|
 Launched
at Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 2002, Fostering Success
addresses the societal challenges facing foster youth who enter
adulthood without traditional family supports. With initial funding
from the
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, a national foundation,
Fostering Success has improved the lives of Tennesseans living in
foster care or making the transition to adulthood.
Our experience shows that foster care works better when young people
have a voice in the system. Members of our Tennessee Youth Advisory
Council were a catalyst for positive changes at the Department of
Children’s Services, such as instituting a Governor’s Scholarship
for youth in state custody and recognizing outstanding case managers
with the annual
Hope Awards.
Fostering Success opens doors for young people who need support to
land their first job or apartment, open a bank account or secure a
college scholarship. The
Opportunity Passport™
currently provides more than 225 foster youth with financial
literacy training and matched savings accounts to build the
foundation for successful adulthood.
The Community Partnership Board brings together community leaders to
address challenges facing foster youth. Board members provide
resources, connections and expertise to tackle issues such as
healthcare and transportation for youth aging out of foster care.
Fostering Success achieves its success in collaboration with
community agencies such as
Monroe Harding,
Nashville Career Advancement Center,
Oasis Center,
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and the
Tennessee Department of
Children’s Services.
Vanderbilt Child & Family Policy Center provides research
and evaluation as well as overall program leadership.
Fostering Success will expand to other parts of the state during the
next three years.
More youth are aging out of foster care than ever before. It’s
critical that more foster youth have access to education, jobs,
housing and transportation and other opportunities that young people
need to become successful adults. The success or failure of young
people aging out of foster care will have an impact on our entire
community.
Get
Involved Today! |
