Tag: Homes with Heart VC

Bilingual report — Older Youth in Care Thrive with Support from Local Families & Mentors

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Clews was 15 years old when, after multiple attempts to escape a toxic home life, she was placed in out-of-home care (formerly foster care). Without a stable home environment, Clews attended 13 different high schools leaving her feeling vastly disconnected. It was not until she was 17 and living in her second group home that Elizabeth met Damon, a mentor that completely changed the direction of her life. Now Elizabeth helps others in care. 

“Just having that one solid person that I knew was always going to be there really motivated me and gave me a sense of confidence and just a feeling like I deserved to be loved,” said Clews. “It felt so good to have this person that I thought was successful also see that same potential in me at various stages of my life.” 

Bilingual report — Transitional Aged Youth between 16-25 Deserve Loving Homes Now  

Homes with Heart VC, a program of Ventura County Children and Family Services, is recruiting loving families in Ventura County to open their homes to older youth in care. Transitional aged youth (TAY) are between the ages of 16-25 and are at a point in their lives where love, guidance, and mentorship are critical for their future independence.   

Currently, the county has over 200 TAY youth and homes are in higher demand than ever before. A safe place to call home can provide older youth with stability and teach them valuable skillsets in preparation for a successful future. By taking the first steps to become a resource family, you can make a large difference as they step forward into the rest of their life.  

Bilingual report — Community Support Urgently Needed for Additional Shelter Homes and Resource Families in Ventura County

?While Ventura County is helping families stay together whenever possible, a child or children may still need to be temporarily placed in out of home care at any time, day or night, to ensure their overall safety.?Homes with Heart VC, a program of Ventura County Children and Family Services,?is encouraging?families to step up?as resource families or?to?provide a safe Emergency Shelter Home (ESH) for children and youth who are temporarily placed in out of home care and may experience trauma and need an immediate place to go.?Currently,?there is?a limited number of Emergency Shelter families who help make that transition as smooth as possible for the children. The county is in immediate need of these special resource?families?and Shelter Homes.??  

Homes with Heart VC,?provides children, youth,?and families with a foundation of respect?and?support, including?resource family services from special people who can?support?children and?youth?with?trauma and provide Shelter Homes. 

Bilingual report — Homes with Heart VC Encourages Community Members to Make their Lives more Meaningful

Local human services agency urges community support to open their hearts and homes to children and older youth in (foster)care, as additional census shows a growth in need during the pandemic. VENTURA — The holidays are a special time of…

6th Annual Back to School Bash Supports over 500 Foster Youth with over $100K in Donations

On Saturday, August 1st, James Storehouse hosted their largest 6th annual back-to-school event in collaboration with Homes with Heart VC. Due to Covid-19, the event was transformed into a full service drive through experience complete with socially distanced superheroes, princesses and a Mister Softee treat to round out the day. 

The event drew in over 700 pre-registered families along with over 500 youth in care to select from a variety of brand new backpacks, name brand tennis shoes, and other essential school supplies all passed out by masked community volunteers.

Bilingual report — Local charities step up and provide a network of support for older transitional foster youth in need and in crisis now

 As the county adjusts to the new normal, it is important to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one of our most vulnerable populations – older youth in care. Homes with Heart VC believes it is essential to provide a network of support for older youth transitioning out of foster care.

Recently, an even more crucial emphasis has been placed on older youth without support such as those currently transitioning to self-sufficiency.  According to a recent article from the Chronicle of Social Change, Governor Newsom stated that approximately 200 young adults age out of foster care at age 21 every month in the state of California. The agency’s Independent Living Program (ILP) provides support to foster youth between the ages of 16 to 21 with the goal of helping them on their transition to a successful future, but due to the current circumstances, older youth, often without families, need additional community support now more than ever before.

Bilingual report: Foster VC Kids celebrates community support by changing name to Homes with Heart VC

Successful Ventura County resource family recruitment initiative reflects community gratitude with rebrand launch. VENTURA — Ventura County Children and Family Services’ successful family recruitment initiative is changing their name to longtime tagline, Homes with Heart VC. The change is due to…