Education & Employment

Supporting Education & Employment for Foster Youth

Aunt Leah’s highlights strengths, identifies needs and advocates for resources that lead to academic success for foster youth. Thanks to generous donors and education partners, we can eliminate barriers to stable housing through our Housing Education Link Program Subsidy (HELPS) and provide in-house bursaries to cover the cost of supplies and tuition.

Jobs are the primary mechanism for alleviating poverty in society. Very few young people are given first job experiences due to merit – instead, adult allies mentor and integrate them into the workforce. Often, youth from care do not have the social and familial network to get these vital first job experiences. We respond to this systemic issue by connecting foster youth with community-minded employers and the wrap-around supports of Aunt Leah’s Place.

Our Education & Employment Programs:

SEFFY

The Supporting Education for Foster Youth (SEFFY) program supports long-term education planning for foster youth and former foster youth in care. The emphasis of the program is on highlighting strengths, identifying needs and advocating for resources that lead to success for youth. Each youth is connected with an educational specialist and receives help applying for bursaries and training opportunities, from a variety of schools and programs.

For more information, please contact the Case Manager at [email protected] or by phone at 604-525-1204 ext. 222

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Bootstraps

Bootstraps works with youth in and from care to identify goals and remove barriers to employment. Working collaboratively with Aunt Leah’s wrap-around services, youth in and from care will have the opportunity to advance skills and be placed with engaged employers as they move forward toward their chosen career path.

For more information, please contact the Case Manager at [email protected] or by phone at 604-525-1204 ext. 222

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Social Enterprise Employment Training

Aunt Leah’s Social Enterprise Employment Training Program is an experiential learning program designed to help youth obtain an entry level position in the retail industry. Over the course of 8 weeks of training at Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store and Aunt Leah’s Donation Center, participants gain experience in customer service, inventory management, sales techniques, fashion concepts, and point of sale systems. While it’s important to teach these retail specific skills, we also believe that teaching youth self leadership skills such as goal setting, teamwork, organization, time management, positive communication, giving and receiving feedback, problem solving, and professionalism will benefit them both in life and in future workplaces.

Graduates leave with a job reference and valuable job and life experience. For more information, please contact the Case Manager at [email protected] or by phone at 604-525-1204 ext. 222

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