Inspire Life Skills Training Inc

The Problem:

Foster youth who are aging out of the foster care system have higher rates of being undereducated, underemployed and becoming homeless. It is startling that 65% of former foster youth end up homeless and that less than 6% attend college. These teenagers often find themselves instantly on their own with no housing or support from family or community. Without mentoring and motivation, most former foster youth find themselves homeless, pregnant, on drugs, or in jail.

These are the sad statistics, but we must remember that every person is important and while Inspire cannot help everyone we can help create dramatic life changes upon the ones we do serve.

The Solution:

INSPIRE believes education is the key to breaking the cycle of abuse and poverty in families.

Currently, less than 6% of former foster youth attend college and only 2% obtain degrees. They are in need of educational and employment guidance as well as life skills training and affordable housing. By providing these services, Inspire seeks to assist these youth in overcoming their past and gain the skills and support needed to choose a positive and rewarding future.

Our youth attend college or vocational school full time and work part time while provided with safe and stable housing in a community setting. They are charged a nominal rent per month to help teach self-sufficiency. They receive personal mentoring, professional counseling, life skills training, employment and educational support. One of the keys to our success is our volunteer one on one mentoring program. The youth are modeled healthy lifestyles and choices and are given encouragement and accountability to reach their goals.

INSPIRE has served over 75 former foster youth since 2005. Of those youth, 93% attended college and 82% gained employment while in the program. Many youth have completed degrees or vocational programs with the assistance of Inspire.

What began as one home has now become SIX homes in the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties – with more planned for the future.