All posts by Hearts & Homes for Youth

BB&T Hunt Valley paints an impact at Hearts & Homes for Youth!

Thank you to our supporters, Volunteering, , , ,

group 2Volunteers from BB&T Hunt Valley Branch teamed up with Hearts and Homes for Youth earlier this month to paint housing units for young mothers (age 14-20) in the Damamli Mother-Baby Independent Living program. Associates from BB&T Maryland Commercial Real Estate and Appraisal divisions volunteered on June 3rd to help prep new housing units for move in.

BB&T will be joining Hearts & Homes for Youth again on June 24th to throw an end of school year picnic for the youth in the Therapeutic Foster Care program to kick off the summer and celebrate the accomplishments of the school year for those in the program. The picnic will include food, crafts and games all sponsored and administered by the volunteers from BB&T.

“We are grateful to BB&T for repainting our young mother units,” said Hearts & Homes CEO and President Chloe Perez. “We were elated when they reached out to us! BB&T embraced the idea of doing something special for the young mothers and foster youth in our care. The results so far have been incredible and we can’t wait for the picnic later this month!”

Hearts and Homes for Youth and BB&T invite other members of the community to join them as they work to provide unique opportunities and experiences for the youth in the organization’s care, to help them build brighter futures. To volunteer or for more information, contact Jessica McKinnie, at jmckinnie@heartsandhomes.org.

“We wanted to work with Hearts and Homes for Youth because of the great work they do for foster youth and young mothers in Baltimore,” said Candace Zang, Commercial Credit Underwriter. “We’re proud to team up with them and help in any way we can.”

The BB&T volunteers are taking part in the company’s eighth annual Lighthouse Project. The teams have each selected a project to assist a nonprofit agency to complete between April and June to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need. BB&T hopes their efforts encourage others in the community to volunteer their time and support organizations such as Hearts and Homes for Youth.

Since the inception of the BB&T Lighthouse Project in 2009, BB&T associates have completed more than 7,700 community service projects, donated more than 385,000 hours in volunteer service and touched the lives of more than 11 million people. Associates overwhelmingly voted to bring back the initiative this year. For more information about the Lighthouse Project, go to www.bbt.com/bbt/lighthouseproject/.

Get to know Katie & her daughter

Get to know our programs,

Q5FJUK9OFHOver the past 20 years, Hearts & Homes for Youth has served a number of young mothers in our Damali Young Mother Program. We’d like to tell you about one of the young mothers in our care.

Katie came into our care a year ago when she was 17 years old and was about to graduate from high school. She came to Hearts & Homes for Youth from another foster care agency, specifically to join Damamli.

She entered in Phase 2 of the program and was provided with an apartment to share with her daughter. There she received individualized case management and we helped her develop her independent living skills, parenting skills, and money management skills. Our main role was to provide her and her daughter with a safe and supportive home while she studied for her Associate’s Degree at Community College of Baltimore County and worked part -time at an assisted living center.

In less than a year, Katie moved into Phase 3 of our program, which gives her more responsibility and independence as she builds solid footing for her family’s future.

Katie is one of a number of heart warming success stories about youth who excel with a strong support system and a safe home.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering, , , ,

Are you looking for opportunities to volunteer and get involved in the community this summer? Is your church, group or organization looking to plan something for the coming months or the next school year? If you said yes to either question, we want to hear from you!

There are a number of ways you can volunteer with Hearts & Homes and we’d love to help you find the opportunity that appeals to you and capitalizes on your strengths! Write to us at hhyinfo@heartsandhomes.org to set up a meeting in person or over the phone and we will discuss how we can collaborate!

We are also building our vocational training program! We encourage the youth in our care to apply for work experiences to develop career readiness skills that will help them build their resumes, learn specific occupational skills, build connections with employers who support their growth, and to learn more about their career interests. Work experiences for young people help them acquire jobs at higher wages after they graduate and are a critical part of the healing process. If your workplace offers job or internship opportunities, or if you would like to provide vocational training such as a resume workshop or mock interviews, please contact us at hhyinfo@heartsandhomes.org!

Youth Newsletter

Words from our youth,

CroppedWe are excited to announce that this summer we are launching the Youth Newsletter! The newsletter will serve as a valuable resource for youth, parents, and all readers who understand the importance of seeing the world through a young person’s eyes. The stories, poems, art, and other reflections in the newsletter will cover topics ranging from mental health, drug use, relationships, college, violence, education, community service, and workforce development.

We are selling annual subscriptions to the Youth Newsletter for $10. Proceeds from your annual subscription will go directly to the youth in our care, to help them afford recreational outings, learning and development opportunities, financial literacy classes, and other unique experiences chosen by the youth.

Sign up here to receive Hearts & Homes for Youth’s bi-monthly Youth Newsletter produced by and about the youth in our care!

UPS plants trees at Hearts & Homes group homes

Thank you to our supporters

On May 3, 2016 volunteers from UPS Burtonsville planted Flowering Dogwood trees at five of our group homes, located in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. The Flowering Dogwood trees were donated to UPS by the Arbor Day Foundation in celebration of National Arbor Day, the tree planters’ holiday, which takes place every year on the last Friday of April.

The effort is part of the UPS Global Forestry Initiative to plant, preserve and protect trees in the United States and around the globe. Trees provide the community with many benefits including energy savings, improved air quality and reduced storm-water runoff.

Hearts & Homes for Youth is grateful for the newly planted trees that were planted with care by the wonderful volunteers from UPS Burtonsville. We are excited to see the trees grow and flower!

