Youth & Young Adult Academy

Nurturing young minds.

Youth and Young Adult Academy provides essential support to the children of individuals in StepUp programs. Our programs focus on building key life skills like financial literacy, social-emotional learning, and professionalism while also offering parents the support they need.

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Together, we build brighter futures for every child and teen.

Baby Steps

Baby Steps focuses on age-appropriate cognitive and skills development for ages 0-2.

Little Steps

Little Steps prepares families and children ages 3-5 for formal education opportunities.

Middle Ground

Middle Ground centers on identity development, belonging, and achievement for ages 5-10.

Teen Talk

Teen Talk fosters confidence, communication, and exposure to new experiences for teens ages 11-15.

Real World

Real World helps young adults ages 16-21 transition into adulthood through financial literacy, post-secondary education guidance, social-emotional learning, and professional development.

Success Stories

Success Stories
Building Confidence and Community: Marcus P.
Building Confidence and Community: Marcus P.

When Marcus P. was a rising junior in high school, he was invited to check out StepUp’s Real World Program by his friend. Eager to acquire business skills and intrigued by the positive things he had heard about the teen program, Marcus decided to give Real World a try.

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Family Ties: Makenzie H.
Family Ties: Makenzie H.

Five-year-old Makenzie H. is very confident in the reasons why she loves StepUp Ministry’s Children’s Program. “I like playing with toys, playing with my friends, and playing outside. I like to have fun and love to learn about EVERYTHING! It is super fun!! We get to have dinner, learn about all types of things, meet new people, and make new friends!”

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Children’s Program to Real World Program: Jordan G.
Children’s Program to Real World Program: Jordan G.

As a child, Jordan was enrolled in StepUp Ministry’s Children’s Program when his mother became part of our Life Skills Program…

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Finding Fun: Amonie H.
Finding Fun: Amonie H.

Amonie H. is 8 years old and attends StepUp with her mom and three siblings. When asked about life before StepUp, she shares this: “It was fun, but it has definitely been more fun now.”

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Real World Impact: Brianna D.
Real World Impact: Brianna D.

Brianna D. first experienced StepUp Ministry through the Children’s Program. At that time, her mom was a StepUp participant, so Brianna would engage with other children whose parents were also in life skills classes. Years later, she is still connected to StepUp…

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