Discover Our Mission Discovering Options helps at-risk children avoid drug use and other self-destructive behaviors through mentoring and comprehensive after school programming that encourages family involvement.

Discover Our History Discovering Options was founded in 2003 by Charmaine Smith, the Executive Director.  Discovering Options approach to working with children in poverty is unique in that, the program is structured to meet each family and each child where they are at the moment.  Discovering Options uses the home enrollment visit and individual weekly therapeutic sessions with children to support their goals and strengths.

Discover the Community Connection Many students in the Saint Louis Public School District live with multiple risk factors that are predictors for drug use: poverty, family conflict, a lack of commitment to school, behavior problems, and neighborhoods where drugs are easily accessible. These all make a child more likely to use and abuse drugs and alcohol. Everyone at Discovering Options empowers children to make positive life decisions.

Discover Our Partners The Saint Louis Public Schools, The City of Saint Louis Mental Health Board of Trustees, the State of Missouri, Department of Mental Health, Whole Foods and the First Unitarian Church are just a few of the organizations we partner with to make PREP happen.

Discover Our Mentors Mentors are adult volunteers from all walks of life.  The most important qualification is the ability to commit to a twenty week relationship with your protege.  Our mentoring program has been in effect since 2001.  At this time, we have children who have graduated from High School and are still in contact with their mentors.