About Lionheart

The Lionheart Foundation, established in 1992, is a 501[c][3] nonprofit organization committed to creating high impact, evidence based programming that empowers incarcerated adults, at risk youth, adolescent parents, and direct care staff. Since 1995, Lionheart has donated over 140,000 of our resources to those who otherwise would not have had access.

At the core of everything we do is the belief that all human life has value, inherent worth, dignity, and resiliency. Complex trauma, such as abuse, neglect, interpersonal violence, structural racism/oppression, and challenging family patterns can disrupt the formation of a sense of self and a belief that one’s life has value.

Through teaching social and emotional skills, we help system impacted adults and youth rediscover their intrinsic worth, build the capacity for self regulation, and develop the tools needed to build peaceful and productive lives.

The Lionheart Foundation 's Founder and author of the program signing the Houses of Healing book for participants in our prison rehabilitation program.
Lionheart 's Founder and author of the program signing the Houses of Healing book

Lionheart's Mission-Driven Work

Lionheart develops and scales high-impact, social-emotional learning (SEL) programs designed specifically for our target populations. These include adults in prisons and jails; at-risk youth in residential care, juvenile justice settings, and schools; teen parents in group homes, shelters, and other community programs; and direct care staff serving trauma-impacted youth populations.

Lionheart’s staff provide a broad range of supportive services, resources, and trainings for professionals working with these populations in a prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, or re-entry capacity.

Lionheart collaborates with a network of university researchers and state organizations to develop, evaluate and inform our programs. This list includes New York University, MIT, Dartmouth College, Bridgewater State University, Stonehill College, Suffolk University, The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and others.

Lionheart's Values

Dignity

Respecting the inherent decency and dignity of all humans, our programs help individuals connect to these inalienable qualities.

Justice

Understanding the impacts of systemic racism and oppression, we support the emotional health of people who have been marginalized so that they can unmask their potential and live productive lives.

Innovation

Embracing new approaches and technologies while honoring practices proven to work, we strive to create transformative resources that stand the test of time.

Equity

Striving toward equitable access to our programs and supports so that agencies and individuals who would like to receive programming are able.

Empowerment

Supporting individuals to heal and thrive through social and emotional skills acquisition, increased self-awareness, and greater personal knowledge.