1. Navigating Transitional Aged Youth Towards Independence
Launching Families
Navigating Transitional Aged Youth
Towards Independence

2. What is Launching Families?

3. Launching Families is…
A Hybrid Model that bridges foster care and mentoring.
A program that matches Foster Care Youth with resources within their community.
A program that assists in developing a supportive, consistent relationship between a Youth and the Launching Family Resource.

4. What is a Launching Family Resource?
Someone in the community that decides they are willing and able to…
Provide a safe, private, living space within their home.
Provide a supportive relationship to the Youth that is reliable AND consistent.

5. Who are we looking for?

6. YOU!

7. Why our Youth need YOU!
Each year, approximately 15 youth in Harford County age out of foster care whether they are ready or not.
National Statistics show 1 in 5 youth end up HOMELESS.
And/or incarcerated.
Many youth have no positive connections within their own community.

8. Nothing takes the place of a positive, supportive relationship that provides ongoing connectedness.
To have someone to turn to that cares.
To have someone there to ask for advice.
To have someone there to support the Youth when they make a mistake.
To help the Youth learn from those mistakes.
To help guide the Youth to make positive choices.

9. What’s in it for YOU?

10. Watching the Youth grow into a self-reliant, self-sufficient adult.
Developing a mentoring relationship that will carry on throughout their life.
Providing the opportunity for the Youth to achieve a growing sense of independence.
Providing a safe environment for the Youth to learn the process of paying rent and practicing the landlord/tenant relationship.
Receiving customized training.
Receiving a nominal rent.

11. Next Steps…

12. We Challenge YOU!!!

13. Consider becoming a Launching Family
If you are not able to be a resource think of your friends and those in your community.

14. Spread the Word!

15. Right now there are 90,000 families in Harford County.
We currently have 8 Youth identified that need Launching Family Resources.
We Challenge YOU to assist us in identifying families who are special enough to meet the needs of our Youth and become a Launching Family.

16. Nothing is more important than to give a Youth the opportunity to be successful…

17. Navigate a Youth Towards Independence.

18. Become a Launching Family Resource.

19. Contact Information:
Launching Family Coordinators (410)
Holly Santoro
Amy Tart
Navigating Transitional Aged Youth
Towards Independence