Judson Center Seeks Financial and Housing Support for New Program Addressing Needs of Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
Non-profit human services agency is recruiting host providers and requesting donations
Farmington Hills, MI – The non-profit human services agency Judson Center and its affiliate, Child Safe Michigan, are seeking financial and housing assistance for a newly-launched Independent Living program for youth who age out of Michigan’s foster care system.
The program addresses the needs and issues facing 16-21year-olds leaving foster care and helps them prepare to live on their own. Judson Center’s team of professionals work with the youth in a variety of areas including identifying living arrangements and providing life skills training, educational and vocational planning, budgeting and financial literacy, and mentoring.
“Each year, approximately 1,000 youth transition out of Michigan’s foster care system,” said Judson Center President & CEO Lenora Hardy-Foster. “Unfortunately, many of these young people are met with challenges that result in homelessness, joblessness, and sometimes incarceration. So, the need to prepare older foster youth for independent living is immediate and crucial. We are committed to making a difference in these young people’s lives by providing guidance and a strong support system that will help them become successful and productive citizens after they leave foster care.”
The youth are referred to Judson Center’s Independent Living program by the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), the courts, or private agencies. Currently, there are four young people in the Judson Center/Child Safe Independent Living program. There is an urgent need for host providers willing to rent rooms to youth who age out of foster care. Judson Center is also asking for financial and in-kind donations to help provide additional support for the young people.
“The youth get a monthly stipend of about $800 from MDHHS to pay for housing, food and the other essentials of day-to-day life,” said Judson Center Chief Strategy Officer George Winn. “Their average rental agreement with host providers is $100 to $200 per month, so that leaves only about $20 per day to cover things like transportation, recreation, socialization activities, and personal grooming. We’re appealing to donors to help us provide these youth with additional resources to enable them to successfully adjust to life in the real world. After all, they are our future workforce, and we want to change the outcomes and projections for these young people.”
The youth work with the Judson Center/Child Safe team to identify a safe and secure living arrangement. The options include an apartment, college dorm, staying with a friend or other supportive person, or renting from a host provider.
“We are actively recruiting host providers who can rent a room within their homes to a young person,” said Courtney Carter, Judson Center/Child Safe’s Independent Living & Foster Care Supervisor. “The overall goal is to get the youth prepared to live independently, so it is not a huge commitment for the host provider. It’s just a means of giving a young person a start until he or she can advance to living on their own.”
For more information on the Judson Center/Child Safe Independent Living Program and how you can help, call 248.554.6425.
About Child Safe Michigan
Child Safe Michigan, an affiliate of Judson Center, provides foster care, adoption, and mentoring services to neglected and abused children in Southeast Michigan. In addition to providing expert, comprehensive services, Child Safe Michigan offers children safety and stability that allows them to grow and thrive. The agency received the 2019 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Team Excellence Award for outstanding commitment to Michigan’s children and families. For more information, visit www.childsafemichigan.org.
About Judson Center
Judson Center, trusted by Michigan families for 100 years, is a non-profit human services agency providing expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, and developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being, and maximum potential. Judson Center also offers integrated primary healthcare for all through Judson Center Health in Warren and is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Since opening its doors in 1924, Judson Center has grown to change the lives of more than 13,000 children, adults, and families each year. Judson Center has offices in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. Headquarters are located at 30301 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48334-3277. Learn more about Judson Center at www.judsoncenter.org. Check out the agency’s “Where Care Is An Art” centennial awareness campaign at care.judsoncenter.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Daphne Hughes, Hughes Creative, LLC
248.417.4309, [email protected]
Scott Trudell, Chief Development Officer, Judson Center
313.283.1055, [email protected]