Found Village

Coaching and Mentoring: While some social systems attempt to "parent" the youth that they serve, the results of involvement in these systems for the youth that they serve indicate that they often fail to achieve results. For one example, only 13% of foster youth in the United States ever mobilize out of poverty as adults. When young people reach the age range of 18-21, they lose eligibility for the services that have sustained them and are left with no formal support. We seek to provide a community that can encourage stability for system-involved youth, helping them to reduce major disruptive life events (i.e., hospitalization, arrest, running away, and suspension).

Experiences and Enrichment:Enrichment opportunities give our youth the opportunity to explore their interests and talents, a luxury that many of them have not received prior to joining Found Village. Enrichment activities offered to youth by our partners include training in the arts, sports, and activities in natural spaces, all of which provide our young people with a chance to examine their talents and interests. The Coaching and Enrichment program seeks to 1) embed teens in a network of healthy adult and peer relationships, while 2) providing opportunities to explore, identify, and enhance personal skills, thereby 3) increasing our young peoples' sense of belonging and increasing their power and autonomy. In the past year, we have seen that young people who engage with Found Village consistently possess a stronger sense of belonging, report having more safe relationships with peers and adults, and become healthier. Case in point: over the past year, several young people have been able to identify the potential of a major life disruption before it happened and engage with their coach and community to mitigate that circumstance. We have seen young people dream big about their futures, be more open to friendships with other youth, and become more successful in school. The following positive outcomes indicate the successes we have seen in the last year: 76% of youth have been engaged in program activities for 10 or more hours. We have found that engagement positively correlates with the well-being of young people and their overall success in school. The majority of our youth report that they have more friendships and feel a stronger sense of power and autonomy in their lives. We are working towards 100% outcomes in all these areas. This past year success is as followed:Short Term (Stability): 90% of teens referred agree to participate in our program within 60 days of referral. Instances of disruptive events (e.g., hospitalization, suspension, arrest) drop by 50% for each teen. 90% of teens receive consistent access to essential resources including food, clothing, and school supplies. Mid-Term (Growth): 100% of teens are paired with our coaching team and create a customized growth plan. 90% of eligible teens graduate High School. 100% teens report that they have explored their interests and skills through enrichment programming. Long-Term (Launch): 70% young people report that they have/maintain at least three healthy adult and peer relationships. 100% young people can identify two spaces in the community that are safe and supportive for them (e.g., a library, rec center, community organization, or volunteer opportunity). 70% young people demonstrate that they can alert their community before a crisis event occurs and work to limit disruptions. 30% All young people maintain stable employment at a job which pays $15/hr or more and offers opportunities for upward mobility. 30% of young people maintain stable housing arrangements for at least six months.