All posts by Hearts & Homes for Youth

Our second experience at Camp Old Navy

Activities for the youth,

campoldnavy-smIn August, the Old Navy store in Laurel is partnering with Hearts & Homes for Youth to provide a job readiness day for the youth in our programs. At Camp Old Navy, the youth will shadow their “sellebrities” and develop the skills necessary for job readiness. The Camp is a great opportunity to learn about the workforce, develop professional skills, and possibly be recruited!

Camp Old Navy is a partnership between Gap Inc. (Old Navy’s parent company) and local youth development programs. The program brings teens into Old Navy stores for a half-day job shadow experience that helps them develop job readiness skills and explore career opportunities. The teens get to experience firsthand what it’s like to work in retail and to try out new experiences like searching for merchandise using  a retail computer system and learning how to work a cash register to make transactions, all in a supportive, educational environment.

Youth from our programs will spend the day learning the ins and outs of the popular retail chain. They will learn about what it’s like to have a job in apparel retail and experience hands-on training in retail management, sales and merchandising, working the sales floor alongside actual employees. Just like regular employees, the teens will be expected to learn the specifics of how “their” store works and is laid out, as well as learn a little about what the company expects from its employees and how it wants its stores run.

Our youth will have the opportunity to work the cash registers, run the fitting rooms and “RAD” the store. They will also learn about loss prevention and the customer service values of the company.

Camp Old Navy’s purpose is to offer young people job readiness, helping teens prepare for entering the work force. Old Navy staff wants teens to walk away from this experience knowing that working at Old Navy can be a lot of fun. It can be a great first job opportunity that the youth can turn into a career.

Old Navy in Laurel partnered with Hearts & Homes for Youth last year and youth who participated had a great time!

 

BB&T Hunt Valley hosts picnic for foster youth and families

Activities for the youth, Thank you to our supporters, , ,

IMG_0082BB&T Hunt Valley partnered with Hearts & Homes for Youth’s Damamli/Therapeutic Foster Care Program to host a picnic at Gwynn Oak Park for the foster youth and their families.

Volunteers from BB&T Hunt Valley branch reserved the park, decorated the pavilion, and cooked a fantastic BBQ lunch! They played games with youth on the field. The atmosphere was fun and lively! The kids, young mothers, foster parents, and staff had a great time.

“We are so grateful to BB&T Hunt Valley branch for choosing Hearts & Homes for Youth for their Lighthouse Project,” said Jessica McKinnie, Foster Care Program Administrator. “We can’t thank BB&T Hunt Valley enough for putting on this special opportunity for the youth to create great, new memories.”

History of Gwynn Oak Park

Gwynn Oak Park was once a popular amusement park in western Baltimore County until it closed in 1972 after extensive damaged caused by Hurricane Agnes. Gwynn Oak Park is a special landmark of the civil rights movement. On July 4, 1963, a number of people held a protest demanding desegregation of the park. The protest was successful and on August 28, 1963 the park officially desegregated.

Pictures from the picnic

Building brighter skill sets

Get to know our programs

0MLR4O66MPOur kids have had a great summer so far, thanks to partnerships with great groups like Most Valuable Kids and Bethesda Big Train, and to supporters in the community. The unique experiences and opportunities that one might take for granted, are a first time for many of the youth in our care!

In addition to the unique experiences, the young in our programs are keeping themselves active this summer. For example, one of the young women at Helen Smith Group Home graduated in June and has been working at a local restaurant this summer. She will begin studying in the fall at Montgomery College or Morgan State University. Her goal is to become a nurse.

Another young lady at Helen Smith Group Homes is also working at a local restaurant and taking two summer classes so that she can graduate from high school this summer.

Another youth is a rising Senior at her high school. She has been working this summer as a lifeguard at a community pool. She enjoys theatre and drama class. Her goal is to be a business owner.

One young woman is entering her Junior year and will participate in the Dual Enrollment program for high school students at Montgomery College. She has also been working at a local restaurant this summer.

Three young ladies are fairly new to the program. One is attending summer school and enjoys arts and crafts. Another enjoys animals and working with her hands; she said when she grows up she wants to be a tow truck driver, a volunteer fire fighter, or an auto mechanic. The third young woman loves animals, cooking, and trying new things; she recently helped volunteers with yard work at the group home.

