Project Hope

Our Story

It is the vision of Project Hope to provide lifelong connections for youth in out of home placement and involved in the child welfare system as well as those who “age out” of the foster care system. By assisting youth with various independent living and social skills and providing ongoing support, it increases the likelihood these youth will have a successful transition to adulthood; thus, decreasing the likelihood these youth will become a cost to our community.

Nationwide, almost 30,000 youth “age out” of foster care annually without a connection to a family or a supportive network of caring adults. Without the moral and financial support of parents, relatives, and other supportive adults and a solid plan for their future, these youth face difficult odds as they transition to adulthood. In Pennsylvania, about 1,000 youth age out of foster care each year and risk facing homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system and reliance on public assistance. (PA Juvenile Law Center www.JLC.org) -Youth with adult mentors demonstrate improvements in mental health management, academic performance, and employment, as well as decreases in drug and alcohol use and violent behavior. -Project Hope has been designed based on the standards outlined by The National Mentoring Network (www.mentoring.org) and the mentor training curriculum from MANY (www.manynet.org).

Project Hope is a service of the Adams County Children & Youth services Independent Living Program which recognizes the benefits mentoring can provide to the youth served.