Covenant Community Services Inc

Imagine it is your 18th birthday. You are not given any gifts but are handed a large trash bag full of your belongings and asked to leave. You have no where to go. You have no one to call. The system that was designed to protect you, after removing you from your family, has now left you to fend for yourself. What would you do? What would you do if the resources and training you received in your development was not there? What would you do?

Covenant exists to help former foster youth that have "aged out" of the foster care system. In California, that can be at 18-21. Where you ready to be on your own at 21 with little or no supports? Covenant was birthed to change the way foster care services were provided and we soon learned that we needed to go upstream and prevent the next generation of foster children from ever entering the system. We do that by restoring the lives of former foster youth. 

Covenant was birthed through volunteer efforts with foster children in Kern County. We began the journey as volunteers for Royal Family Kids Camp where we took foster children ages 6-12 to a week of camp in the cathedral of the outdoors. From this experience, we knew that we needed to do much more to restore lives and transform generations to prevent the next cycle of child abuse and neglect.

Covenant serves the youth that have no options or alternatives. These vulnerable individuals were removed from their biological families and then exited the State care system with no support. Covenant provides hope and support to former foster youth ages 18-24 through a variety of unique services and supports.

Covenant Coffee trains, mentors and employs youth for work instead of welfare. We give skills and a hand up not hand outs. We train and disciple to create citizens that contribute and desire to be a part of our vibrant community.

Covenant CHOICES THP+ is a program that serves 50 former foster youth through case management, mentoring, vocational training, living skills and social skills training, parenting skills and crisis management. We help youth launch successful lives.

Covenant Building Blocks is a residential program for 18-21 year old former foster youth. We provide the same level of services and supports as the CHOICES THP+ program but to a younger age group. Building Blocks is a 12 unit apartment complex on Belle terrace where hope and love is given to restore lives. 

Here is a quote from Danny at Covenant Coffee when he was asked why people should buy Covenant Coffee, "You can spend you money helping some rich man buy his next beach house or mansion or you can buy Covenant Coffee and help a former foster youth buy their first home or get a safe place to live." Covenant Coffee provides a safe place for youth to learn job skills and learn business and customer service.

Covenant mentoring matches a safe and compassionate adults with former foster youth to help them Be, Do, and Have more in life. Without the positive influence of good people, foster youth often fall prey to bad influences. Mentoring provides hope and a compassionate person to talk to, dream with, and to learn from for success and independence. 

Covenant provides hope to hopeless former foster youth. A simple review of the statistics facing youth give cause for attention and services to help youth become more than a statistic,

Numerous studies have been conducted and mountains of data collected. The findings clearly show that the mental and emotional challenges, the lack of stability and attachments, and the violence and abuse foster youth experience translate into disproportionately high rates of homelessness, incarceration, unemployment, poor academic achievement and reliance on public assistance. Simply put, foster youth leave care unprepared for self-sufficiency. The figures speak for themselves:

• 70% of all California State Prison inmates are former foster youth
• 36% of California foster youth become homeless within 18 months of emancipation
• One in four become incarcerated within two years of emancipation
• 51% are unemployed within 2-4 years of emancipation
• 40% on public assistance within 2-4 years of emancipation
• 50% of all female foster youth will become pregnant by age 19

Together, we can make a difference and restore lives and transform generations. It is with great community partners, the department of Human Services, the faith community, businesses and individuals that Covenant is able to serve former foster youth with hope and love.