Journey House

Description

The Journey House After-Care Program is designed to assist emancipated foster youth in their adjustment to independent adult living. Journey House has been committed to assist emancipated foster youth since 1983, and has created an environment to help meet the needs of these young people. The youth are referred to Journey House by Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services, Probation Department, and Transitional Housing Agencies. Journey House staff develop personal case plans for every youth. Individual case plans focus on immediate needs, as well as, develop short and long term goals. Their immediate and urgent needs include safe and adequate housing, adequate transportation, clean and acceptable clothing, meals and groceries, and counseling. Short and long term goals are academic enrollment assistance, employment, vocational training, and mastery of independent living skills. Journey House staff ensures that the youth’s immediate needs are being met and provides personal services by transporting and guiding youth through the steps that are necessary toward accomplishing their short and long term goals. The Journey House After-Care Program is an essential service that emancipated foster youth need after leaving the foster care system, usually at the age of 18. Our youth are released from the Juvenile Justice system with no real parental and family support system. We stress the importance of learning and becoming an independent productive citizen in society, while, at the same time, providing supportive assistance. By meeting immediate basic needs, we find that the youth in our program have real possibility of changing their self-destructive ways and become law abiding citizens.