UFC Housing Programs
We believe that with the proper support and guidance, former foster youth can make a successful transition to adulthood.
It doesn’t happen magically when they turn 18. However, we have a unique opportunity and, in fact, a responsibility to provide foster youth ages 18-23 with the support that will allow them to prepare for independence. In Pathways, we do this by surrounding them with positive role models, creating enduring relationships, challenging them to better themselves and providing them with the safety net of a service-enriched transitional living program.
Pathways
Pathways gives foster youth the chance to live in a stable environment and have a family experience to prepare them for life on their own.
Through long-term, stable relationships with adults who care, foster youth can overcome the barriers and experiences they faced to go on for independent living.
Housing
Pathways provides former foster youth with 18 months of housing in their own apartments. The program requires increasing levels of responsibility and challenges youth to maintain employment and develop money management skills, while at the same time allowing them a “grace-period” to build these skills and habits.
Life Skills Training
Weekly life skills classes bring youth together for interactive sessions, providing residents with a sense of community and the opportunity to gain valuable “real life” experiences in a supportive setting.
Topics include:
- financial literacy
- work readiness
- nutrition and exercise
- conflict resolution
- stress management
Advocacy Counseling
A distinctive feature to UFC’s approach to serving foster youth is the deep and lasting nature of the relationships youth share with their Advocacy Counselors (AC’s). Weekly one-on-one sessions with their AC’s help residents set goals and devise a plan to achieve them as well as deal with day-to-day concerns that arise.
Mental Health Counseling
UFC collaborates with local mental health agencies and private practitioners to provide residents with mental health treatment services that include scheduled individual counseling, group therapy, mental health evaluations, and referrals. Having an on-site mental health practitioner has opened the doors to so many youth initially resisting therapeutic services.
Career services
Pathways Career Development services are essential to the future success of youth in the program. Through career training and development, workshops and internships, Pathways provides residents with opportunities to explore new career options, broadening their understanding of the options available to them.
Educational guidance
Pathways helps to equip youth with the tools and resources necessary for them to see that educational improvement is critical to their future success and independence. Youth in the program receive educational guidance and assistance that can include:
- financial assistance to attend college
- educational resources
- one-on-one sessions and workshops
- on-site tutoring for GED preparation
- tutoring for community college courses
Housing
UFC Outcomes
vs. General Outcomes for Foster Youth
87% of UFC active Pathways Alumni
are in stable housing
36% of foster youth
are homeless within 18 months of leaving care
74% of UFC active Pathways Alumni
are employed
51% of foster youth
are unemployed within 3 yrs of leaving care
Giving Back
Caring for others and giving back to the community is key to the success of our program youth.
- Each year Pathways residents participate in Big Sunday's Day of Volunteering
- They volunteer each year at UFC’s College Within Reach event
- Pathways hosts an annual Easter egg hunt and Halloween party for Whittier community residents
Spotlight
Michelle currently attends Cerritos College and has maintained a 3.1 GPA.
She has received a UFC College Sponsorship as a transfer student to attend UC Riverside next year.