The Program

An intense school-based physical activity and support program promoting optimal physical, emotional and academic well-being in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade children.

The next generation needs our help.

Minds of Steel sponsors programs throughout New York State to measure the clinical results of the benefits of exercise in addressing and preventing mental illness in children. We endeavor to create a model program that can be replicated throughout the nation, stemming the rise of childhood mental illness and obesity.

Reaching children...

while their weight and mental health issues are in the nascent and highly preventable stages, our program mitigates future hardship and opens the door for academic opportunity and achievement.

"The number of children ages 2-19 years who are overweight or obese has tripled in recent years."

-- Center for Health and Health Care in Schools (2007)

School-Based Program Model

We're striving to expand our groundbreaking program statewide this fall to six New York State schools, in the Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn, Binghamton, and Canton.

Our funding gap is $100,000 to undertake these school based programs and assist over 400 children. Your contribution will help implement these programs!

Program expenses include:

  • Social Work Coordinator

    Overall Coordinator to manage and oversee social work graduate students, and to assist with screenings and ensure at-risk children are directed to appropriate counseling services.

  • Basketball School Coaches

    Provide 6 coaches to teach children basketball twice per week over the course of the program in six schools.

  • Karate Instructors

    Provide karate instruction one day per week for a ten week program in six schools, prepare children to receive a yellow belt.

  • Yoga Instruction

    Teach program participants yoga one day per week.

  • Yeshiva University Social Work Graduate Students

    Administer clinical assessments through the Childhood Depression Inventory Screening and the Children's Anxiety Inventory.

  • Nursing Faculty

    Identify children for the program, undertake Body Mass Index screenings, and assist with periodic assessments.

  • School Program Coordinators

    (One for each participating school) Supervises children, tracks attendance, prepares post workout snacks, ensures particpants are behaved.

  • Dance/Aerobic Instruction

    Teach program participants exercise or dance once a week over the course of the program.