Mentor a Youth who is Aging-Out of Foster Care - Central/Northern New Jersey

Save to Favorites

About Age-Out Angels

Location:

9 LAKE VIEW TER, Columbus, NJ 08022, US

Mission Statement

Our mission is to build an army of volunteers with love in their hearts who are willing to be friend and guide to one youth who needs them. We believe that education is the key to future success, therefore we have a two-step process. Volunteers enter our organization as tutors (usually virtual). Once trust is established and educational progress is being made, the tutor can evolve into a mentor. Mentors provide support, friendship, and guidance to help youth mature into productive members of society. We train volunteers to guide youth toward a path where they can secure shelter, food, clothing, transportation, education, employment and more via programs that already exist. Unfortunately, many of the bureaucratic procedures are beyond a youth's ability and they need an adult to access these programs and maintain their benefits. The role of the volunteer is simply to help and support. There is NO adoption component to Age-Out Angels.

Description

In 1992, Greg and Robin Rapport adopted their first of two wonderful children. During that process, the Rapports were introduced to the foster care systems. As their own children grew, Greg and Robin saw first-hand the difference that a stable, loving family makes in a child’s life.

The Rapports were particularly disturbed by the potentially horrendous plight of children who age-out of the foster system. They saw that these children often have few, if any, life skills that they can use to their advantage in the real world. Age-out children’s educational skills are frequently far below grade level, making it difficult for them to go to college or maintain meaningful employment. In many cases, these children are simply waiting to be victims. Their fate is frequently homelessness, incarceration, or death.

The Rapports are dedicated to being a positive force in the protection of children who may not have the parental support necessary to avoid the pitfalls that can swallow those who are young, naïve, and easy prey when not properly guided.