Dreams Do Come True
With our burgeoning Transitional Living Program, Footsteps to the Future has finally seen an eight-year vision come to pass. We have purchased the first home in what we call "our village." This “transition house” will be a safe and affordable residence for young women after they “age out” of local foster care at age 18 — a point at which they are on their own, typically with no family and little guidance or support from the foster system. The transition house will provide not only basic shelter, but also an environment where the girls can mature, move forward with their education and ultimately become self-sufficient, productive, responsible and valuable members of our community.
To qualify for Footsteps’ Transitional Living Program, the young women must agree to the guidelines set up in our 16-page manual, including:
• Save at least $100 per month, which Footsteps will match if they abide by the guidelines;
• Work with a professional life coach and a trauma-resolution counselor, both of whom are provided by and paid for by Footsteps;
• No use of illegal drugs or alcohol, and no males overnight at the house;
• Work toward completing their education, maintaining at least a “C” average;
• If not already working, once in the program they have 90 days to get a job;
• Participate in regular community service programs
• Learn the tools associated with self-sufficiency, living independently and being "connected" by age 25.
Footsteps is looking for individuals and groups to collaborate with us and become a part of our village — as we know it takes a village to raise a child. Our needs, which grow daily, include:
• Financial support, ideally through monthly pledges that can be processed through either PayPal or credit card accounts;
• One-year sponsorships of young women, at an annual cost of approximately $6,000 per person;
• Furniture for the living room, dining areas and bedrooms; kitchen and bathroom items; outdoor deck furniture, swing set and picnic table;
• Volunteers to do tile work, remove wallpaper, paint rooms, landscaping and various other indoor and outdoor upgrades and renovations;
• Donations of used vehicles;
• Mentors and other volunteers;
• Any and all ideas to make this house a wonderful home.
With our burgeoning Transitional Living Program, Footsteps to the Future has finally seen an eight-year vision come to pass. We have purchased the first home in what we call "our village." This “transition house” will be a safe and affordable residence for young women after they “age out” of local foster care at age 18 — a point at which they are on their own, typically with no family and little guidance or support from the foster system. The transition house will provide not only basic shelter, but also an environment where the girls can mature, move forward with their education and ultimately become self-sufficient, productive, responsible and valuable members of our community.
To qualify for Footsteps’ Transitional Living Program, the young women must agree to the guidelines set up in our 16-page manual, including:
• Save at least $100 per month, which Footsteps will match if they abide by the guidelines;
• Work with a professional life coach and a trauma-resolution counselor, both of whom are provided by and paid for by Footsteps;
• No use of illegal drugs or alcohol, and no males overnight at the house;
• Work toward completing their education, maintaining at least a “C” average;
• If not already working, once in the program they have 90 days to get a job;
• Participate in regular community service programs
• Learn the tools associated with self-sufficiency, living independently and being "connected" by age 25.
Footsteps is looking for individuals and groups to collaborate with us and become a part of our village — as we know it takes a village to raise a child. Our needs, which grow daily, include:
• Financial support, ideally through monthly pledges that can be processed through either PayPal or credit card accounts;
• One-year sponsorships of young women, at an annual cost of approximately $6,000 per person;
• Furniture for the living room, dining areas and bedrooms; kitchen and bathroom items; outdoor deck furniture, swing set and picnic table;
• Volunteers to do tile work, remove wallpaper, paint rooms, landscaping and various other indoor and outdoor upgrades and renovations;
• Donations of used vehicles;
• Mentors and other volunteers;
• Any and all ideas to make this house a wonderful home.
Footsteps to the Future is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, so all donations are tax-deductible.
For more information please contact judiwoods2@earthlink.net visit www.footstepstothefuture.org
Call Judi @ 239 281-7378
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