Mission

Jovenes de Puerto Rico en Riesgo, Inc. (PRYR) is a private non-profit organization working in the youth behavioral health field in Puerto Rico since 1996. Its main purpose is to prevent youth violence and retain at risk youth in school. It designed and developed a program based on state of the art scientific data, tailored to Puerto Rican culture and socioeconomic characteristics, and founded in the model of Risk and Protective Factors. PRYR projects, were created in response to school dropout rates of students at their educational transition phases, unacceptably high in low income communities. Its unique and innovative mentorship program, with evidence-based design and implementation practices, serves high-risk youth 11 to 17 years of age. One-to-one mentoring is an essential element of the model, being the first in Puerto Rico to utilize this strategy for high risk students. It has a 95%+ sustained effectiveness rate in preventing school dropout and violent/delinquent behavior since 2000. The organization's mission is: to develop and implement preventive programs for youth at risk promoting their full potential for success and leadership, through the use of adult and peer mentors, personal and social development workshops for them, their families and teachers, academic support, and safe haven centers, established in their school premises, and meaningful work and service experiences.