Photo Credit: Angel ReachNews
Angel Reach awarded grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to support local youth
Angel Reach, the Montgomery County nonprofit focused on meeting the needs of youth who have aged out of the foster care system and those living with relatives in kinship homes, received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to support their “Preparing for a Brighter Future” initiative. Through this program, Angel Reach ensures compliance with the Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood which, by law, requires states to provide youth aging out of foster care with access to vocational training, employment assistance, and other transitional support services.
“While the intent of the Chafee Foster Care Program is worthwhile, unfortunately, many youth entering the Angel Reach program are unaware of their rights to the services that the law has designated for them” said Dan Alexander, Angel Reach Chief Executive Officer. “They lack the legal identification that is necessary for securing housing and employment, have not received consistent and nurturing adult guidance, and are unprepared to meet the eligibility and procedural requirements for accessing workforce and vocational programs.”
Through their “Preparing for a Brighter Future” initiative, Angel Reach offers individualized coaching and the structured support for these youth to obtain a state identification card and social security number, to navigate the programs and assistance available to them, and to develop a structured, goal-oriented plan to achieve sustainable career and vocational outcomes.
“By providing this support and assistance, Angel Reach not only fulfills a vital support role that these young people desperately need, but we are able to also provide a vital support role to uphold the legislative intent of the Chafee Program so that they have as much opportunity as possible to transition into an independent adulthood,” said Alexander.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $30 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.
Angel Reach depends on the generosity and support of organizations like the Texas Bar Foundation, corporate and individual donors. With a wide range of financial and volunteer opportunities for community support, those interested can find out more through the website at www.AngelReach.org.
About Angel Reach
“Angel Reach breaks the generational cycle of abuse, neglect, and homelessness by equipping homeless and aged-out foster youth to live independently, as well as providing critical services and support to relatives serving as caregivers.” Dedicated to the continued development of programs to prevent homelessness for Montgomery County foster care alumni ages 16-24 since 2004, Angel Reach is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Conroe, Texas. Additionally, Angel Reach serves and supports kinship families and the children living with relatives after being removed from a neglectful or abusive home. The goals are to help children and young adults achieve their full potential despite the obstacles by providing employment assistance, education advising, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, support groups and additional resources. Angel Reach is a United Way of Greater Houston partner organization.
Source: Angel Reach
