBelongingProjects:Student-designed initiativeswithstaffguidance($800)
Timeline:18workshopsthroughouttheschoolyear
Assessment:Comprehensiveevaluation,including observationdataandqualitativefeedback
MEASURING IMPACT
As a trusted community partner, we will employ multiple methods to assess program effectiveness across four key domains:
Student Growth and Well-being
Pre/post assessments of SEL competencies
Student self-reflection journals and portfolios
Teacher observation checklists for behavioral changes
Quantitative measures of academic performance and attendance
. Family Engagement
Caregiver Academy attendance and participation rates
Surveys measuring knowledge gained and implementation of engagement strategies
Focus groups to gather qualitative feedback
Self-reported changes in caregiver-child communication
School Belonging
School climate surveys administered before and after program implementation
Student interviews and feedback sessions
Measurements of participation in school activities
Analysis of discipline referrals and positive behavior recognition
Community Health
Partnerships developed to support students and families
Stakeholder surveys and focus groups to assess perceived community value and impact
Assessment of school-family-community model
Our evaluation approach follows best practices for SEL assessment, combining quantitative metrics with qualitative insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of program impact. Research indicates that effective SEL programming yields an 11:1 return on investment through improved student outcomes, making this a valuable investment for your schools.
IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
01 02 03 04
PRE-IMPLEMENTATION
Needs assessment and program customization
Staff training and orientation
Identification of student and family participants
Finalize program calendar
PHASE 1: LAUNCH + FALL PROGRAMS
Launch of youth workshops + wellness coaching
First Caregiver Academy session
Baseline data collection
Monthly partnership meetings
PHASE 2: WINTER/SPRING PROGRAMS
Continuation of workshops + wellness coaching
Follow-up Caregiver Academy sessions
Mid-year assessment and program adjustment
Monthly partnership meetings
PHASE 3: YEAR-END WRAP-UP
Culminating activities and celebrations
Implementation of youth-led projects
(Options 2 & 3)
Final impact assessment and reporting
Partnership meeting to discuss the next school year.
WHYPARTNERWITHUS
Our approach has demonstrated success in similar school settings, with consistent improvements in student well-being, academic performance, and school climate By focusing on social-emotional learning, we help students develop essential skills for success in school and life.
Research shows that for every $1 invested in effective SEL programming, schools see an $11 return through improved student outcomes, including higher academic achievement, improved behavior, and better mental health.
NEXTSTEPS
We welcome the opportunity to discuss this proposal in greater detail and to customize our approach to meet the specific needs of your students. Please contact us to schedule a follow-up meeting where we can address any questions and finalize program details.
Thank you for considering this partnership opportunity. We look forward to collaborating with your school district to support the development and well-being of your students.
“Live Boldly, Dream Big, Fly High that was my little sister’s vision for all women and girls.” Joy
After losing her younger sister, Kimberly, to gun violence, Joy Lindsay founded Butterfly Dreamz, Inc in 2013 In Kim’s honor, we have served thousands of girls and young women in our community over the past decade With our mentorship and support, over 95% of our girls have gone on to pursue 2-year and 4-year college degrees As we scale our impact, we are partnering with public school districts to ensure our girls have the holistic support they need to be healthy and thrive to be confident, justice-centered leaders who “Live Boldy, Dream Big, and Fly High.”
OUR STORY ABOUT JOY
Joy Lindsay is a Ph.D. Student at the Yale School of Public Health and the Founder and CEO of Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. She is the author and publisher of several young adult books and has worked in consulting, finance, and public education management.
Joy holds a BBA in Finance from Howard University, an MPA in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and an Ed M in Human Development & Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Joy is a 2023 Harvard University Cheng Fellow, an AMEX 100 for 100 Founder of Change, an Echoing Green Social Innovation Challenge Awardee, and the recipient of the Impact100 Essex County, NJ Impact Award and the BMe Vanguard Award. Joy is a proud member of the North Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is passionate about education, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development.
Through her research and practice, Joy aims to build impactful community-based organizations that empower marginalized people especially women and girls of color to lead authentically and achieve upward mobility
