The Life 101 Youth Empowerment Program provides a 24-hour residential program for court-involved adolescent males ages 13 to 21 to prepare them for independent living. The program offers a range of services including life skills, culinary classes, community service, counseling, and more. The goal is to equip residents with the skills needed to successfully reintegrate into their communities as productive members of society.

1. Life 101
Youth Empowerment Program
Growing Boys into Men
THE NATIONAL CARE GROUP, INC.

2. Who We Are
The Life 101 Youth Empowerment Program is a youth-centered, community based
residential program that operates twenty-four (24) hours, seven (7) days a week
preparing court involved adolescent males ages 13 to 21 years of age for entry into
main stream society as a viable, productive, self directed young adult.
Our program embraces a positive youth development model and provides a range of
services including but not limited to life and social skills, culinary classes, meal
planning and shopping, community service, public speaking, supervised structured
group excursions and activities, budget management, Art Xpressions, principles of
manhood, character development and yoga/meditation.
Residents expressively participate in all aspects of our program including program
planning and evaluation. We identify each resident’s individual leadership skills and
put them to work.
Contact us:
9466 Georgia Avenue, #89
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 944.2694
Fax: (301) 944.2687
Email: info@thenationalcaregroup.com
Web: www.thenationalcaregroup.com
Our Mission/Vision
Mission
The National Care Group is an organization designed to provide the homeless, youth,
disabled and veterans in need, with comprehensive supported and residential services
that will enable them to go back to their communities as productive members.
Vision
To provide the highest measurable quality of human services and to create a better
everyday life for the people placed in our care. We do this by serving with integrity,
excellence, compassion and respect.
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3. Life 101 offers a wide range of services and programs to equip a young
man with the skills that will help him to successfully re-enter his
community as a productive member.
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Our Programs
Art Xpressions
Art Xpressions provides art classes and art therapy
sessions for residents. This program is designed to build
self-esteem, develop creative problem solving skills, fine
motor skills, independence and teamwork development
as well as self-discovery, behavior and emotional
management, and other skills that will last a lifetime
through art expression.
Therapy/Counseling
Hopelessness or sadness may be easily accepted as
depression but many boys are taught early on not to show
their feelings. Risky behavior, alcohol, drugs, gambling,
and violent behaviors are a few common behaviors that
may not be recognized as depression. Individual, group,
and family counseling/therapy are offered to each resident
in an effort to change negative behaviors.
Abscondence/Recidivism Prevention
through Athletics
Athletics has long been proven to help youth who are
struggling in school or facing problems at home feel
more normal and connected to their peers. Residents are
engage in sports and encouraged to join organized sports
as an outlet to reduce stress, build self-esteem and
eliminate risky behavior.
Educational Support
Most of our youth come to us with many needs. We are
here to supplement those needs. In the area of education
LIFE 101 operates in a capacity to support the school and
family and to motivate the student. We teach strategies and
skills that will help them in the classroom and in life.
Yoga/Meditation Class
Each week residents participate in a one-hour yoga class.
The goal is simply to expose the group to the benefits of
yoga. A typical class includes relaxation, breathing
exercises, meditation, stretching and strengthening—and
more relaxation. Residents are not only taught yoga
moves, but the importance of breathing, eating the right
foods and thinking right thoughts.

4. Our Programs continued
We are making an investment in the growth of our youth, giving them an
amazing experience and helping them graduate to real life.
Music and Technology
Music is a powerful art form that draws upon cultural legacy
and historical social movements. Each week our youth unleash
their creative talents in a structured, supervised environment
and are encouraged to use their music for personal and
community transformation. Youth go into the recording studio
to learn creative writing, recording techniques, beat making,
mixing, sound engineering and mastering through digital music production software.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Early use of drugs increases a person's chances of more serious
drug abuse and addiction. So preventing early use of drugs or
alcohol may reduce the risk of progressing to later abuse and
addiction. Our goal is to prevent and delay use of alcohol and
other drugs, as well as to minimize the potential future harm
from use. Through the use of interactive learning methods, we
are able to educate youth to increase their awareness of the physical, emotional and
intellectual dangers of drug and alcohol use.
The Parent Empowerment Program
The Parent Empowerment Program is designed to work with
parents to improve their relationship with their child while in
care. We do this by supporting them with parenting skills and
confidence, providing new ways to communicate with their
child, teaching new discipline techniques and working with
the child to ensure that they behave appropriately and attend
school regularly. Parent connections take place primarily over the telephone with the
purpose of providing emotional, practical and informational support.
Culinary Arts
Our young men participate weekly in a formal cooking class,
preparing the dinner meal for the entire group and staff.
They also have at least one lesson during the week that results
in the preparation of breakfast and at least one evening meal
for that week. Participation in baking classes and preparation
of snack items is also required.
Recreation
Recreation is about activities and experiences that produce
feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction. They give all of us
opportunities to express creativity, achieve and master new
skills, and encourage a healthy lifestyle through participation in
positive recreational experiences. We offer a wide variety of
recreational activities that promote the physical, creative and
social development of our youth.
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5. The Graduate Program
Often, when a youth has been released from placement, he is distanced from the
support system that he has come to trust and rely on. The bi-product of such an
abrupt separation is a young man in turmoil. Transition is difficult with help, but it
can be overwhelming alone. Our ultimate mission is to “help youth learn to help
themselves”, and to stop recidivism. The post discharge services offered by Life 101 is
called The Graduate Program.
The Graduate Program provides a bridge for the
youth between placement and reintegration. It
affords him a level of comfort and security as he
attempts to exercise the skills and knowledge he
has gained from the program, while exploring and
testing new situations. The Graduate Program
also provides support and resources to the families
of youth being discharged, helping them adjust to
his return. This level of involvement will be
available to the young man for three (3) months,
once he has been discharged.
Note: Participation in The Graduate Program is not
mandatory, but is highly recommended.
Overview of Our Services
Group homes with a safe, home-like environment and 24-hour supervision
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❖ Individual, group and
family counseling
❖ Mental health assessments
❖ Educational, Vocational,
GED support
❖ Recreation, activities and
fitness training
❖ Basic life skills
❖ Job readiness and placement training
❖ Youth advocacy in school and court
❖ Mentoring
❖ Behavior modification
❖ Financial management skills
❖ Fundamentals of business
❖ Independent living skills
❖ Morals and values
❖ Leadership skills
❖ Character development

