Project Alpha

You may contact the local chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha or the March of Dimes to learn about programs in your area. When contacting the local Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, ask for either the Chapter President, or the Project Alpha Coordinator. Links to national and chapter offices of Alpha Phi Alpha and the March of Dimes are provided at the bottom of this page.

Project Alpha program materials are designed to be used with young men between ages 12 and 15 years old who are enrolled in middle school, high school, or alternative program. The program attempts to reach younger adolescents before they have established risk-taking behavior that may be difficult to reverse.

When working with schools, it is imperative that you make contact with the principal to get his/her support for the program. Supportive school counselors, teachers, and parent groups can help to promote the program in local schools. Another way to generate support is to partner with a trusted youth-serving agency in your community. Regardless of where your program is implemented, it is essential that you obtain parental permission for each participant by using the parent consent form provided in the Project Alpha Implementation Guide.

A comprehensive recruitment plan is essential for a successful Project Alpha program. The plan should include good publicity about the program in the community where participants will be recruited, and should go beyond churches and schools. Contacts at recreation centers, youth job-oriented programs, athletic leagues, social service agencies, and programs serving youth are all good sources for youth participants.

Financial support is available from many sources. Lack of money should never be an obstacle for implementing Project Alpha.Check with local agencies, organizations and businesses for financial support. Ask your local March of Dimes how to apply for funding through its community grants program. Your local Support Center or United Way also may be able to direct you to local foundations that fund projects for youth in the area of pregnancy prevention, violence prevention, fatherhood, and economic empowerment.When you contact potential funders, be specific about how much money is needed, and for what. Show which budget items you have already secured as “in-kind” donations. In-kind donations should meet most, if not all, of your program expense needs. Project Alpha planning committee members, their employers, and other local businesses should be able to secure program facilities, food, transportation, give-away items, and some materials and equipment needed for the program for little or no cost.

Local youth-serving agencies and organizations are excellent resources for locating speakers and facilitators for your Project Alpha program. Expert speakers present factual information on the topic areas of the curriculum. When recruiting expert speakers, make sure they are experienced in the topic area, dynamic, comfortable discussing the issues with young men. Facilitators moderate the conference sessions and lead group discussions. Facilitators need not be expert in any particular topic, but must have a natural ability to create an open, positive atmosphere, encourage participation, and handle a range of questions and responses that may be embarrassing or sensitive. Since Project Alpha programs are all-male settings, it is important that speakers and facilitators are male rather than female. This will keep participants from becoming uncomfortable when discussing sensitive topic areas.

The Project Alpha Planning Committee is responsible for all tasks involved in preparing for and delivering a successful program. These tasks include: developing a sound plan; publicizing the event; recruiting participants; securing reliable and motivational speakers and facilitators; securing an appropriate location; including youths on the agenda; providing transportation if needed; providing refreshments or meals as appropriate; working on-site at the event; and helping with follow-up activities with participants. In addition to logistical tasks, the Planning Committee can help ensure quality by including potential program participants in the planning phase of the program, and setting high standards for all speakers and facilitators who will interact with the young men. Lastly, the committee should be sure to evaluate their program using evaluation forms provided in the Project Alpha materials, and reviewing these in a follow-up evaluation meeting after the conclusion of the program.

While you may not be able to follow your participants’ progress for long periods of time after the program, there are several things you can do to evaluate your program’s success. At a minimum, PLEASE complete and submit the Project Alpha Conference Report Form. This is critical for monitoring Project Alpha activity at a national level. Second, use the Evaluation Form provided in the Project Alpha materials to assess whether your participants learned anything new, and what they found most useful and least useful. This information will help guide your planning for any subsequent programs you conduct. Plan at least one method for following up with your participants after the completion of the Project Alpha program. You can do this by coordinating with your co-sponsoring agencies or by contacting or reconvening the youths. When following up, try to assess how much knowledge they retained, how their behavior (or intended behavior) was influenced by the program.