We provide life-skills training and support for young mothers who are in or have aged-out of the child welfare system. The Mary Elizabeth House offers the kind of nurturing environment young mothers need to become self-directed adults with skills in home management, employment, educational attainment and supportive parenting.
The transition to adulthood can be difficult to navigate, especially for youth in their late teens or early 20s who have spent most of their lives in state care. The Home recognizes the unique issues that our youth “aging out” of the system face – including homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, early pregnancy and substance abuse—and offers resources and support designed to…
The Bike Union is dedicated to providing workforce and personal development to youth aging out of foster care and to strengthening our community as a whole. Let’s achieve positive social change together, one coffee cup and bike at a time. All of our revenue from bicycle sales and service is dedicated to supporting our mentorship and employment programming.
The Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program was implemented in 1986 to ensure that older youth in substitute care are prepared for their inevitable departure from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ care and support. At any given time, there are about 3,500 youth 16 years of age and older in substitute care. PAL program staff strive to…
Streets University is for young people that already exhibit a level of hustle, motivation and people or tech skills unlike their peers. What our instruction, activities, assignments and projects do is give those willing to learn; the freedom to work when they please; and not just earn minimum wage, but an income directly related to the amount of work they are willing to put in.
StopGap, Inc. provides a Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) available to all kids in the foster care system in Douglas County. Throughout the eight-week program the curriculum covers practical life-skills and addresses challenges unique to children in the foster care system.
Transitional Living program guides youth 17 1/2 to 21 toward independence. Youth attend school or seek employment as they work toward independence and self-sufficiency. Our Life Skills Coaches teach and mentor youth in maintaining a budget, preparing meals and other general skills they need to live on their own. Life skills coaches are available to youth 24 hours a day….
Wonder is a mentoring program matching children living in foster care, one-to-one, with caring, consistent adults. The mentors are trained to listen, support, and guide each child through fun, age-appropriate experiences in music, the arts, sports, volunteer service, dining out, and nature. The children enrolled in the program are called “Explorers” and the adults who volunteer and serve as mentors…
The Center has launched the Successful Transitions© initiative in an effort to help youth as they transition into adulthood. This unique service is not provided anywhere else in the region and primarily works with youth – starting at 15 years old – who are struggling with behavioral health challenges, learning differences, developmental disabilities, and/or a history of trauma.
It is with a heavy heart that the SAFE Board of Directors has had to make the decision to postpone our SAFE HOUSE initiative due to COVID 19. It became evident after SAFE’s first placements that the internet capabilities at the SAFE HOUSE were not sufficient to support full-time online schooling for four teens as well as the foster mother…