First Place for Youth

This past weekend, our Los Angeles County team hosted a forklift certification event at A Community of Friends (ACOF) with 9 amazing youth participants. We are thrilled to announce that 8 of them earned their certification! A huge thank you to all the staff who supported and encouraged these young people to complete the full certification. This is a significant step towards gaining valuable job skills and opportunities! #FirstPlaceForYouth #ACOF #YouthEmpowerment #JobReady

Our Alameda/San Francisco youth had a great time kicking off our first official Summer Bridge event at Lake Chabot Regional Park! Armed with facts and tidbits about the wonders of the majestic Redwood tree, youth were encouraged to embrace nature by using sustainably sourced natural materials from the area for use in their art projects, and by offering thoughtful and meaningful insights and inquiries of nature during the hike. Through fellowship and support, participants networked and collaborated, created, built, and shared experiences with each other in a unique outdoor setting! 🌱 Read more about the event on our blog: https://lnkd.in/g6VZa2XW Stay tuned for more exciting summer events! #fosteryouth #fostercare #summerhikes #summertime #oakland

When children age out of the foster care system, they are often left on their own with no adult guidance, financial backstop, or social support of any kind. Through their “My First Place” model, First Place for Youth, a DRK Foundation portfolio organization, combines robust housing support with case management, education, and employment counseling to empower youth with the skills needed for a successful transition into self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood. And the data is promising: After exiting the program in 2023, 92% of My First Place participants achieved stable housing, 86% obtained employment, and 85% progressed in education. First Place for Youth is beginning to scale their successful model throughout the country and recently launched in New Jersey with the goal of expanding the program statewide. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gBXj8TMJ

Read this wonderful Op-Ed on First Place for Youth's expansion to New Jersey! Paula Turso wrote, "This is why New Jersey, as well as advocates for children everywhere, should be proud of My First Place, a new program that is filling a gap in the traditional foster care system by supporting young adults with challenging childhoods as they transition out of foster care, helping them grow into stable, thriving adults." First Place for Youth was recently launched in New Jersey with the help of Department of Children and Families and is being implemented in Union County by Volunteers of America–Greater New York, and in Middlesex and Somerset counties by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen.

As we wrap up our Graduation Season Spotlights, we're thrilled to celebrate Aaron, an inspiring young man who has graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in African American Studies! 🎉 Aaron has been with our program since 2021, serving as a youth ambassador, speaking at our 25th anniversary, and interning at our Oakland HQ. His dedication to his education and community is truly remarkable. Aaron says, "I want to continue to work in the non-profit industry and I’m interested in starting my own non-profit someday... I want to change the stereotypes associated with young, Black men." Thank you for joining us in celebrating the incredible achievements of our youth. There were many more young people with equally inspiring accomplishments, and we are so proud of every one of them! If you haven't already, please consider making a donation to help us continue providing impactful community-building events and celebrating these important milestones: bit.ly/fpfygrad 🌟🎉 #GraduationSeason #ProudMoment #FosterYouthSuccess #CommunitySupport

It was an honor to bring the keynote address at the Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) graduation this month in San Francisco. Like these students, I graduated while in foster care and attended the same ILSP and emancipated from the same county. Standing before them 15 years to the date of my own high school graduation was truly a full circle moment. I shared key steps that helped me achieve self-sufficiency: 1. Get a Mentor: Mentors guide and support you, helping navigate challenges and build confidence. 2. Build a Strong Network: Relationships are invaluable. Surround yourself with positive influences and build meaningful connections. 3. Protect Your Peace: Prioritize mental health. Set boundaries, seek community, and practice self-care. …And a few more nuggets. ☺️ First Place for Youth is doing incredible work with this population of young adults. Thank you for the invitation.

We are proud to be part of the ongoing efforts to support foster youth in New Jersey, as highlighted in this recent article written by Paula Turso, Assistant Vice President for Northern New Jersey at Volunteers of America-Greater New York. At First Place for Youth, we are dedicated to helping young people transition from the foster care system into stable, thriving adulthoods. As Paula writes, New Jersey has made significant strides, but there is still work to be done. Through our My First Place program, we provide older foster youth with educational support, financial literacy tutoring, and fully subsidized housing. This program, launched in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF METUCHEN, and VOA-GNY, is a crucial step towards ensuring every young person has the opportunity to succeed. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g7CQjtaj #FirstPlaceForYouth #FosterYouth #NewJersey #YouthSupport #MyFirstPlace

🎓✨ Graduation Season Spotlight! ✨🎓 Meet Fatima, a hardworking and dedicated student from Balboa High School! Fatima's excellent work ethic and positive attitude have been truly inspiring. She consistently worked with Education Advocate, Ron Chand, at our San Francisco ILSP office, bringing her energy and enthusiasm to the center. Fatima will be attending San Jose State University to pursue a degree in psychology. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and can't wait to see what the future holds for her. 🌟🎉 Join us in celebrating Fatima and all the amazing foster youth who are reaching for the stars this graduation season! 🔗 Visit bit.ly/fpfygrad to make a gift towards our graduation celebrations and community-building events.  #GraduationSeason #ProudMoment #FosterYouthSuccess #CommunitySupport 

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our yoga workshop! 🧘♀️ We had an incredible session led by Precious Dreams Foundation, where youth were gifted with their own yoga mats and comfort bags! For many of the young people, it was their first time doing yoga, and their positive reactions were amazing to hear. 💙 Special thanks to our Compton site for hosting and leading the event, and a shoutout to Mathew for the delicious homemade ginger and turmeric shots! Fantastic job, everyone!✨ #YogaWorkshop #CommunityEvent #FosterYouth #PreciousDreamsFoundation #YouthEmpowerment

🎓✨ Graduation Season Spotlight! ✨🎓 We are excited to celebrate Angel, a dedicated and enthusiastic student who has shown incredible determination at City Arts & Leadership Academy. Angel continually worked hard to raise her grades, ensuring her acceptance into her school of choice, California State University, Monterey Bay, where she will pursue a degree in Marine Biology. Angel's infectious enthusiasm and positive influence uplifted everyone around her. Her hard work and perseverance have paid off, and we couldn't be prouder of her achievements! 🌟🎉 Join us in congratulating Angel and all the incredible foster youth who are achieving their dreams this graduation season! 🔗 Visit bit.ly/fpfygrad to make a gift today. #GraduationSeason #ProudMoment #FosterYouthSuccess #CommunitySupport