Monica Crider provided the presentation on BCFS last Wednesday, which is an organization that provides a variety of social services to youth in Texas.
Monica has spent her career working with youth, and works in the Hill Country office of BCFS as a mentor supervisor. The Youth Averted From Delinquency program pairs mentors with youth who have a history of truancy, have committed an offense and/or who have discipline issues. Monica told a success story of a young man who greatly benefitted from a mentor who just spent time playing pool with him for several months, and eventually befriended him and the teenager turned his life around, making good grades in school and overcame emotional issues to be a success.
There is a big need for mentors in this program, so if you are interested in volunteering to be a mentor, or know someone who might be, please contact BCFS.
Here are some other programs BCFS offers:
The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program helps current and former foster youth make a smoother transition to a successful adulthood by providing funding and support for college or vocational training.
The Transitional Living Program provides temporary housing and counseling to young adults who have aged out of foster care or are at risk of being homeless for a period of up to 18 to prepare them for living independently.
They also partner with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide necessary assistance to youth who are transitioning out of foster care. Advocates provide career assessments, job search assistance, job referrals, mentoring, job skills training, and job placement for youth in the program.