Community Services for Arizona Teens in Foster Care are for More than “Feeling Good”
For teens in foster care, getting through each day can be a challenge. Every situation is different but consistent support can be hard to find when you’re in the foster care system. That is why community groups and organizations try to stand in the gaps and help where they can.
In the State of Arizona, there are several community organizations dedicated to providing resources to help teens in foster care survive and thrive once they’re in adulthood. Often, it’s a matter of getting the word out about what those resources are. We hope this article can shed light on some of those resources.
Making Food and Clothing More Accessible
Emma's Eats and Jose's Closet are two local organizations that are dedicated to helping youth in foster care. Jose's Closet provides new clothes, books, and other much-needed items. For younger children, toys, bikes, and more are available.
Emma's Eats is a food pantry in Mesa, Arizona that provides non-perishable food for all minors in foster care and their families across Arizona. Like Jose’s Closet, it was created by Wendy Esquivel to draw attention to the needs of foster children.
Beyond Food and Clothes: Life Skill Development for Teens in Foster Care
For teens in foster care, building life skills is critical as they prepare for adulthood. JAG AZ and Goodwill Arizona are organizations that provide courses that can help teens develop job skills such as job search, interviewing, and more that will serve young adults in foster care throughout their lives.
Grad Solutions (GS), a high school dropout recovery program, also offers career readiness and college prep courses for Arizona teens who need extra help getting their high school diploma. There are also several career exploration certifications to give students exposure to their desired careers. GS specializes in supporting and guiding teens in their educational pursuits and empowering them to dream big.
The Arizona Young Adult Program (YAP) helps youth in foster care prepare for the transition into adulthood. The program provides extensive support for these youth in several areas, including:
Independent Living / Life Skills Training
Educational Support and Assistance
College and Vocational Training & Support
Employment Support/Assistance
Emotional Support
Youth Advocacy
Youth Rights
Extended Foster Care for Young Adults 18 Through 20
After Care Services
Health Care
Housing
Resolving Conflict and Filing a Grievance
Housing Vouchers for Young Adults 18-24
Their services are available to youth in foster care, 14 or older and to former foster youth living in Arizona, who are under 21 years of age, and were in a state or tribal foster care system at age 16 or older. To learn more about the Young Adult Program from the Arizona Department of Child Safety, visit: dcs.az.gov/services/yap.
Education Assistance to Put Educational Dreams Within Reach
Accessing School Supplies and More
For school-age children, having the right clothes, shoes, or supplies for school can be stressful. The cost of these things adds up. That’s why the Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents provides much-needed clothing and supplies that minors in foster care need, including bikes for transportation. In addition, the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation works to fund special programs for those in foster care and help them have fun! They often fund summer camps, swim lessons, sports activities, and more.
Getting into and Paying for School
There are several financial support options for kids in foster care. The Arizona Department of Child Safety has created a Foster Youth Education Guide for youth in Arizona foster care ages 14 and older who need help deciding how to move forward with their high school education and understanding college options. It’s a great guide to help teens in foster care understand the school system.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety also provides a variety of college funding sources. See this DCS College Funding Flyer. Also, see Scholarship Guide 2021-2022 for a list of available scholarships for Arizona students.
Life is hard. No one can do it alone. There are groups in the community who are there to support you as a teen in foster care. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for assistance. There are people who want to help.
