Programs

Prevention Services

Independent Living Program
Youth in the foster care system are taught independent living skills such as career counseling, budgeting, healthy decision making and managing responsibilities. Youth ages 14 and 15-years-old were chosen by DHR to attend a weekend camp, Camp Life, in order for campers to increase their living skills and develop relationships with other youth. Social workers serving independent living youth attended a statewide networking conference. The conference provided opportunities for workers to increase their independent living knowledge, as well as, scheduled coordinated activities for networking with peers.

Learn more at the ILP Section of our website.

2011 Outcomes
•303 youth attended regional educational conferences. 88% increased their knowledge of independent living skills.
•45 youth attended Camp Life. 100% increased their knowledge of independent living skills.
•74 social workers attended the networking conference. 89% increased their knowledge in serving independent living youth.

For more information about our IL Programs, contact Nikki Freeman at 205-943-5356 or nfreeman@childrensaid.org.

Positive Pathways Program (P3):
A partnership with JCCEO , Impact Family Counseling , The Dannon Project , and Jefferson County Center for Workforce Development to reduce community violence & improve the long-term labor market prospects of youth/young adults (ages 16-24) currently or formerly involved with the juvenile justice system. Utilizing a Positive Youth Development approach, CAS utilizes Pathway Coaches to “coach” participants to develop their own Pathway Plan with short and long term goals. Goals are set for multiple life domains including, but not limited to: Legal System, Education/Vocation/Workforce Development, Physical/Reproductive Health and Social, Emotional, & Behavioral Health, Community Engagement, Leadership Development, Home & Family, Recreation, Cultural Enrichment and Life Skills.

This holistic understanding of the youth helps the youth overcome not only the societal challenges faced as a result of involvement in the justice system, but also helps address the individual challenges each youth may face along these life domains. Based on the needs of the individual youth, the Pathways Coach manages each participant’s service delivery and ensures seamless coordination by connecting the youth to the P3 service partners with the end result of securing and maintaining a job.

For more information about our P3 Program, contact Rhonda Noble at 205-943-5358 or rnoble@childrensaid.org.