 

Howard County Chamber & YPN support Hearts & Homes’ young mothers

Thank you to our supporters

13133320_2791697151317_7098169597191062187_nThank you to the Howard County Young Professionals Network who will be featuring Hearts & Homes for Youth at their mixer tonight! They have invited guests to donate diapers for our young mothers and we are grateful for their support!

Diapers are expensive! This is an incredible way to support our young mothers! See here some of the diapers collected by ADG Creative!

Thank you to Howard County YPN, the HoCo Chamber of Commerce and HoCo Chamber President Leonardo McClarty for drumming up support for this diaper drive – a cause you can really get behind!

A forever home for Antoine

Foster care

3Kids are placed in foster care for a variety of reasons, some simpler than others. Antoine is one of the simpler cases. At age 14, Antoine was placed in foster care after his mother was incarcerated. Antoine was placed in the home of our foster parent Ms. Williams, where he has been now for over seven years! Ms. Williams is always in his corner and has vowed to be there for him always. He fondly refers to her as mom, and she calls him her son.

Through his relationship with Ms. Williams, Antoine has learned how to trust people and has developed an understanding of healthy relationships. Her support has also helped Antoine develop his self-confidence and sense of worth. Antoine is a great kid, currently studying at a community college and working part-time at a clothing store in Georgetown. He enjoys boxing and tried out for the U.S. Olympic team.

Last month, Antoine aged out of the foster care system. For many foster youth, turning twenty-one is not the happy and exciting time their peers experience filled with new things and much desired independence. For many foster youth, turning twenty-one brings up fears, uncertainties and doubts about their future. However, Antoine has built an unbreakable bond with Ms. Williams, and she has given him a forever home.

You can change a life. To learn more about being a foster parent, contact Maureen Rodgers at mrodgers@heartsandhomes.org

A Family of Seven Years and Counting

Foster care

photo-1450088323702-8bce64113310Nine-year old foster youth Adam has been in the same home since he was two. Seven years ago, Adam was referred to Hearts & Homes for Youth with his two sisters. The three siblings were removed from a home where they had experienced severe neglect and abuse.

Thanks to you, Hearts & Homes for Youth was able to place the siblings together in a two-parent foster home and they quickly became a family. Hearts & Homes for Youth provided training, advocacy and support for the foster parents, and the parents continue to do everything in their power to support the children and help them heal.

All three siblings are still under the same roof and Adam continues to receive Hearts & Homes’ supportive services. Adam has fetal alcohol syndrome and experienced traumatic brain injury as a baby, which has resulted in behavioral issues and intense emotional needs. Hearts & Homes Therapeutic Foster Care Program provides support to Adam and his family to help him grow, develop, and learn how to manage his needs.

2FB8C48AD1Adam is in a private specialized school that provides services to meet his educational, behavioral, and emotional needs. He is finishing up third grade at a year-round program where he will continue classes over the summer, and will then transition to fourth grade. Adam is very smart and very talented. When he is not in school, Adam enjoys playing the cello. He loves going to Sunday School and he loves taking care of animals. He and his family live on a farm where they raise goats, chickens and pig. Adam especially loves taking care of the goats and the pig.

Adam is a kind, funny, and smart kid with a great memory. It’s because of amazing individuals like his parents, who welcome foster youth into their homes, that Hearts & Homes for Youth is able to help wonderful kids like Adam!

Where is Greg now?

Thank you to our supporters

AAEAAQAAAAAAAAIUAAAAJDQzYzg5YTIzLTFiYjgtNGMxMi04MmEyLTBkNjJhZmU5NzA4YwA few months ago we asked for your help to Give Greg a Boost. Greg, a high school senior in our foster care program, needed financial support to pay for tutoring services, his upcoming prom, graduation fees, and driving school. Thanks to you, we received a total of $1,060 for Greg!

Greg has been receiving tutoring in Algebra and his grades have improved dramatically! Greg has been doing well in all of his classes and earned a 3.0 on his last report card! Now that Greg has brought up his grades, his next step is driving school, which he will begin next week. Thanks to you, we have also paid for his Senior dues, cap and gown, prom ticket, a cell phone, and we have begun the search for the perfect prom outfit.

Greg has an interview coming up with a government agency for a paid summer internship – please send your good vibes! He has also begun an application to be an Americorps Public Ally in the Fall, which would be a ten-month placement in a nonprofit setting. The program focuses on developing leadership skills.

Greg has progressed by leaps and bounds since he first came into our care. Greg was originally was referred to our Harriet Tubman Emergency Shelter as an alternative to detention. From there, Greg transferred to our Therapeutic Foster Care Program and was placed in a foster home. His dedicated Social Worker at Hearts & Homes for Youth continually provides Greg with therapeutic services to help him deal with day to day issues such as school, employment, placement, society, anxiety, family, and past trauma.

We have been able to provide Greg with the help and therapeutic services he has needed because of your support for Hearts & Homes for Youth!

Hearts & Homes Day at the Park

Hearts & Homes events, ,

i-PbwkLXP-XLOn Friday, July 8, from 6pm-10pm, Hearts & Homes for Youth will be the featured nonprofit of the night at the Bethesda Big Train vs. DC Grays baseball game! Get your tickets and join us for this great game!

Click here to buy your tickets for $10!

Proceeds from the event benefit Hearts & Homes for Youth, which provides quality residential and supportive services to over 150 children and teens who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma throughout the state of Maryland, to empower them to make brighter futures.