All posts by Hearts & Homes for Youth

A big thank you to BB&T!

Thank you to our supporters

5Today we delivered thank you card posters to BB&T, made by the youth in our group homes to express their gratitude for the Bash!

Our young ladies at Helen Smith had fun being creative and making a pretty poster, and the young men from John C. Tracey (though you can not see it very well in the photograph) wrote heartfelt messages of thanks for the fun day. BB&T has made our kids feel special again, hanging the posters in their break room!

Hearts & Homes staff and youth are grateful to the BB&T staff who took time out of their day to spend with us at a park. We are still talking about how great the food was, how much the kids appreciated the gifts, and how much fun it was to play softball, throw a football, and play other sports with BB&T employees – bankers are a lot of fun to hang out with!

7The Summer Bash & BBQ is part of BB&T’s Lighthouse Project, which is impacting a lot of people and a lot of organizations that are doing great things in the community. We are grateful to be one of the beneficiaries of their generosity!

We need suits!

Activities for the youth, Volunteering

Friends and supporters, we are in need of gently used suits and other men’s formal attire for our young men to wear to the Kings of Style party! Please contact Vicki Valle at vicki@heartsandhomes.org if you have formal wear to donate to our youth and if you would like to volunteer at this great event!

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The Kings of Style Party is a confidence-building event! It is an opportunity for the boys and young men of Hearts & Homes for Youth to pick an outfit, get dressed up, and become kings of their own style! We hope that the youth leave the party with a fresh sense of confidence and self worth, in addition to formal attire that they can wear to future events and job interviews!

The Kings of Style Party will take place on Friday, August 21st at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. There are many ways you can get involved, from donating gently used suits, shoes, and accessories, to being the dinner sponsor, to volunteering at the event and meeting our boys! Contact Vicki Valle at vicki@heartsandhomes.org to learn more!

Youth receive scholarship from HNN!

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

 IMG_1434On Friday, July 3, two youth in the care of Hearts & Homes for Youth received scholarships from Honorary Nieces and Nephews, Inc. The scholarships were funded by National Guard soldier Josh Nazario, who initiated the Open Arms Scholarship in honor of his mother.

The event was held at Cabin John Regional Park and was co-hosted by Hearts & Homes for Youth and Honorary Nieces and Nephews. Honorary Nieces and Nephews, Inc. is a non-profit founded by Michelle McLeod to give scholarships and guidance to foster care youth and LGBTQ homeless youth. This event marked the first scholarships awarded by Honorary Nieces and Nephews.

IMG_1433Hearts & Homes Board Member and Delegate Sheila Hixson and Delegate David Moon joined the celebration for the two scholarship recipients and to celebrate the launch of a collaboration between Hearts & Homes for Youth and Honorary Nieces and Nephews, Inc. The Delegates presented both organizations with certificates of recognition from the state of Maryland. Catherine Provost, a representative from Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s office also presented both organizations with a certificate of recognition from Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Congressman Chris Van Hollen also signed two certificates recognizing the two scholarship recipients.

“Thank you to everyone who came to the event for showing your support for these two scholarship recipients and for our organizations,” said Chloe Perez, Hearts & Homes President and CEO. “We need to intervene and provide youth with support, to give them access to resources, and help them develop a sense of belonging in the community. This event was a terrific example of what a difference can be made when we come together as a community. We are especially grateful for the support from Hearts & Homes Board Member and Delegate Sheila Hixson, Delegate David Moon, Delegate Will Smith, and Congressman Chris Van Hollen.”

IMG_1426The day was made even more special by the group of Marines from Fort Meade who volunteered to help set up and clean up, and to show their support for the two scholarship recipients. Hearts & Homes for Youth and Honorary Nieces and Nephews are grateful to them for supporting our youth and our organizations, for serving our community and serving our country.

