What We Do
We work directly with Boulder County caseworkers and their clients to support the individual needs of young adults aging out of foster care. These are examples of the many ways we help.
Services
Education
Helping Hands - There After Foster Care provides tutoring and funding for youth seeking their GED, academic advice for those seeking post-secondary education, assistance in completing the FAFSA, help with completing college and technical training applications,a nd support with class registration
Parenting
Many youth aging out of foster care become parents as young adults. We help furnish their nursery and provide needed baby care items. Diapers and diaper wipes are a constant expense for a young parent and donations are always needed.
Aid for the Incarcerated
When a young adult who has aged out of foster care is incarcerated, it is often without the support of parents or other family members who care. We send birthday and holiday cards to let them know they are not forgotten, and deposit money to help with commissary items. We plan in advance to provide a wardrobe, phone, and other essentials they’ll need upon release.
Housing
Volunteers and community members help youth find and furnish long-term housing. When necessary, we provide funding for security deposits and first month’s rent. If a young person is at risk of eviction due to missed payments, we step in with support to help them recover and maintain their housing.
Medical Aids
Youth who have been in foster care often have medical needs that were not met when they were younger. Even though they may receive Medicaid, it does not cover orthodontics or eyeglasses after they are 19. We work with social workers to ensure youth get the equipment they need.
First Night Home Baskets
When youth move into their first apartment, they often enter with only a sack of clothing. We provide youth moving into their first apartment a laundry basket full of the items they need to eat, sleep, and shower their first night in a new home. These baskets include a pillow and blanket, kitchenware, towels, and toiletries.
Emergency Essential Items
Social workers often reach out to us when a young adult reports they have no food or are in desperate need of diapers, fuel, transportation, debt management, or other necessary assistance. We provide funding and/or items to help youth meet their basic living requirements.
2024 Recap - June to December
Education
-
GED testing and tutoring for 3 youth
-
5 laptops for studying for the GED or higher education
-
2 quilts for graduation gifts
Winter & Holiday
-
A winter coat for every youth we serve who needed one
-
Holiday gifts for more than 60 young adults and their children
Medical Aids
-
4 pairs of eye glasses
Emergency Essential Items
-
Coat, boots, small wardrobe and laundry money for a homeless youth
-
15 boxes of personal hygiene products
-
Birthday gifts for 2 children of adults who aged out of foster care
-
6 cell phones
-
Pet adoption fee for a youth in need of an Emotional Support Animal
Transportation
-
2 bicycles for transportation
-
11 bus passes for transportation
-
New tires and car repairs to keep a vehicle safe
-
Help with the purchase of a car for youth supporting her siblings
Housing
-
14 new pillows
-
Lamps, kitchenware, and furniture for 8 different apartments and the muscle and transportation to move youth into these apartments
-
3 utility payments to keep the heat and the lights on
-
vacuum cleaner
-
2 laundry gift cards
-
Back rent for 3 youth (in different apartments) facing eviction
-
12 boxes of cleaning supplies
-
8 first night home kits
-
2 toaster ovens and 6 air fryers for youth who have no oven
-
13 emergency food gift cards
Parenting
-
16 boxes of diapers and diaper wipes
-
3 nurseries with everything a baby needs
-
2 car seats
We believe in the potential of every young adult aging out of foster care. We are dedicated to empowering them to embrace their past, define their future, and change the world for the better.