Children Youth And Family Collaborative
"A United Response to Serve Youth"
The United Methodist Church and the Children Youth and Family Collaborative are dedicated to establishing partnerships with youth-centered organizations in an innovative collaboration designed to link volunteers from the community with at-risk and foster care youth for the purpose of enhancing, supporting and providing a holistic approach for the overall well being of youth preparing to improve in academics, emancipate from foster care while supporting the educational and vocational efforts of youth in foster care and at risk youth.
Description:
The Children Youth and Family Collaborative is a partnership of several organizations working jointly to serve at-risk youth and youth in foster care between the ages of 12 and 18. 98% of our students continue into higher education. This percentage is only possible with the help of dedicated volunteers.
We have 8 after school programs dedicated to improving each student's academics and social well-being. We currently serve students in Los Angeles and Compton. These students need individual tutoring, mentors, and a safe and welcoming environment they can depend on. Along with these programs, we provide social service referrals, family literacy training, college preparation, internships, and job placement for our youth.
PROJECTS OF THE COLLABORATIVE:
- Mentor Project
- Project HOPE
- Tutor Project
- Christmas in November
- Mentoring Opportunities Reinforcing Education
Role Model Mentor Project
Partners caring adult volunteers with foster youth with an emphasis on individualized youth self--development, exploring career options and preparing for emancipation. In order to enhance the self--esteem and self--determination of youth served, CYFC youth interview their potential mentors and actively participate in the matching process.
Academic Mentor Project
Providing foster youth between 14 and 21 years of age who demonstrate below grade-level academic performance with one to one remedial educational support.
Life/Career Skills
A weekly curriculum created by the CYFC to provide foster youth with adult living skills (finance, housing, employment, health) and exposure to potential careers through paid internships.
Legal Clinic
Providing legal services, representation and resources for emancipating/emancipated foster youth that will facilitate their smooth transition into independent living.
History:
The United Methodist Church (hereinafter referred as UMC) is the third largest denomination in the world. Its organization resembles that of the United Sates Government. The General Conference is the legislative body, the nine member judicial council in the "Supreme Court" and Council of Bishops is similar to the Executive Branch.
In 1996 the Council of Bishops called upon the UMC to reshape its life in response to the crisis among children and the impoverished in a document known as The Bishops Initiative on Children and Poverty. This document was sent to every United Methodist congregation. The Bishop have called upon the church to take an active role in supporting and providing resources for children and those oppressed by poverty.
The California-Pacific Annual Conference of the UMC includes California, Guam and Hawaii. The Conference in one of sixty-six conferences of the UMC worldwide that comprises the General Conference. The California-Pacific Conference (which includes over 440 local congregations) is the lead agency in an innovative collaboration formed in 2000 and dedicated to serving at risk youth, emancipating and emancipated foster youth in an effort to prevent homelessness. The Conference through its Social Justice Program has implemented the Children Youth and Family Collaborative, a volunteer service program that equips emancipating/emancipated foster youth with resources and support designed to assist youth leaving foster care so as to facilitate their smooth transition into adulthood and independent living. Mary Ann Swenson is the Bishop of the conference and Board Member of CYFC.
Contact person: Ruth Wu, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (323) 730-9403
Address:
 |
1200 W. 37th Place
Los Angeles, CA 90007
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.cyfcla.org
Directions:
|
North - Take the I-110 South Freeway and exit Exposition Blvd. Take a right on Exposition Blvd. until you reach South Catalina Street. Take a right on South Catalina Street to W. 37th Place. CYFC is on the. . . (more)
Nearest Bus Stop: Metro 754, 2 minute walk |
| Last updated on April 26, 2010 |
