As foster youth age, their likelihood of being adopted decreases. Annually, several hundred of Greater Houston’s foster youth “age out” and must fend for themselves. DePelchin has launched two residential programs to help older foster youth and pregnant and parenting teens prepare for adulthood. Based on our successful transitional program for former foster youth (18-22), the new programs will help youth complete their educations, gain work experience, and prepare for independence.
On December 1, 2023, CenterPoint Energy Foundation provided a grant of $30,000 to support the following 3 DePelchin programs:
- Supervised Independent Living (SIL) (serves former foster youth ages 18-22).
- Transitional Living for Foster Youth (serves youth ages 14-18)
- Residential Services for Pregnant and Parenting Teens (serves expectant and young mothers in foster care and their children)
For the existing SIL program, The CenterPoint Energy Foundation grant funded education support – completion of a high school diploma; assistance with navigating vocational training and certification and/or college, vocational assessments, assistance with job readiness, including coaching and training in soft skills, help with purchasing work uniforms and shoes, transportation to and from job sites, and online training programs. The teens also received life skills training: budgeting and banking, nutrition and meal preparation, credit management, personal health and hygiene, driver’s education, and related topics.
For the youth participating in the two new programs, located on the Today’s Harbor campus, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation grant provided on-site schooling as well as public education in partnership with LaPorte High School, vocational assessments, assessments with job readiness, including coaching and training in soft skills, help with purchasing work uniforms and shoes, transportation to and from job sites via Uber Teen, and online training programs, on-site childcare to assist teen mothers in completing their educations and engaging in employment. The funds were used to help program participants complete their educations, and when possible, earn early college credits towards associate’s degrees and/or certification in career fields of their choice, or completion of a college degree. They helped the youth gain work experience and vocational training so that they will successfully transition to adulthood and earn living wages. For the young adults (former foster youth), funds paid for items such as work uniforms and shoes, vocational testing feeds, transportation to and from work (bus passes; etc.), and education fees that were not covered by state stipends.
