West End Neighborhood House

Life lines services for former foster care, homeless and unaccompanied youth: provides housing, case management, counseling, financial, educational and employment support services (job training and placement) to help youth transition into healthy, independent adult living. Life lines is divided into three sub-categories: transitional housing (to prepare youth to live independently by age 21), permanent housing (to accommodate youth with two or more diagnosable disabilities) and independent living (to support youth living independently in the community). Services are also provided through home base, Delaware's first drop-in center for former foster care, homeless and unaccompanied youth. West End currently has capacity to House 33 youth simultaneously in its 13 homes.

Adult employment and educational services: includes ged instruction and test preparation, out-of-school youth and adult workforce training, career exploration, environmental employment certification training and placement, case management, mental health counseling, tax preparation and basic needs assistance (food, public assistance).

Youth services: West End's youth programs provide a safe environment for young people in grades k-12 to participate in educational, cultural, social and recreational activities. Such activities include: after school & summer programming, evidence-based reading and academic support, career and college preparation (including tours of colleges and universities across the u.s.), paid employment training and internships (including horticultural training via West End's bright spot urban farm); evidence/research-based substance abuse prevention, organized and individual sports (including the 2022 national champion above 'xpectations' track team), as well as cultural excursions, the arts, and girls like us (a program focused on building the resilience, confidence, self-worth and empowerment of young african-american and hispanic girls).

Camp west:camp West serves youth ages 5-12 and is filled with the perfect blend of education, sports, and fun. Activities enable campers to develop and apply problem-solving skills, gain exposure to the arts, build teamwork skills, create friendships, practice using technology, experience the natural world, meet special guests, attend field trips, and so much more. Our team of dedicated and well-trained professionals works year-round to ensure that our camp programs are fresh, creative and exciting.

Financial management & emergency assistance: services include the stand by me financial coaching program (one-on-one financial coaching, credit review and education, post-secondary education planning, tax preparation assistance); basic needs (utility, rent and mortgage payment assistance, food closet, thanksgiving meals and holiday adopt-a-family program). Rental assistance is also provided to ex-offenders re-entering society post-incarceration.

Entrepreneurship training: provides 12 weeks of classroom instruction covering the fundamental requirements to start a small business, as well as technical assistance via group workshops and one-on-one coaching, in addition to assistance accessing credit and securing a business location.

Bright spot ventures (bsv):bsv is a social enterprise that was created by West End Neighborhood House in april of 2010. The program was designed to give Delaware's former foster care youth (ages 16-24) real-world, paid employment experience (for many their first) in a contextual learning environment. The bsv program emphasizes punctuality, conflict resolution and a strong work ethic, as well as instruction in business-related job and financial skills, such as using a cash register and maintaining inventory. Once youth complete the training phase, the program links them to internships through partnerships with local businesses, some of which result in offers of employment.

Miscellaneous

Management fee income

Rental income