Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: Villages of Hope
Legal Name (if Different): Village of Hope of Palm Beach County, Inc.
Also Known As: VOH
Mailing Address: C/O Place of Hope, 9078 Isaiah Ln.
City: Palm Beach Gardens
State: FL
Postal Code: 33418
Main Phone: 561.775.7195
Main Fax: 561.775.1758
Organization Website: www.villagesofhope.net
Employer ID Number: 20-4591024
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: 2/15/2017
Requested Amount: $10,000
Project Title: Transitional Independent Living Program
Project Description:
Villages of Hope’s History
Villages of Hope, an affiliate of Place of Hope, was organized to provide independent living residential support and essential life-skills development for transitioning and emancipated foster youth and other homeless youth in need. After our first young adult left Place of Hope, we quickly recognized the need for a Transitional Independent Living Program. In September 2006, Villages of Hope acquired a residential community to provide affordable housing and assistance to youth as they develop life-skills and resources and transition to healthy independence. The program serves up to 18 transitioning foster youth, emancipated foster youth, and other homeless youth, ages 18 to 25, for placement in a residential supervised apartment setting at our Villages of Hope Campus.
Having served over 100 young adults at our Villages of Hope Campus, we knew it was time to expand our Transitional Independent Living Program. We were so excited to open the Alumni Impact Girls\’ Cottage, an Extended Foster Care Dormitory, at Place of Hope at The Leighan and David Rinker Campus in June 2015! There, we are able to serve up to eight girls who are transitioning out of foster care, have been emancipated from foster care, or are homeless. While our Transitional Independent Living Program at Place of Hope at The Leighan and David Rinker Campus is an expansion of our program at Villages of Hope, it has even more capacity for expansion and growth as it will eventually serve over 100 transitioning and emancipated foster youth and other homeless youth at our southern campus in Boca Raton.
Problem Statement
Even more frightening than the thought of a growing number of children being placed in a foster care system that is not able to care for them are the consequences of being placed in such a system. Research shows that potential outcomes of spending time in foster care include brain damage, developmental delays, aggressive behavior, and depression. Research also shows that a result of being raised in multiple foster homes and facilities is that youth nearing emancipation have not yet mastered the skills necessary for self-sufficiency. Without basic life-skills, youth who leave care have difficulty staying healthy, finding safe housing, getting and keeping a steady job, and avoiding financial and legal trouble. Too few undertake the education and training necessary to compete in today\’s economy. There is often no one with whom they can share small successes or from whom advice can be sought. Simple emergencies easily escalate into full-blown crises.
Comprehensive and effective transitional independent living services are key to helping transitioning and emancipated foster youth and other homeless youth successfully transition to healthy independence. At our Transitional Independent Living Program, we love our young adults like they are our own and are proud to not only provide them with quality, safe, affordable housing, but essential life-skills training and development opportunities as well. Our dedicated staff work with each youth on an individual basis through our Independent Living Planning. We are very privileged to be able to serve these youth, and we strive to enrich their lives by uniquely serving each one based on their individual gifts, abilities, and experiences. It is this level of personalized care that has been proven to help our young adults become self-sufficient.
Transitional Independent Living Program
At our Transitional Independent Living Program, we are dedicated to providing a supportive and proactive living and learning environment primarily for youth who \"age-out\" of the state\’s foster care system. Our objectives are to provide quality, safe, affordable housing, emotional and material support, supportive relationships, goal setting and career planning, education and employment opportunities, life-skills development, and moral and spiritual guidance for the young adults in our care. Life-skills training and development opportunities are also made available to young adults in transition who are living with family members, friends, in other facilities, and attempting to live on their own. We implement a youth-centered approach, allowing participants to decide causes of action for their own futures while promoting access to apartments for self-sufficiency.
In January 2014, the State of Florida initiated an Extended Foster Care Program for transitioning foster youth, ages 18 to 21. This program offers the next natural step of growth and independence for a young adult upon their 18th birthday. Prior to this, when a foster child turned 18, they were forced to leave care, even if they had not finished school or did not have a safe place to go. Villages of Hope is proud to be the first organization to propose this program in Palm Beach County, serving up to four boys in The Honda Classic Boys’ Cottage, an Extended Foster Care Dormitory. In fact, our local child welfare system liked our proposal so much that they asked us if they could share it with other agencies! We are thankful to be serving up to eight girls in the Alumni Impact Cottage, an Extended Foster Care Dormitory, at Place of Hope at The Leighan and David Rinker Campus as well.
Total Project Budget: $444,000
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Committed: The Jim Moran Foundation – $55,000; Pending: The Batchelor Foundation – $50,000, Comerica Charitable Foundation – $10,000, The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea – $10,000, Florida Blue Foundation – $10,000, Robert R. McCormick Foundation/Sun-Sentinel Children\’s Fund – $10,000, State Farm/Good Neighbor Citizenship® Company Grant – $25,000, TD Charitable Foundation/Standard Grant – $10,000
Project Duration: 1/1/2017 – 12/31/2017
Geographical Area Served: Located in Palm Beach County, Florida, we receive referrals from all over the State of Florida. Villages of Hope is located at 3551 Burma Cir., Lake Park, FL 33403 and Place of Hope at The Leighan and David Rinker Campus is located at 21441 Boca Rio Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33433.
Age Group To Be Served: Our Transitional Independent Living Program serves up to 26 young adults, ages 18 to 25, who are transitioning out of foster care, have been emancipated from foster care, or are homeless. We are the only program in Palm Beach County that accepts parenting youth as well as the only organization in Palm Beach County that serves both former foster youth and other homeless youth. We serve youth from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Sarah Anne
Contact Last Name: Chafin
Contact Title: Lead Grant Liaison
Contact Phone: 206.877.2675
Contact Email: sarahc@placeofhope.com