Chicks in Crisis Fundraiser
Donación protegida
If you or someone you've know has been in foster care, you know it's dangerous and the outcomes are disturbing. Statistics have shown this is the population sitting in our JV Halls, local, state and federal prisons or homeless on our streets with predators waiting for the right time to attack. At this time, tax payers are spending $62,400 to house one inmate, it takes $9,200 to educate and support a foster youth to succeed. It's a cycle that continues when these children fall through the cracks in a tainted "system" that's in place to protect them. As a child, when the burden is put on your back for what your parent’s misdoings, it's a heavy load and most fail. As a result, most foster youth girls will have a baby by the age of 15 and a second baby by age 21. Some of these are girls being sold, used or abuse in the sex trafficking industry - Sacramento is a hub for trafficking and prostitution due to the access of freeways going in each direction. These are the girls dropping out of school because they have no support and more than likely - PTSD from the emotional, physical and sexual abuse of the homes she's been placed in - for her own safety! The list can go on and on…
Currently, Elk Grove provides education to more foster youth than any other community in Northern California – about 540 in our public schools. Outcomes for foster youth have been dismal across California. Less that 50 percent will graduate high school, over 60 percent will emancipate from the system with no place to live, and – perhaps more staggering – the John Burton Foundation reports that over 70 percent of California prison inmates have spent time in foster care. Nevertheless, resources for foster, emancipated youth, pregnant or parenting youth in Elk Grove and our region have been inadequate and spread out with a weak infrastructure for service coordination.
This ranch was an established dairy in the mid 1800's and was used up to 1954. It has a 3 bedroom one bath farm house that has been sitting there aging and deteriorating with weather and time. We are seeking donations to help with the cost of materials and permits to bring the house to code so we can open; labor has been donated by an amazing group of dedicated volunteers and community of friends. It's an ideal location on a bus line in the middle of the city for easy access. With a collaboration of experienced youth-serving agencies embedded in this community, we propose to create a place where these lost kids can find the stability and support that they desperately need. The Ranch will provide a safe haven for foster youth, emancipated youth, pregnant and parenting teens to learn, grow, and heal among their peers.
Services such as trauma counseling and mentoring, as well as tangible goods for newly emancipated young adults, will be provided alongside new opportunities such as life-skills, education, employment training, gardening, relationship workshops, arts and recreation activities in a “one-stop” location. Support from the Walter S. Johnson Foundation has allowed us to bring together key leaders in foster and youth services to collaboratively plan a welcoming, comprehensive, data-driven, and sustainable Youth Center serving the foster youth of our community. The Ranch will be open to youth ages 13-25 that are currently in the foster system or recently emancipated, pregnant or parenting. Many more young adults in the community are recently emancipated, although the numbers and outcomes for this group are not currently tracked by the school district or the City – a gap that we intend to help remedy. This is where we need your help! Please consider donating to make this a reality for our at risk youth, together we can break the cycle and eliminate the need for foster care.
The center, called the The Ranch, will provide an array of services and programs targeted to this population and also provide a safe space for these youth to learn and grow. Thank you in advance for helping us create a #FosterFreeFuture.
Currently, Elk Grove provides education to more foster youth than any other community in Northern California – about 540 in our public schools. Outcomes for foster youth have been dismal across California. Less that 50 percent will graduate high school, over 60 percent will emancipate from the system with no place to live, and – perhaps more staggering – the John Burton Foundation reports that over 70 percent of California prison inmates have spent time in foster care. Nevertheless, resources for foster, emancipated youth, pregnant or parenting youth in Elk Grove and our region have been inadequate and spread out with a weak infrastructure for service coordination.
This ranch was an established dairy in the mid 1800's and was used up to 1954. It has a 3 bedroom one bath farm house that has been sitting there aging and deteriorating with weather and time. We are seeking donations to help with the cost of materials and permits to bring the house to code so we can open; labor has been donated by an amazing group of dedicated volunteers and community of friends. It's an ideal location on a bus line in the middle of the city for easy access. With a collaboration of experienced youth-serving agencies embedded in this community, we propose to create a place where these lost kids can find the stability and support that they desperately need. The Ranch will provide a safe haven for foster youth, emancipated youth, pregnant and parenting teens to learn, grow, and heal among their peers.
Services such as trauma counseling and mentoring, as well as tangible goods for newly emancipated young adults, will be provided alongside new opportunities such as life-skills, education, employment training, gardening, relationship workshops, arts and recreation activities in a “one-stop” location. Support from the Walter S. Johnson Foundation has allowed us to bring together key leaders in foster and youth services to collaboratively plan a welcoming, comprehensive, data-driven, and sustainable Youth Center serving the foster youth of our community. The Ranch will be open to youth ages 13-25 that are currently in the foster system or recently emancipated, pregnant or parenting. Many more young adults in the community are recently emancipated, although the numbers and outcomes for this group are not currently tracked by the school district or the City – a gap that we intend to help remedy. This is where we need your help! Please consider donating to make this a reality for our at risk youth, together we can break the cycle and eliminate the need for foster care.
The center, called the The Ranch, will provide an array of services and programs targeted to this population and also provide a safe space for these youth to learn and grow. Thank you in advance for helping us create a #FosterFreeFuture.
Organizador
Inez Whitlow
Organizador
Elk Grove, CA
