Dr. M. Jeanne Dolphus Cotton and Associates, Inc., (MJDCA) a non-profit professional counseling, personal development and consulting firm incorporated by the state of Illinois. Created to form positive family support units and to develop personal responsibility. The programs provide profound, positive approaches in aiding individuals to become emotionally mature to deal with the daily pressures of life.

MJDCA’s major components are: educational, which addresses the special needs of at-risk students and their parents; psychological, which addresses the challenges with the individual and the family that impede positive development; and developmental, which fosters family growth and aids individuals and families in enhancing self-esteem, motivating them to become productive citizens.

Since 1988, MJDCA has worked in partnership with colleges; school districts, city and county governments, public housing, authority and social security agencies deal with youth and family development.

CONCEPTS:

1. Individuals must be in tune with themselves before they can give of themselves, whether it be to their families, careers, communities, or universe.
    
2. Once individuals know who they really are, how they are actively a part of everything they do, and realize that what they do is really an expression of themselves, then they will produce from a realm of self-respect, love, and pride in achieving “EXCELLENCE”.
    
3. Your attitude shapes your world. How you think, feel, and the way you’re prepared to act/react is your attitude. Mental attitudes are more important than mental capacity. Attitudes are the result of experiences. Experiences are the result of your thought processes. To change your attitudes, you must change your experiences. To change your experiences, you must change your thoughts. Attitudes control your output, in-take, energy, and your level of creativity: attitudes determine your ability to understand, interact, and communicate with others. Attitudes are synonymous with values and ideas, in that all emanate from experiences, and all are changed through new or different experiences.

PHILOSOPHY:

1. If individuals are aided in changing their inside (thinking, beliefs), they will change their outside (environment). Changes in thinking, beliefs, and attitudes, most certainly, bring about changes in behavior.
    
2. Learning is a family affair. Our definition of family encompasses some non-traditional configurations. We seek to support those who assume responsibility for nurturing intellectual, social, and personal growth of youth and adults.
    
3. The development of responsible citizens is a task requiring commitment from family and community.

GOALS:

1. Promote a sense of self-worth.
    
2. Promote a sense of commitment to “Being the Best and Giving Your Best” as opposed to “Just Getting By.”
    
3. Increase and promote honesty, loyalty, and pride in one’s self.
    
4. Create positive experiences.
    
5. Develop interpersonal and interpersonal skills.
    
6. Develop coping skills so that individuals can deal with peer pressure, home responsibilities, and day-to-day interactions.