Pathways to Employment
Pathways to Employment is a 12-week program for teens ages 14-19, ideal for youth aging out of foster care as well as their caregivers. Employability, character development, and life skills is the focus. Youth employment skills are learned via hands-on opportunities to apply learning. From internships to paid work experience with our professional partners, our youth grow into responsible citizens.
The program is divided into three phases:
Phase I: Cultivating & Bonding (3 Weeks)
Building the relationship between the mentor and the youth is a priority. The mentor and mentee will meet 2 times per week. The structure allows the two to engage in specific activities that foster a meaningful bond, e.g. mentor/mentee group sessions, goal-setting, and establishment of expectations.
Mentor/Mentee Group Sessions
The mentor and mentee take part in various, intentional activities to build trust. Initially, the activities are conducted in a classroom setting. In this stage, the interaction between the two is observed to ensure an appropriate mentor/mentee match.
Goal-Setting
Along with his/her mentor and support network, the mentee sets educational, personal, developmental, and social goals. As part of the program’s structure, the mentee earns an incentivized reward for every goal that he/she achieves.
Establishment of Expectations
These sessions rely heavily on the support networks of the youth. Expectations of program requirements and outcomes are set with input from the youth’s parents, guardians, and/or caregivers. During the first 4 weeks of the program (Phase I, and the first week of Phase II), parents, guardians and/or caregivers of the youth are required to attend at least two family sessions in which they will be presented with:
Phase II Mentoring & Support (18 Weeks)
During Phase II, the mentor and mentee will meet according to a set schedule that supports the needs of the mentee and his/her goals, which will include home visits, school visits (when appropriate) consistent communication, monitoring youth progress, planned activities and field trips, social exposure, guidance, and support.
Acclimation: Mentees will become more familiarized with other resources and available options besides those that have already been made available to them.
Social Exposure: In addition to meeting inside the youth’s home, the mentor and mentee will develop a meaningful relationship outside the youth’s home to engage in various social environments or community-related activities such as: civic and community events, dinner, sporting events, educationally-focused events, community service project. Note: Mentees will be required to earn the privilege to participate in some of the planned activities as an incentive.