The first scholarship recipient will use the funds to pay for college prep tutoring as he prepares for his Senior year of high school. This young man was born in Jamaica and came to MD in his early teens. Faced with a variety of challenges, he first came into the care of Hearts and Homes for Youth at our Harriet Tubman Emergency Shelter. From the shelter, he moved into our foster care program and has built a strong relationship with his foster mother who he has been with for over two years. He has brought his GPA up significantly and plays track and football at his school. In his first year running track, this young man made it to the State Qualifying Meet. In addition to school, he has a job as a lifeguard at a pool and is looking forward to college and later on, beginning a career in some way serving the community. He will finish high school next year and will age out of foster care in the next couple years so he is taking advantage of every opportunity to get a step up and prepare for his future. He sees the college prep tutoring he will receive, thanks to Honorary Nieces and Nephews, as a huge step toward succeeding in college and beyond.

The second scholarship recipient has been in foster care since she was 15 years old. In addition to lacking familial support, this young woman faced the additional challenge of not being accepted in previous foster homes because of her sexual orientation. She came into the care of Hearts & Homes for Youth when she was 4 months pregnant and was relieved to find a place where she felt comfortable and accepted. She enrolled in a GED program, which she finished a few months before giving birth. She values education and was accepted to the Maryland Beauty Academy of Essex where she recently began studying. She looks forward to continuing her education, to build a foundation for her and her son. She looks at college as a way to start her career and be prepared when she ages out of foster care.

JCT youth are raring to succeed!

Get to know our programs

4VTDQ367MUFor some time now, the young men at John C. Tracey Group Home have had continuous success, which we believe is a result of being employed. More residents at JCT are employed than ever for at least the past four years, and they are thriving with their responsibilities. The JCT residents are motivated, stepping outside their comfort zones, making things happen on their own, advocating for themselves, and doing well in school with little or no school associated issues. For the entire school year, JCT only had two school suspensions that were 3-5 days and both of those were due to fighting.

 One of our young men was successfully discharged from our program at the end of June and returned home to his family. During his time with us, he made exceptional improvements in his behavior. He is still employed here in Rockville at a local restaurant and is also attending a job readiness program in Glen Burnie, which he began while he was at JCT 

Another young man is our Richard Montgomery High School Featured Scholars graduate and recipient of the MARFY Youth Achievement Award. He is slated to be discharged successfully early next week. As previously reported, this young man started a discussion group, which met weekly to discuss current events and other important topics. He graduated with a 3.2 GPA and has been recognized by the high school principal for his exemplary behavior.

Another young man who also graduated from Richard Montgomery High School graduate  is slated to be discharged tomorrow successfully.

One of the JCT residents is attending summer school for Algebra. He is active on the football team, attending workouts and scrimmages and is employed at a local restaurant. He has shown significant improvement in terms of learning how to channel his frustration and use his coping mechanisms.

Two of our younger residents graduated from middle school this June. One has made significant progress in learning how to manage his emotions. The other has been recruited by a local high school football coach and begins practice tomorrow! He has had a few setbacks but he’s a resilient kid.

Another young man who graduated from Richard Montgomery High school went on his first home pass on the weekend of the 19th and thoroughly enjoyed being with his family. He is currently looking for employment and opportunities to do community service. 

A young resident who has been employed at Noodles and Company is scheduled to take the GED test this month. He has done well in saving his money and budgeting.

Our newest arrival to JCT is doing well and will be starting a job tomorrow morning. He was employed at this location previously and the manager has been willing to assist him since he returned to the area; his boss will be driving him to/from work. When you invest in another person, you can make a big difference in their life!

We are so proud of all the boys for their hard work in spite of setbacks and disappointments. We are also proud of the staff team at JCT for their dedicated support to the young men. JCT Program Manager Tish Solomon will be hosting an appreciation luncheon for her staff this month to thank them for their efforts, dedication and their investment not only in JCT but to each and every young person that comes through the doors.

Hearts & Homes youth receives award from MARFY

Activities for the youth, In the community, Words from our youth

Donovan-page-001On June 11, 2015 the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth (MARFY) held its annual Youth Achievement Awards ceremony. The MARFY Youth Achievement Awards have been a special tradition for member agencies, families, and youth for many years.  As an association of providers in a field that is often focused on the challenges of our youth and work, it is an evening to celebrate hard work, success and growth.

