PRESS RELEASE: Resource Binders for Youth Exiting the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—March 22, 2007—For most young people, turning eighteen marks the milestone to adulthood. It is a time to experience new freedoms and independence. However, for youth in the foster care and juvenile court systems it is the age they exit the system—often alone, scared, and unaware of the resources available to assist in the transition to adulthood. In honor of National Foster Care Month, City Youth Now in collaboration with the Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) has created resource binders for all youth exiting the system. "These youth haven't been taught basic life skills. Providing them with these binders is important to teaching them time management, budgeting, and responsibility," said Arlene Hylton, Program Coordinator at the Independent Living Skills Program.
Volunteers from Upland Crystal Springs Middle School chose the project for their class community service project and joined City Youth Now in assembling the binders. Youth exiting the system will receive the resource binders from their ILSP case worker, Public Defender, or social worker. Each youth will receive a Franklin Covey Day Planner with resources for note taking, budgeting, time management, and scheduling. The binders also include business cards for local organizations that assist transitioning youth and a resource packet including numbers and addresses for San Francisco agencies that provide education, housing, health, employment, emergency, counseling, and legal services. Youth participants at Honoring Emancipated Youth's leadership award night on May 1st and breakfast on May 7th will also receive these binders in honor of their outstanding achievements.
If you believe your youth is eligible for this program, please contact City Youth Now at 415-753-7576 or via email at info@cityyouthnow.org.
About City Youth Now:
City Youth Now supports youth in the San Francisco foster care and juvenile justice systems by providing funds for services and programs that promote stability and personal growth. www.cityyouthnow.org
###
Press Contact:
Brittany Jarabek
Executive Director
City Youth Now
brittany@cityyouthnow.org
