Summary
The purpose of the program to be shared in this presentation is to provide a comprehensive life skills development program for foster youth and youth being raised by relatives to increase self-sufficiency by age 18. The program also employs a parenting program for foster parents and relatives who are raising children. Long term goals of this program include demonstrated application of critical life skills by target youth, demonstrated application of critical parenting skills by foster parents/guardians; and institutionalization of the program as a priority approach among those working with foster youth across the country. The program model utilized is the YMCA's Safe Place Program Model, which employs a multidisciplinary Positive Youth Development and Trauma-Informed approach that views youth in the context of the family and community and develops programming based on local needs and grounded in research. Primary curricula used in the program will be shared with participants so they can learn more about getting training for their state teams. The primary audience reached through this program is foster youth and youth living in relatives home who are age 12-17 before they "age of out of the system," potentially becoming homeless or unstably housed once they turn 18 years old. Parenting programs lasting 10 weeks each are also offered 3 times per year to engage foster parents and relatives raising children and to offer needed continuing education opportunities. Reunion and added dosage programming is then offered in the summer for graduates of the program in the form of family retreats/camps. The core groups of youth are the primary audience for evaluation purposes. The secondary audience of their families will then be reached through the 10-week sessions.
Participants will learn how to begin these programs in their home communities and learn about curricula and resources used. They will also learn strategies for getting parenting programs recognized or certified for continuing education credits for their home state, learn how to begin a youth life skills program for foster youth, and receive resource guides for running 3-day family retreats and for community web of support programs for youth.