 

Church of the Nativity Youth Group partners with Hearts & Homes for Youth

In the community

IMG_1874Painted Palette and Church of the Nativity Youth Group partnered with Hearts & Homes for Youth to paint beautiful and inspiring canvasses for the youth in Hearts & Homes’ programs!

The children spent time speaking with Hearts & Homes’ Director of Community Relations about the type of challenges faced by youth in the agency’s care. The kids were very engaged and were eager to help.

After painting a solid background on a canvas, each child painted a picture  that they thought would make the kids at Hearts & Homes for Youth feel comforted and cared about.

Helen Smith girls cheer on the Nationals

Activities for the youth, Thank you to our supporters,

image (8)Recently, residents from our Helen Smith Group Home for Girls attended a baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, courtesy of tickets provided to Hearts & Homes for Youth by Most Valuable Kids. The girls were very excited to attend and thoroughly enjoyed the game.

Most Valuable Kids (MVK) is an organization that provides children’s organizations access to professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events through an online ticket donation and reward system. MVK overcomes the financial obstacles associated with live events by distributing unused tickets to children that would enjoy the opportunity to go to an event, but would otherwise not be able to because of the high costs associated with tickets. MVK values the positive source of inspiration provided by live sports and entertainment provide for children in a world where there are many negative alternatives.

image (1)For two of the girls in the Helen Smith Group Home program, it was their first time attending a baseball game. For another, it was her first time in Washington, DC.

All of us at Hearts & Homes for Youth are grateful to MVK and all our supporters who make outings like this possible! Often, the youth in our care are first timers with the experiences! Unique opportunities and experiences are a critical part of the healing process as youth heal, grow, and being building brighter futures.

Prince George’s County DJS hosts flag football tournament for youth

Activities for the youth, Volunteering, ,

IMG_4022Earlier this summer the Prince George’s County Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) invited Hearts & Homes’ youth to attend the 3rd Annual Flag Football Game they hosted at a school in Upper Marlboro, MD. DJS provided food, beverages, enlightening speakers, and a fun day for the youth!

Young men from our Harriet Tubman Shelter and young women from our John C Tracey Group Home participated in the event and had a great time!

Hearts & Homes for Youth looks forward to collaborating with Prince George’s County Department of Juvenile Services and is grateful for putting on this wonderful event for young people!

Imagine Project comes to Hearts & Homes for Youth

Activities for the youth, ,

LOGO-blue-220This summer Hearts & Homes for Youth is teaming up with Imagine Project Inc. to provide a summer workshop for all of the youth in Hearts & Homes for Youth programs. Over the next two months, Imagine Project team is hosting a twice-weekly acting, creativity and improvisation program for the youth. The program will allow them the opportunity to experiment and express themselves freely.

“We are so grateful to Imagine Project for choosing to work with the youth in our care,” said Hearts & Homes CEO and President Chloe Perez. “This is a spectacular program that will have an immeasurable impact on the kids in our care. Encouraging the youth to express themselves supports their mental, social, and emotional growth by building their self-confidence, fostering creative thinking, and encouraging them to use their voice.”

“Imagine Project Inc. is elated to be bringing our program to Hearts & Homes for Youth,” said Imagine Project Director Bill Bartlett. “In conjunction with our 25th anniversary of nurturing the artistry and creative talents of under-served youth throughout the northeast, we are proud to announce our collaboration with Hearts & Homes for Youth in presenting an 8-week creativity workshop for the young people in their care. We hope to establish a permanent ongoing program to continue supporting youth in Maryland.”

The 8-week program is sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private philanthropy based in Baltimore devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children at risk of poor educational, economic, social, and health outcomes. Their work focuses on strengthening families, building stronger communities and ensuring access to opportunity. They advance research and solutions to overcome the barriers to success, help communities demonstrate what works and influence decision makers to invest in strategies based on solid evidence.

