(Austin, TX) -- For the first time in its 26-year history, the Austin Children's Shelter (ACS) begins a new program specifically designed to offer long-term care and transitional living services to older teens and young adults who have returned to foster care. On June 28, 2010, ACS opens the Therapeutic Living Center for Boys sponsored by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation -. This cottage is the first to offer this new program for youth “aging out” of foster care.
According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, 50 percent of youth “aging out” of foster care have become homeless within 18 months of leaving care. These are youth who do not have a family to help them make the transition to living on their own. This new program focuses on providing a structured environment, therapeutic services and support from staff and skill building for older youth, ages 16 – 21 years old who will be leaving the foster care system.
“We may be the last hope these kids have to leave the system equipped to create a better life for themselves,” says Armin Steege, V.P. of Residential Programs with the Austin Children’s Shelter. “Most young adults have parents to teach them the skills needed to live and offer support to help them transition to adulthood but these individuals have no one. As such, this program is one of the most crucial services we offer.”
Youth involved in the transitional living services program will learn essential skills in personal finance, employment, self care and basic life skills. Additional services offered are medical care, education support and learning to managing interpersonal relationships such as conflict management and developing healthy relationships.
In the Austin area, there is a long-standing need for long-term care for boys. Recent substantial support in the form of two grants provided ACS the ability to meet this need. In addition to supporting the Capital Campaign, the Michael & Susan Dell foundation granted the Shelter $225,000 specifically to hire and train qualified staff. The Meadows Foundation recently awarded ACS a $100,000 grant to support implementation of the program.
Since 1984, the Austin Children's Shelter has provided emergency shelter, high quality care and hope for the future to the abandoned, abused and neglected children of our community. In October 2009, ACS opened its new campus to ultimately serve up to 78 children at a time and provide expanded programs to better meet the needs of children and youth in its care. The Shelter provides a variety of critical services and programs to children and teens in need of a safe haven. Each child is assessed to ensure they receive the services they need, including: medical and dental care, group and individual therapy, educational support, formal testing and evaluation as well as full assessments. Through these programs, ACS lays a foundation of hope for the future of the children in its care. To learn more about the Shelter, visit the website at www.austinchildrenshelter.org or call (512) 499-0090.
Contact: Julie Burch
512.236.2503
julia@austinchildrenshelter.org