Overview of Our Programs
ODAAP works with schools, sports teams, and youth programs to deliver year-round, trauma-informed violence prevention programs across Philadelphia and beyond.
We serve youth ages 10 to 19, offering specialized programs tailored for young men and women. Whether we’re working with high school girls through mentorship or engaging young men through sports-based leadership training, our programs use trauma-informed strategies to help youth and their mentors grow into the leaders their communities need.
At the heart of our model are the trusted adults—coaches, mentors, educators—who shape culture on and off the field. We invest in their development so they can, in turn, guide young people with empathy, consistency, and accountability. By combining character development, leadership training, and long-term mentorship, our programs create safer communities and interrupt cycles of violence before they begin.
Our approach is grounded in the belief that you can’t create culture change without consistent community. That’s why we seek out partners and leaders who are aligned with our values and committed to doing the deep, sustained work of prevention, and why so many of them stay with us year after year.
Learn more about each of our programs below.
Beyond the Game: Preventing Violence Through Sports
Our Beyond the Game program uses the power of sports to prevent violence and promote positive leadership on and off the field. With a two-pronged, trauma-informed approach, we equip both coaches and young athletes with the tools they need to foster safer communities:
1. Training Coaches to Lead with Empathy
We provide high school football coaches with Trauma-Informed Coaching 101 training and a stipend for their participation. This equips them to better support their players, communicate with empathy, and recognize signs of mental health struggles such as suicidal ideation, disordered eating, or abuse.
2. Helping Young Men Channel Aggression Positively
High School Mentorship Programs
Men to Men Mentorship Program
Our Boys Men to Men mentorship program teaches young men who may not play a sport how to express their emotions in healthy ways and to become the best version of themselves. This program convene regular meetings for male students to learn about hygiene, financial literacy, college preparation, healthy relationships, cultural expansion, and abuse prevention.
In addition to group sessions, participants serve as peer mentors to younger, elementary-aged boys, building their leadership skills and strengthening connections within the community.
See the Program in Action
Intentionally, Caring and United (ICU) Mentorship Program
Our Intentionally, Caring and United (ICU) program empowers young women to be the most confident, compassionate, and resilient version of themselves. ICU offers a supportive space where participants meet weekly, build lasting connections, and grow as leaders.
As part of the program, high school participants also mentor elementary-aged girls in order to practice their leadership skills and create a strong foundation for community-building across age groups.
Proven Impact
In the 2024-2025 school year, our ICU cohort at Green Avenue included 70 young women. According to pre- and post-program assessments, 86% of participants showed measurable improvement in at least one key Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) area:
- A stronger desire to engage with and contribute to their family, school, and community
- Improved emotional regulation and behavior
- A more positive sense of self and personal confidence
- Increased motivation, academic engagement, and mastery over their learning
- Enhanced empathy and the ability to consider others’ perspectives
Together, we are building a generation of young women who lead with care, confidence, and purpose.
Workshops
Trauma-Informed Professional Development Workshops
Through our Trauma-Informed Professional Development Workshops, ODAAP equips professionals, including educators, school security personnel, guidance counselors, and other frontline adults, with the tools they need to recognize and respond to trauma in the youth they serve.
These interactive sessions highlight how early trauma affects behavior, learning, and relationships, offering practical strategies to build trust, de-escalate conflict, and create safe, supportive environments for young people. By educating the adults who regularly interact with youth, we help change the culture around them—because healing and prevention begin with awareness.
Contact us if you’re interested in having your organization receive this training.
Violence Prevention & Awareness Workshops
Our Violence Prevention and Awareness Workshops foster powerful, community-rooted conversations between parents, children, and caregivers. These sessions are designed to unpack the root causes of violence and offer tools for navigating conflict, setting boundaries, and building emotional intelligence.
Led by trained facilitators with lived experience, these workshops are direct, relatable, and deeply engaging. Whether we’re speaking to families, sports teams, or youth groups, our message is clear: violence is preventable when we invest in awareness, accountability, and connection.
Connect with us to find the nearest workshop to you!
TEDx Talk
In her TEDxWilmington talk, Coach Valencia Peterson discusses her role as a football coach and how sports are a beautiful platform for violence prevention.
We have presented our unique approach to violence prevention in many conferences and workshops including:
- California Coalition Against Sexual Assault CALCASA) at their Statewide 2019 Conference USA Olympic Swimming Coaches
- Florida Coalition of Domestic Violence
- The 2023 Philadelphia Coaches Clinic