At Fostering Further, we’ve seen 18-year olds age out of foster care and face struggles like homelessness, pregnancy, and incarceration. That’s why we created our Starting Strong program, which offers resources to young people 18-24 who have emancipated from foster care.
Join us for a low-key, relaxed evening of connecting with friends, dinner, door-prizes and maybe even a game or two as we explore some of the topics that affect everyone beginning their adult phase of life.
Mentors volunteer their time to develop a consistent, stable, positive relationship with an older youth in foster care. Mentors are not expected to act as social workers or parental figures. Their role is to be a cheerleader and friend that spends time with their mentee and LISTENS to them. Mentors meet with their mentees a minimum of twice each month and maintains weekly communication with them.
Being a mentor takes no special qualifications except a willingness to accept a youth as they are and commit to being in their life for a minimum of one year. Some other necessary qualifications include: a minimum of at least 6 hours each month to commit to the relationship, a driver’s license and insurance, and a clear background check.
Young adults who have turned 18 and aged out of the foster care system are eligible to have a mentor. We ask that the mentee commit to at least one year of the mentoring relationship.
The Starting Strong team is involved with the mentor/mentee matches all along the way. Mentors receive 6 hours of training before meeting with their mentee. We will check in on you and your mentee monthly to see how things are going and offer suggestions for outings and conversation starters. Mentors are not in this alone; they are part of a team that comes together regularly to discuss their mentoring relationships and learn from each other.
Complete the Mentor Application
Most youth who have grown up and aged out of foster care were not afforded the opportunity to obtain their driver’s license. We understand that this basic skill is critical to the success of young people as they attempt to gain employment, further their education, and generally become self-sufficient.
Our transportation assistance program, Learn to Drive-Learn to Thrive, assists young people in navigating the process of obtaining their license. From helping them study for the “temps” test to practicing the dreaded maneuverability, our volunteers offer assistance every step of the way.
Hope Landing is a short-term transitional housing unit located in the Newark-Heath area that gives youth a chance to get on their feet. We give them a safe place to live while connecting them with community services and mentoring to help them get a job, obtain a driver’s license, and learn how to live independently. Hope Landing is a place for former foster youth to “land”, catch their breath, and move on to a successful future.
Learn MoreAmber Carson
MSW, LISW-S National Youth Advocate Program
Tiffany Davis
Licking County Housing Coalition
Michael O’Brien
CFO, First Federal Savings and Loan
Violet Queen
Executive Director, Hope Valley
Marcee Richardson
IP Lead, Owens Corning
Patricia Werner
MSW LSW SSW Southwest Licking Schools
General Inquiries
yvonne@startingstrongohio.org
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