2021 COMBAT Mid-Year Funding: $59,602.00

in Cornerstones Of Care’s Own Words

The purpose of Cornerstones of Care’s Build Trybe program is to build a bridge to successful employment in skilled trades for youth aging out of foster care, foster youth with mental health disorders, homeless youth and students with behavioral challenges.

Build Trybe provides experiential learning opportunities in horticulture, culinary, construction, landscaping, metalworking and woodworking trades. Build Trybe trains youth aged 13 and over in advanced trades programming, utilizing learning centers and community partners to create real-world experiential classes.  

Apprentices in the Build Trybe program are paid and engaged in financial literacy and budgeting classes to save for first cars, first apartments and trade tools.

As the youth show aptitude and job readiness, Build Trybe then partners these young adults with skilled trades people, advanced training programs, and employers in the community. Build Trybe provides youth with mentors and employers wrap-around supports at job sites to ensure continued success for youth in the workplace. The outcome is that youth from chaotic backgrounds with behavioral challenges and mental health disorders gain experience in skilled trades and make positive connections in the community that will support their successful transition to adulthood after emancipation and graduation.

Without Build Trybe, these youth would not otherwise have these opportunities. They would  be emancipated from the foster care system, graduate from high school, or be discharged from the transitional living program with no tangible resources to access skilled positions in the workforce.

This program is not supported by by any reimbursements in services. Cornerstones of Care relies on a mix of earned income from commissions, charitable support from the community, and operating funds to provide these critical services for our youth.

Build Trybe programming moves youth through three stages of development: 1) Introduction to skilled trades and the workplace; 2) Training in skilled trades; and 3) Employment. Progress is not linear. Youth enter the program at any point in these stages as determined by their abilities. They may move back and forth between stages depending on their treatment plan and upon their interests. In total, the program serves up to 300 youth a year, ages 6-21, with the majority (63%) being 13-17.