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Our Leadership
Michael A. Ashley, M.Ed, Chief Executive Officer
As Chief Executive Officer, Michael oversees all aspects of the
organization. A recipient of an athletic scholarship from
Texas A M University, Michael received a Bachelor of
Science degree in Technology Education with a minor in
Business Administration. Upon graduating, Michael continued
to pursue his dream of becoming a professional athlete by
trying out with various professional teams.
During this time, Michael gained valuable experiences by working with adjudicated
youth in a residential facility in Miami, FL, his hometown. He also taught special needs
children in the Dade County Public School System. Michael’s opportunity to play
professional football came to fruition when he committed to play with the World
Football League in London. After playing for more than one year, Michael’s football
career ended as a result of a knee injury.
Michael has since dedicated his life to serving those in need. He received a Master’s
Degree in Specific Learning Disabilities from Nova Southeastern University and hopes to
raise standards in the social services industry by being a man of integrity above all things
and by standing in the gap for young men and women that are at-risk.
Holly Ashley, Chief Operating Officer
Holly completed her studies at Howard University in
Washington, DC where she majored in Public Relations with a
minor in business. She enjoyed an extensive sales and marketing
career working as a Sales Representative and Manager for Fortune
500 companies such as R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Lorillard
Tobacco Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., and Revlon
prior to entering the human services industry.
As Chief Operating Officer, Holly brings a wealth of business experience. With more
than two decades of operational and management experience, Holly has developed a
sharp eye for what it takes to be successful. She oversees strategic operations for the
company and has been a leader in the creation and implementation of innovative
programs and methodology to promote them. Holly is currently pursuing a degree in
Social Work at Bowie State University.
Stacey Richardson, Program Manager
For more than ten years, Stacey has had the privilege of working
with children, adolescents, and families in the DC metropolitan
area. A native Washingtonian, Stacey takes pride in being a
youth advocate for DC’s most vulnerable population and is
passionate about doing so. She is a team builder who is able to
rally her staff around executable and exciting visions for success.
Having the responsibility of daily group home operations, Stacey
exceeds all expectations and displays a grace under pressure attitude at all times. She is
currently working towards a degree in Psychology at Argosy University.

7. 2nd Street, NW (Ward 1)
Located in historic LeDroit Park, this facility is home to
six young men. Surrounded by the busy Florida and
Rhode Island avenues and Howard University in Northwest,
the neighborhood is a peaceful oasis in the middle of a
bustling city. Pastel-painted row houses hug each other
along the quiet streets where residents can hear birds
chirping and neighborhood dogs barking in the distance.
Our youth quickly become integrated in the community.
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Our Homes
North Capital Street, NW (Ward 5)
This facility is located on a corner lot in the
neighborhood of Bloomingdale, which is in the heart
of Washington, D.C. It is a large, three-story house
that features a spacious recreational area and a
nurturing environment for the residents to enjoy.
Quite a few universities are close to Bloomingdale.
Howard University borders the neighborhood on the
north. Trinity and Catholic Universities is about one
mile northeast. George Washington University and
Gallaudet University both are about three miles
southwest and southeast respectively. The University
of the District of Columbia is less than four miles
northwest. Georgetown University is about four miles
west and American University is about six miles.

8. Commitment to Service
The National Care Group is proud to work in cooperation with DYRS to provide
comprehensive support services to committed youth. We support them in their
mission to improve public safety and give court-involved youth the opportunity to
become more productive citizens by building on the strengths of youth and their families
in the least restrictive, most homelike environment consistent with public safety.
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