DonovanThis year, one of our very own, a young man from John C. Tracey (JCT) Group home, was recognized by MARFY as a Youth Achievement Award Recipient. We are so proud of him for his dedication to himself and his school work. We are also proud of his considerate and thoughtful response to being chosen as an award recipient. He wrote:

“Ms. Tish (JCT Program Manager) and her entire team have all made an impact by talking to me, treating me with respect and encouraging me to be my very best.

Fate is what befalls a man who fails to act; destiny is for men who refuse to accept their failure as fate. We all have failures, the trick is to not let them define you, rather let them refine you and believe in your destiny.”

Congratulations on your hard work and well deserved recognition!

 

“Thank you for accepting me”

Words from our youth

8Y0EDX4VP9A young woman who will be coming into our care this week took the time to write us a note to express how she felt about coming to Hearts & Homes. We were touched by her words and understanding of our mission; we have shared it with you below:

“First and foremost I would like to say thank you for accepting me to your group home program. I would like to express my gratitude and prove to your program that accepting me was not a mistake but a chance to help and heal a misunderstood and too many times to count, rejected young girl. When I had first received this news, I was so proud that I actually started to worry. I was worried that maybe my P.O. had been telling me the wrong news by mistake. But it finally registered in my head once I received your program papers with my name typed in the papers. At that moment I knew that this is for real and it is time for me to give back the same respect that I have been given. That is why I have written this letter. This is just the start of a new beginning. God has given me another chance to show people that I am better than the first view of the eye, or about the things that are written about me from my past life. It is never too late to change; the end of one thing is the beginning of another.”

Love just won!

In the community

11665561_10153195122361749_4550774236824323864_nLove is love, love is universal, love conquers all, love just won! SCOTUS rules in favor of same sex marriage! All of us at Hearts & Homes for Youth are so happy for the couples, children, and families affected by this decision. Family is the bedrock of our society; families are all different and we embrace that at Hearts & Homes.

We were touched by the beautiful words from Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion: “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

BB&T throws a super summer bash!

Activities for the youth, ,

11200886_10153452617732112_1754368695187908046_nThank you BB&T for the awesome summer Bash & BBQ! Hearts & Homes youth and staff had a great time! We are grateful for the goodies, clothes, games, and sports equipment you got for the children and teens and the programs! Our young mothers were especially grateful for the boxes of diapers and other baby items!

The food was great and each young person really enjoyed themselves. Some of our youth played horseshoe; two of our foster youth had never heard of the game until that day, and were still talking about it during the ride home!  Another one of our TFC youth was able to bring his sister who is not in our program – it made him feel good to be able to invite her and create memories for the both of them.

Many of the teen mothers from Damamli ILP were unable to attend the picnic due to their work schedules, however at their weekly group they received the gift donations. They excitedly tore through the box as they each selected items of their choice. They shared that the gifts were not only things that they liked but actually really needed.  They were very grateful and all left as happy campers!

 We are grateful for the support, encouragement, and accessibility BB&T consistently provides to our team, and they reflected the same passion, enthusiasm, and kindness with our youth. Thank you for the the fantastic food, the fun activities, and the BB&T staff members who made the BBQ a great celebration!

Open Arms Scholarship Ceremony – July 3rd!

Activities for the youth, Hearts & Homes events

11392961_10153402388032112_4254942385089717849_nCome join us at our BBQ on Friday July 3rd at Cabin John Regional Park Group Picnic Area from noon to 4pm, as we celebrate two youth in Hearts & Homes for Youth‘s foster care programs who who have been accepted as recipients of the Open Arms Scholarship from Honorary Nieces and Nephews, Inc.! The scholarships will be presented by former foster youth and Army National Guard Soldier Joshua Nazario!

These two young people are the first to receive a scholarship from Honorary Nieces & Nephews, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing LGBTQ homeless youth and foster youth with resources, educational support, and opportunities to become self-sufficient adults.

We are glad to bring the nonprofit, foster care, LGBTQ, and military communities together for a very special day! If you would like to join us for this special day, RSVP on our Facebook event page!