The Teens Who Care (TWC) program began as an initiative of a group of school social workers to provide more positive opportunties for middle school aged youth. There are currently 16 schools involved in the TWC program, which represents more than half of all of the middle schools, including the K-8 schools, in the city. Participation is voluntary for the students and the staff facilitators at the school. The facilitators of the school groups are usually social workers, however guidance counselors and school psychologists are now also filling that role in some schools. Throughout the year, the school TWC group works on whatever service projects that they have identified. Individual teen projects include tutoring elementary aged students, assisting in attendance programs, running an after school teen center, conducting presentations on AIDS, drug and pregnancy prevention, and many others.