Community Connections Youth Project is a voluntary case management program offered by FosterAdopt Connect to serve older foster youth and young adults who recently aged-out of foster care (ages 17-26). The overall goal of the program is to connect clients to services and resources they need to be successful as adults, and to mitigate many of the circumstances that lead to negative lifetime outcomes for people who have experienced significant childhood trauma. 
 
After exiting foster care, this population is very likely to experience mental health challenges, substance abuse, homelessness and domestic violence. Following enrollment, clients define immediate and long-term goals, and receive one-on-one assistance from dedicated staff specialists (who are former foster youths) to achieve those goals. These goals fall into several domains, including education, employment and financial stability. Helping clients achieve these goals increases the resources they have at their disposal to address crises as they arise, and greatly reduces the likelihood that they will experience domestic violence or will perpetrate violence on someone else.
  
CCYP clients also receive direct assistance to help meet their goals, including transportation, service linkage, access to supportive housing and (in a limited number of cases) financial assistance. CCYP staff meet with clients at least monthly, helping to encourage continuous improvement and to monitor client progress.

COMBAT Funding: $26,000.00