South Memphis Alliance (SMA) opened its doors in 2000 to help organize neighborhood associations in the urban communities of South Memphis. Over time, services expanded to serve youth in foster care and families in need. SMA works to improve the health, knowledge, and stability of young people, families and communities, through social services, mentoring and advocacy. Despite SMA’s growth, we hold fast to our core belief that civic engagement is the bedrock of strong communities, and that strong communities promote stable families.
Our objective it to provide culturally specific services to families in crisis. We offer support and/or services in the following areas:
- HIV/AIDS testing/counseling
- Education
- Employment
- Goal setting
- Personal/community engagement, including for youth – – an opportunity to serve on a leadership board, called Y4Y or Youth for Youth
- Financial education (including individual development accounts, or matched savings)
- Comprehensive Sex Education
To refer Dream Seekers to SMA, please email Program Manager Tiffany N. Turnage at turnage@smaweb.org or call 901.774.9582 or fax the form to 901.774.9586.
Through the SMA Dream Seekers Program and various partnerships, SMA provides what is needed for young people, families and communities to improve the health, knowledge and stability through social services, advocacy and mentoring.
SMA partners with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and follows a nationally renowned model, called the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, a platform specially designed for the needs of youth from foster care. SMA is also a DCS Community Collaborative Partner, providing support to young people and families in need, recruiting foster families and training community representatives (those who attend DCS meetings to represent a voice for the client).
SMA recognizes the need to meet families where they already are, and through the SMA Laundromat and Resource Center (LRC), families may receive prevention services while utilizing the facilities, and this endeavor also serves as a steady stream of funding for SMA.