Everychild 2004 Grant: Hillsides
Everychild funding established Youth Moving On, to support the growth and independence of youth aging out of foster care. The grant was used as a down-payment to purchase a multi-family building housing the program, which serves twenty youth annually (ages 18—24). The participants reside in furnished apartments and receive mental health and case management services. This initial support from Everychild was quickly leveraged to acquire other grants. These monies were used to build a continuum of programs that include a workforce development program, community outreach, a peer-led resource center, college scholarships, and tutoring, permanent supportive housing, and life skills training to more than 500 youth a year.
Now, years later, over 90% of the residential housing youth have reached permanency, and Hillsides now provides 41 different paid internships for youth to gain work experience. Their peer-led resource center has become the central location for youth to access support and resources in the San Gabriel Valley. The Everychild Foundation’s and Hillsides’ shared vision for helping youth, who were formerly in foster care, has not only enhanced their lives, but also their community.