Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Moses/Weitzman Health System
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: Weitzman Institute
Mailing Address: 631 Main Street
City: Middletown
State: Connecticut
Postal Code: 06457
Main Phone: 8603476971
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.weitzmaninstitute.org/
Employer ID Number: 06-0897105
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 02/07/2025
Requested Amount: $10000

Project Title: Building Better Futures: Addressing Barriers to Housing, Health, and Education for Foster Youth
Project Description:

Each year, over 20,000 youth aged 18-21 transition out of foster care with minimal support, at risk of homelessness, poor health, and limited educational opportunities, hindering their successful transition to adulthood. Although transitional resources exist, barriers and information gaps often prevent foster youth from accessing these resources. With U.S. homelessness at a record high, programs like Medicaid in question, and decreased education and job training budgets, stakeholders are calling for a better understanding of these issues to improve the lives of foster youth and better prepare them for healthy, independent adulthoods.

Understanding barriers to housing, health, and education requires sharing experiences of foster youth with the caregivers, providers, and policymakers who shape programs to meet their needs. Indeed, government agencies, funders, researchers, and health care providers are requiring the inclusion of youth voices to inform decision making. To this end, and to understand barriers to post-foster care transitional support, we propose a series of three focus groups that include former foster youth and caregivers (e.g., foster parents, group home staff). Each group will include five youths and five caregivers, recruited alongside partner youth-focused organizations, to elicit balanced feedback on challenges connecting youth to crucial resources. Group one will focus on housing and homelessness; group two on health care access challenges (e.g., mental health, accessing assistance, consistent primary care); and group three on educational or training opportunities. The team will use the experiences elicited in these focus groups to create and disseminate a series of issue briefs identifying interventions and policies that address the unique needs of youth aging out of the foster care system. These briefs will summarize youth- and caregiver-voiced themes to guide stakeholders in creating or improving programs and policies to transform the lives of young adults aging out of foster care.

Total Project Budget: $10000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): In addition to the funds requested from the Hermanowski Family Foundation, Weitzman is prepared to commit technological and human resources that are funded through a combination of existing federal, state and private grants to this project. In partnership with our Development team, we will continue to identify and approach other potential funders for whom this project aligns with their philanthropic priorities.

Project Duration: One Year
Geographical Area Served: United States
Age Group To Be Served: Youth aged 18-21

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Jessica
Contact Last Name: McCann
Contact Title: Senior Health Policy Analyst
Contact Phone: 9373218334
Contact Email: mccannj@mwhs1.com