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Your Solutions LLC Foster Care Youth Project: Youth in Transition The road to Adult-hood, The road to success Slide 2 Introduction; Your Solutions, Foster Care Youth Project The following over view illustrates a program precisely designed to engage youth with their possibility through many levels of interactions. Build and rebuild self-confidence and self-esteem through individualize training custom built for them. With a goal of stabilization once they leave the program. Slide 3 Partners of the Foster Care Youth Project International Detroit Black Expo, (26,000 small businesses) Faith communities Coalition for Foster Care (100 churches) Wayne States University Michigan State University (save our children coalition) Legacy Associates Foundation Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalist, Center for Alternative Energy Education Oakland University, National Alterative Fuels, Pierson-Gibbs Homes, Inc. Build Your Own Home Paul Robeson Forrest Park Service Organization non-Profit CDC, Inspiring Todays Youth SVC a non-profit 501c3, Horizon used car dealership KISS (Kids Investing in Simple Solutions The development of relationships with these organizations allows our youth exposure to professional, who can share the benefits of education and are supportive of assisting young people in achieving the same benefits. Slide 4 Objectives: The reunification of family members in their own home Educational tools to maintain independent living for their family Training for long-term employment to meet their financial needs Entrepreneur Opportunities How will those objectives be met, by; Community Resources: Churches, Schools, State agencies, Non-Profit Organizations, and Small Businesses, Local Universities, Slide 5 THE GOAL Create a gated community of twenty-three ( 2 3) manufactured three- (3) bedroom single-family homes to accommodate ninety-two (92) foster care youth and twenty-three (23) live-in Supervisors four youth to a house (Supervisor begin consider are homeless adults whom originated from foster care system all must attend counseling and assessment services provide through Wayne States Counseling and Testing Center before any interaction with youth) The Objective: Youth selected for the project will train in the construction and assembly of twenty-three green house energy-efficient technology houses as the first part of vocational training Twenty youth trained on five houses at a time until all youth and houses are all completed all house are separate facilities with monitoring and educational equipment installed for both training and the safety of youth and surrounding community. Slide 6 Preparing Young Families to meet the Challenges of Tomorrow 21 st century educational technology designed to strengthen weakness in reading, math, and the sciences Educational Project will include a credit recovery program that will allow participants to double up on classes to graduate on time. This technology will enable the flexibility to always offer the training programs with the best job opportunities Kids Investing in Simple Solution (KISS) a financial Literacy program covering many money management areas from checking and savings accounts, credit cards and credit repair, managing an individual and family budgets Vocational training in areas of energy-efficient housing construction. alternative fuels, turf equipment technicians. These are one year programs that are mostly hands on type training programs with good starting wages and plenty of jobs across the country. Personal Development includes workshops on self- esteem building, time management and journaling workshops to track individual progress, with verbal and non-verbal communication training. Youth In Transition Academic Vocational Development Personal Skills Development Financial Literacy Training Slide 7 Meeting the Needs of young families Combined with expert utilization of state services and state-trained health and education professionals, our partnership will provide for a more holistic approach to the development of the total individual, as we simultaneously provide home care essentials, such as sustained shelter and committed live-in supervision, which are vital to the creation of a prosperous environment Wayne State University College of Education, Counseling & Testing Center, where they will be provided with: Psychological testing Educational and life skills assessment Individual and group counseling Family counseling Career and vocational counseling Facilitation of behavior change Skills to improve their ability to establish and maintain relationships Skills to enhancing the youths ability to cope with everyday life experiences (however painful). Skills to promote the decision-making process Skills to facilitating youth potential and development Slide 8 Cost Analysis African American youths were overrepresented at many stages in the juvenile justice system. They were: 88 percent more likely than whites to be arrested; 50 percent more likely to be referred to juvenile court; 97 percent less likely to be placed in a diversion program; 2.6 times more likely to be placed in secure detention; 65 percent more likely to have a petition filed by the prosecuting attorney; 38 percent more likely to be found guilty of a delinquent offense in the Family Division of Circuit Court; 54 percent less likely to receive probation; and 4.2 times more likely to be incarcerated in a secure correctional facility. Slide 9 Our Strengths, Community Support Strong system designed to better the lives of foster care children left to live on their own in society This is a program created to help keep these young people safe, off the streets and learn the quality of life, family and education Community support has to become on going process Learn construction by Assisting in the Construction of the house They will live and Train in Each house equip with: 21st century Educational Technology equipment Personal Development And Life skill development 24/7 live in Supervisors Community Support Groups have better access to youth Family reunited Slide 10 The Goal This program is designed to help reunite foster families and teach them how to properly function as contributing individuals in society. How to achieve the goal: Individualize training in multiple areas including financial literacy and life skill development Provide them with exposure to the benefits of their development, by the interaction of positive role models, and mentors on going Interaction with community support groups for guidance in multiple areas Slide 11 Barriers to a successful transition to adulthood were identified in the areas of permanency, education, housing, employment and physical and mental health According to the Michigan Supreme Court, un-adopted children ages 16-21 desperately need consistent and positive adult role models. Many studies show that these foster children are far more likely than other children to experiment with illegal drugs, engage in sexual activity, or commit juvenile crimes within two years of leaving foster care. Recent studies have shown that youth who have aged out of the foster care experience disproportionate rates of unemployment, homelessness, mental illness and lack of health insurance Only 50% of teenagers who age out of the foster care system have a high school diploma or GED; 25% are homeless; 1 in 4 males and 1 in 10 females spend time in prison. (Issues for Michigans Children by Michigans Children, Lansing MI) Our society is paying a high cost for the control, containment, and support of adults who, if they were helped while in the home and community could have been productive, contributing citizens To find out how you can assist these young people call Sinclair Franklin at (313) 743-1897 or Email sinclair. franklin@yahoo.com