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Support and Guidance from People Who Understand

If you are currently living in foster care or if you have been involved with the foster care system, you will find that The Door has a lot to offer. Perhaps all you want is a safe space to meet other young people, learn new things and have fun. Maybe you need to talk to a lawyer to ensure that you have all of your entitlements, or a counselor to help you find housing. Or perhaps you need to meet with a college advisor to obtain your education training voucher (ETV), see a doctor or a counselor, or meet with someone who can help you finish your education and get a job. You can do all these things and more at The Door.

The Academy Program

Available in our Bronx Youth Center location, The Academy is a unique program designed to prepare foster care youth for adulthood. It offers tailored case management, employment and internship services, therapy, housing and benefits referrals and case management parenting support, youth leadership opportunities, life skills workshops, trips and more.

Eligibility Requirement-Youth between the age of 16-24 and a current Door member. Must be connected to Career and Education Services and/or Runaway and Homeless Youth services.

To learn more about The Academy, email academy@door.org

Meet The Team:

Click here to learn more about the Bronx Youth Center

The Academy Program (For Foster Care Involved Youth) 

The Academy is a unique program designed to support youth who have had an experience with the Foster Care System (Preventive services, currently in care, aged out of care). We assist young people with their career and education goals as they move towards independence. The comprehensive – yet flexible – structure offers individualized academic and employment service, PAID Internships, support through case management, life skills groups, work readiness workshops and supportive counseling.  

Internship  

  • 10 weeks, 10 hours per week at $15.00 an hour OR 
  • 5 weeks, 20 hours per week at $15.00 an hour 

Young people can apply on a rolling basis 

 

The internship is for any person who is: 

  • Academy Eligible (currently in or a history of foster care or preventive services) 
  • In our HSE of Program 
  • Are not job-ready and 
  • Are not attached to any of our other internship programs 

**All others will be assessed on an individual basis** 

Therapy  

Confidential in-house mental health services are available to academy youth virtually and in person. Our Therapist works with participants to help them thrive in programming and treating their holistic, emotional, and psychological needs. Individual psychotherapy and group therapy are available. Group topics range from anger management to open art space. 

Youth Leadership  

Bronx Youth Council trains and develops youth to be leaders in The Door community and beyond with a focus on advocacy and support for system involved youth. Bronx Youth Leadership activities include skills-based training (group facilitation, event planning, marketing, etc.), supporting BYC essential services and community as a whole, and planning events. Each youth leader is tasked with leading the planning and execution of an event of their choice at the end of the program. 

This program recruits for one cohort per year and runs from February to June.  

 

Parenting Support  

PARENTING JOURNEY 

Parenting Journey is a small, closed parenting group that meets for 2 hours a week for 12 weeks. The program includes activities, discussions, and a family-style meal. The program is based in experiential learning, meaning youth learn by doing. Through a combination of hands-on activities and guided discussions, youth parents will develop knowledge and skills that support them as parents and role models. Youth are guided to reflect on their own childhoods to help them choose what kind of parent they want to be. 

PARENTING SUPPORT 

Parenting Support includes hosting bi-monthly workshops lead by pregnancy, birthing and  childcare professionals. As well as making referrals to partner organizations, and keeping a stockpile of pampers, wipes and other baby/child essentials. 

Housing & Benefits Support  

For youth aging out of foster care, The Door offers an array of specialized services. Based primarily at The Door’s Bronx Youth Center , youth with foster care history may access foster care case management to assist with housing placement and advocacy as needed. The Housing & Benefits Coordinator makes referrals to shelters, transitional living programs, and supportive housing and can help youth explore independent housing.  

Other Services provided: 

  • Entitlements support by connecting youth with benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, Women, Infants, Children (WIC), One Shot Deals, HSASA, Child Health Plus, Social Security, Disability, Unemployment, and Workers’ Compensation, among others.  
  • Crisis management – facilitating access to basic needs like food and clothing, securing immediate shelter placement 
  • Documents– assisting youth with getting copies of official documents such as State ID, Social, and Birth Certificate 

For more information about any of our program, contact us at academy@door.org