Youth Guidance – BAM

Launched 2020

About

School-based, trauma-informed group counseling programs for young men

The Youth Guidance Becoming a Man (BAM) program provides highly engaging school-based counseling and mentoring to promote social-emotional and psychological well-being, strong school engagement, and increased academic attainment for young men in grades 7-12. BAM counselors work full-time in schools, delivering clinically-based individual and group services to students.

BAM and its companion program for young women – Working on Womanhood (WOW) – were selected as GreenLight Kansas City’s first investment based on their proven ability to improve outcomes for young men and women of color through culturally-competent programming. External research has shown BAM reduces crime by 50%, improves youth graduation rates by 19%, and, for every $1 invested in BAM, society reaps $30 in societal benefits.

BAM and WOW currently serve students in the Hickman-Mills (MO), Kansas City (KS), and Center (MO) School Districts and by 2025, will serve 1,000+ students annually. 

Launching Opportunity: Youth Guidance Kansas City

BAM’s Impact in Kansas City

600

students reached through BAM and WOW during the 2022-23 school year

73%

of BAM students showed strong growth in social-emotional skills (2022-23)
In Kansas City
73%

of BAM students showed strong growth in social-emotional skills

Read Charlie's Story

What Our Community is Saying

“BAM and WOW are proven, evidence-based models that provide youth safe spaces to share their challenges, find mentorship and access support.”

Quinton Lucas

Mayor, Kansas City, MO

“I enjoy having a space for young men to talk and express themselves.”

BAM participant

Join our work in Kansas City

We rely on champions and supporters who believe in the power and potential of community-driven change.

Follow Us