Project Sley

In October of 2021 Project Outreach and Prevention (POP) was awarded a grant from OJJDP. Grant funds were distributed to our financial holder and partner, PATH, February 23, 2022. 

From there, hiring had begun and Dr. McGee, the Founder of POP, was catapulted into the next stages of a

bigger vision for his non-profit. 

The grant allowed for 3 staff members, 2 for POP & 1 for PATH working together for a unified vision of decreasing violence in the high crime areas in Northwest Indiana. Our quest to serve all students in Gary, Hammond, East Chicago, and Merrillville became a goal. Dr. McGee named the various projects, ideas, and events under the grant: Project SLEY.

Project SLEY uses grant funds to provide services, listed below, to schools and communities with the highest crime rates in Northwest Indiana. As of May 2024, we are 2 years 6 months into the grant.

An evidence-based program that provides kids with tools such as positive coping skills, social emotional learning and healthy decision making. From the start of the school year, we have served students

attending West Side, Hammond Central, Morton, and East Chicago. 

Currently, we are serving Lake County Juvenile Center, West Side, Hammond Central, and Hammond Morton. In addition, Botvin

online launched October 2023 with students being referred to POP from LCJJC Probation.

These are our small groups comprised of high-risk students that meet bi-weekly with a licensed therapist. Dr. Grady, who has his own practice at Healthy Hearts and Minds, chooses topics relating to conflict resolution, healthy coping skills along with relationship building in order to positively impact a struggling student.

Dr. Grady was able to speak to small groups and give students individual attention as well. For the 2023-2024 school year we served all 70 students in the West Side Leadership Academy’s

night school.

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Find out how Project Outreach Prevention has made a difference in the community and the lives of those we serve. We are committed to creating lasting change.

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