Imagine Project is a New York City-based creative arts not-for-profit organization that nurtures children from all backgrounds to express themselves through improvisation and song. None of the kids in Imagine Project programs are trained actors or singers. Director Bill Bartlett, who founded the group twenty years ago, taps into their natural talent and comedic ability guiding them toward an original production at seasons end. For more information about Imagine Project, go to www.imagineproject.org

Jumpstart gets spruced up by BB&T

Thank you to our supporters, Volunteering

IMG_0220BB&T Bethesda employees volunteered for a day at Hearts & Homes for Youth’s Jumpstart Group Home. The volunteers repainted the front and back porches, and added mulch, removed weeds and planted a beautiful row of flowers in the yard.

“BB&T is extremely proud to support Hearts & Homes for Youth again this year through our annual Lighthouse Project,” said Thomas Ransom, BB&T Market President and Hearts & Homes Board Chair. “The organization’s mission of empowering our young population by providing them with a homelike environment, supportive services, and social, recreational, health and fitness, arts and learning activities should be applauded. Their mission to foster respect, independence and personal growth for each individual is vital to the community. We’re proud to team up with them and help in any way we can.”

Chloe Perez, Hearts & Homes for Youth CEO and President said the improvements were greatly appreciated.

“This is a big project  that requires a lot of supplies and time,” she said. “It is invaluable to have a group of volunteers help us spruce up the residence, so we that we can continue to be a warm and homelike environment for the youth in our care.”

Valerie Snogren, the agency’s Chief of Staff, agreed. “It’s a big help for us. The house looks refreshed and the porch is beautiful,” she said.

Caitlin Ward, the agency’s Director of Community Relations said she appreciated the new look. “I think the result of their efforts is incredible and will have an impact on the kids because they will understand that the volunteers were here to support them and make their home beautiful.”

BB&T Market President Thomas Ransom has led BB&T Lighthouse efforts with Hearts & Homes for Youth for a number of years. For example, last year, BB&T hosted a Summer Bash and Barbecue for youth from all of the Hearts & Homes for Youth programs at a park in Montgomery County. In addition to great lunch and games, BB&T provided the youth with sports equipment and school supplies.  In previous years, BB&T Lighthouse Project has also come to our Harriet Tubman Emergency Shelter and Helen Smith Group Home for Girls to paint the homes, spruce up the yard, and donate household items.

“BB&T is always glad to support great organizations like Hearts & Homes for Youth” he said. “It feels good to be out in the community making a difference.”

Securing summer jobs!

Words from our youth
739D74EEB8We are ecstatic for one of our boys at Jumpstart Group Home who secured a job at an auto body shop!
 
He said, “I’m excited because it reminds me of how much I loved working at my stepdad’s auto shop. I’m so excited to be doing this work again. I love cars so much. It’s not just working on cars, it’s a new experience with auto-body collision repair. It’s not just fixing the engine, its fixing the structure and the body of the car. I feel amazing. I feel more motivated. I went from having a cold sleeve, thinking I didn’t have anything going for me, to having a hot sleeve. It’s a big lead. My mom is going to be so proud.”
This determined young person is currently a Junior in high school maintaining a 3.5 GPA with the goal of getting a scholarship to Lincoln Technical Institute.
We are also so proud of the girls at our Helen Smith Group Home who have secured summer jobs! Three of the girls will be working at restaurants this summer, and one will be working as a lifeguard at a community swimming pool! We are so excited for and proud of our girls!
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Working is a great way to develop self-confidence, a greater sense of responsibility, and learn more about their career interests! Vocational support is one of many supportive services that we provide to the youth in our care to help them build brighter futures. Additional services provided by our devoted staff of child welfare professionals includes individualized case management, therapy, academic support, mental health support, advocacy, and life skills training in a homelike environment.

Give Crystal a Boost!

Get to know our programs

Crystal, pictured at her graduation with her son and foster mother

We are asking for your help to support one of our young mothers in foster care who has recently graduated!

Crystal has been with her foster parent through Hearts & Homes for Youth for just over a year. During that time, she gave birth to her son, graduated from high school, and developed a great relationship with her foster parent. She applied and has been accepted to a 10-month leadership development program that will begin in Fall! Crystal is a wonderful, caring, attentive, dependable, and responsible mother. Let’s show her our support!

Our goal is to raise $2000 for Crystal. She has day care set up for her son in Fall, but needs help paying for day care this Summer. She also needs help paying driving school fees and to buy some needed baby supplies.

To donate, click here & put “Crystal” in the comment box, thank you!

Crystal, pictured with her son and her Social Workers