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(Paramus, NJ) January 12, 2009 – Imagine graduating from high school and immediately having to live on your own, without the guidance or financial support of your parents. Then imagine having the responsibility of working full-time, paying rent for an apartment, and meeting all other living expenses, with no one you can fall back on for help. For many of the young adults living in foster care, this is the sad reality they face. Worse, most of these teenagers have also suffered severe trauma, and consequently, are sometimes coping with depression and other mental or physical health conditions.
To help alleviate this situation, Children's Aid and Family Services recently received a $25,000 grant from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey to support its Mobile Youth Support Outreach Project. The goal of the Mobile Youth Support Outreach Project is to find and help former clients of the agency by reconnecting with them and providing support and referrals to help them successfully negotiate the transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency. The project will focus on prevention and wellness related to HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, oral health, depression, and other health issues. In addition, the youth will be in securing access to primary health care and help with navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.
"Our experience with hundreds of young adults who have left our programs has demonstrated that maintaining ties with our agency and staff, as well as with other significant adults, can make a marked difference in their lives," says Bob Jones, Ph.D., president & CEO of Children's Aid and Family Services. "We are profoundly grateful for this opportunity from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey to stay connected to the children leaving our care, and deepen our commitment to them as they face the challenges of transitioning into adulthood."
"The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is delighted to support Children's Aid and Family Services in its commitment to children leaving foster care and offering them much-needed support to maintain and improve their overall health and well-being," says Larry Altman, executive director of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.
In 2009, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is celebrating five years of building stronger and healthier communities by supporting charitable organizations that promote health as well as the arts. The Foundation strives to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities throughout the state.For more information, please visit www.HorizonBlue.com/foundation .
Children's Aid and Family Services is a leading nonprofit human services organization serving northern New Jersey. The agency is fully accredited and has served the community for more than 100 years. Its mission is to preserve, protect and, when needed, provide families. Motivated by compassion for vulnerable children, young adults, frail elderly and their families, it provides high-quality and innovative services that meet their social, educational and emotional needs.
For more information on Children's Aid and Family Services, call 201.261.2800 or visit www.cafsnj.org .
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