Serving systems-impacted youth and adults through trauma-informed programs
Lionheart is a nonprofit organization that develops, researches, and disseminates evidence-based, trauma-informed, social and emotional learning programming designed specifically to interrupt cycles of trauma, systems-involvement, and poverty. Our target populations include: adults in prisons and jails; youth in residential care, juvenile justice settings, and schools; adolescent parents in group homes, schools, and other community programs; and direct care staff serving trauma-impacted youth.
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Lionheart
Innovative Social-Emotional Learning Programs for Trauma-Impacted Populations
Provides incarcerated adults with transformative rehabilitation, empowering them to lead dignified lives, whether inside or outside the walls.
Equips youth with fundamental skills for healthy social, emotional, and identity development and disengagement from high-risk behavior.
Guides adolescent parents in developing the tools they need to raise their children in a healthy way, while becoming healthy adults themselves.
Builds a supported, connected, and self-regulated workforce, empowering staff to help youth heal through trauma-informed practices.
At the core of everything we do is the belief that all human life has inherent worth, dignity, and resiliency – no exceptions.
Trauma, such as abuse, neglect, community violence, racism, oppression, and disruptive family patterns can undermine the formation of a sense of self and a belief that one’s life has value.
By providing high-impact, evidence-informed social and emotional programming, we empower systems-impacted adults and youth to:
Our programs are used by a wide variety of people who work with our target populations: mental health clinicians, program staff, chaplains, community workers, credible messengers, social workers, direct care staff, volunteers, and many others.
“I’ve seen a lot of s*** in my life and done a lot, but I never thought some book would change me. When I first got locked up I was out of control – stealing, fighting, drugging. I even hit the fence 4 different times at this juvenile hall to show the system and my friends that I do what I want and that’s the way life is supposed to be lived. I was wrong. Now I realize my family has abandoned me. My dads doing life in prison and I need to change. Reading Power Source gave me hope and wisdom and goals. I’m changed and am working on getting college set up for when I get out. Thank you Power Source.”
“I was a direct care staff member for 5 years and EQ2 is exactly what I would have liked to have as I was starting out. There’s really nothing else like it out there. EQ2 is something I preach to everyone I know… I brought the book home to my sisters and my husband. I really, really love the EQ2 skills and believe everyone could benefit from this program.”
“I’ve spent approximately 34 years of 51 years alive in Florida’s cages!! So sick of Prison Life I had decided I was done going to solitary confinement/close management for fighting and battery on inmates. I killed the last man who became aggressive and am now on Close/Max for that!! I have hope now. I’ve reflected and realized there is still a positive future for me to make a difference, to do something positive, with meaning and responsibility! Something to help me atone! I want to work in prison hospice, to clean and cheer up the dying convicts. I feel I can make a lot of their lives and situations better, and in turn it will be a positive mission that gives me incentive! I’ve seen it all, tried most of it and respected, related, completed little of it. With Making Time Count I have honestly related to it, obtained more than I hoped for. Advice to others… Finish the Course no matter what.”
For over 30 years, Lionheart has been at the forefront of creating high-impact social and emotional programming for use in prisons, jails, residential treatment, juvenile justice, and community-based settings. We believe all human beings deserve access to high-quality mental health resources, regardless of where they are. Your help allows Lionheart to carry on the mission of helping people heal.
With your contribution, we can continue to create and deliver innovative programming, training, and support to individuals and systems in need who might not otherwise have access.
“Before reading Power Source I thought that I might be the only one with really big problems. This book has taught me that if you want to give up – you are taking the easy way out. Learn from your mistakes and they will help you grow. Thank you so much.”
“The training provided new skills. It caused me to stop and think about how I handle situations and about all the trauma that our kids have experienced. It allowed me to look at the youth in a different light and gave me more understanding and patience.”
“The Power Source Parenting group really helped me out with discipline. It taught me a lot about how to deal with temper tantrums and so much more. It’s like I see parenting in another way now. I don’t want my baby going through what I went through. I want to give him all the love I got.”
“Houses of Healing taught me how to cope with things. I’ve gained peace from it, this peace that is unbelievable. Before, if I needed money I would go into a supermarket and rob it. And today I have a business, I enjoy the business, it’s just totally different.”
“EQ2 has helped me to look deeper into the underlying causes of behavior and to be more effective in my role when extreme behaviors and thoughts arise. “
“Thanks to Power Source I have a better time controlling my anger. I was mad at everything and everyone. I did not know why until I read this book and found my inner self. Thank you for writing this book.”
“For 16 years nothing else had deeply reached me. After sincerely working with Houses of Healing, the desire to reach out from my Core Self to improve the world I see around me has transformed the way I deal with some of the most oppressive situations.”
