Our Approach

We use the Invitation to Change (ITC) framework to transform how families, caregivers, and professionals respond to substance use and mental-health challenges.

The Invitation to Change Model

Grounded in Science, Guided by Kindness

Your Ally Foundation (YAF) implements the Invitation to Change (ITC) model—an evidence-based approach created by the Center for Motivation and Change Foundation for Change (CMC: FFC).

  • Since 2021, YAF has partnered with CMC to train hundreds of caregivers and professionals across Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and the African Diaspora.

Four Core Pillars

Understanding

Learn why loved ones struggle and replace judgment with empathy. We help caregivers see behavior as purposeful rather than defiant.

Action

Gain tools like positive reinforcement, respectful boundaries, and motivational communication to inspire change without shame.

Awareness

Develop self-compassion and resilience. Caregivers build mindfulness and emotional awareness to sustain strength through the recovery journey.

Practice

Change requires repetition and reflection. We encourage consistent practice to turn skills into lasting habits.

Integrated Evidence-Based Methods

The ITC framework blends three proven therapeutic approaches:

  • Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) – Engaging families to encourage positive behavior change.

  • Motivational Interviewing (MI) – Fostering empathy-driven dialogue and readiness for change.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Building self-awareness and psychological flexibility.

Together, they transform punitive responses into collaborative, hope-based care.

Why It Works

✔ Replaces stigma with empathy
✔ Focuses on skills rather than blame
✔ Adapts to cultural contexts in Africa and the Diaspora
✔ Builds long-term resilience in families and communities

Through ITC, caregivers don’t just learn methods—they experience personal growth that ripples across their families and communities.

Our Partnership with CMC: Foundation for Change

Since 2021 YAF and CMC have delivered six training cohorts, reaching 256 participants and certifying 84 trainers in Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and the USA.
This collaboration ensures that ITC principles are scientifically grounded yet culturally relevant for African and diaspora communities.

Commitment to Change

We believe every caregiver deserves support, every community deserves hope, and every story can be rewritten through understanding.

Our promise:

  • Champion kindness and science in equal measure.

  • Reduce stigma through education and community dialogue.

  • Empower local champions to lead change from within.