Our Mission
At Open Door Abuse Awareness & Prevention (ODAAP), our mission is to prevent violence and abuse and build safer, more connected communities by equipping young people, coaches, educators, and community leaders with trauma-informed tools and support. We partner with communities and schools to provide lasting mentorship connections, sports, and after-school programming that inspires youth to become agents of positive change in their communities.
Our Method
At ODAAP, we integrate trauma-informed care, violence prevention, and mentorship directly into youth athletics, intervening before violence takes root. Sports provide an ideal setting to engage both young people and their families, creating a space for meaningful change.
Research shows that mentorship reduces youth involvement in violent crime by 50%. Our coaches are role models and mentors and unlike traditional programs, we train them as frontline interventionists. This equips them with the tools to make lasting, positive impacts both on and off the field.
Our data-driven model shows measurable impact in emotional resilience, self-management, and positive identity among young people at the most critical developmental years in their lives.
of ODAAP youth reported needing help building core Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) prior to participating in the program.
of ODAAP's participants develop in three or more SEL capacities.
of ODAAP young men developed their SEL capacity of positive identity — a young person's internal sense of who they are and confidence to explore the multiple facets of their identities.
of ODAAP participants are highly satisfied with the ODAAP experience, as indicated by their response that they would recommend the program to a friend.
Our Vision
We envision a future where all young people can grow up in communities free from violence and full of opportunity. Our work is guided by the belief that:
Everyone has potential.
We see the inherent value in every young person and are committed to helping them reach their full potential. Social norms can change when we challenge the attitudes and behaviors of bystanders. We believe in fostering environments where everyone is respected and can thrive, free from the cycle of violence.
Trauma-informed approaches are essential for growth.
We meet students where they are to connect with them using empathy and trauma-informed approaches. Generational change is possible when we build up leaders and role models who uplift and inspire.
Mentorship Matters.
We know that to make real, meaningful change in a young person’s life, we must be in it for the long haul by committing to long-term mentorships. Too many programs aimed at preventing violence in youth rely on a “love them and leave them” framework, where forging lasting, meaningful connections is the missing piece. Breaking cycles of trauma happens through repetition and practice, not one-off programs.