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Delaware Tech students provide life skills training to foster youth

May 28, 2018

Learning with the greatest impact often takes place outside the classroom. That is exactly what happened when a group of Delaware Technical Community College students recently hosted a life skills workshop for foster youth, gaining as much knowledge as they gave.

According to Casey Family Programs, educational attainment among the nation's aged-out foster youth population is lower than compared to their peers. Also, only 52 percent of aged-out foster-care youth surveyed nationally were employed at the age of 21, with 22 percent reporting homelessness. Del Tech student Alexa Shoultes said, "The more research we reviewed, the more we felt a connection, and as students improving our own lives through education we wanted to do something to help with the enormous challenges they face trying to pursue education, employment and housing on their own."

Guided by the staff at Seaford House, a therapeutic foster home for high-trauma youth run by Children & Families First, the students spent months researching services, unmet needs and trauma-informed care practices.

Shoultes, along with Ashley Nunez, Maleka Pettyjon, Gary Brown and Ana Ventura Ortiz, coordinated a one-day workshop at Seaford House April 14. Volunteer field experts including Erin Warner of Jewish Family Services gave lessons in resume writing and interview skills. Motivational speaker Lillian Harrison provided words of encouragement. The youth engaged in budgeting and money management activities, and learned about resources for housing, education, medical programs and food. Hungry Howie's Pizza in Seaford donated lunch during a midday break when attendees had the opportunity to make personal connections.

In addition to providing the life skills workshop, the student group also secured $300 in Walmart gift cards and a collection of school supplies, basic care needs and art supplies valued at over $300 that were donated to Seaford House.

Nunez said, "For some people, working with teens is something to avoid, and they feel that, like the world gave up on them. This experience was so rewarding for me to be included in their growing journey and feel the real sense of home the Seaford House creates for these teens."

Pettyjon said, "What I valued most was seeing their interactions with us, between one another and with the staff. As we encouraged them, they encouraged each other, and it was undeniable the strong connections they have with the Seaford House staff who are clearly making a difference in their lives."

Brenda Smith, program director of Seaford House, spoke about the wider impact of what was achieved when this student group took the time to learn about foster youth and the harsh realities of aging out, and give of their time and efforts to help in a meaningful way. "Seaford House youth have faced tremendous trauma, and we're committed to help them transition into self-sufficient adulthoods. Our staff and kids truly enjoyed this experience, and it was evident that being here with us had just as much of a positive impact on these students," said Smith.

All of the student group members agreed, this was more than a do-good project for them. "We could have just collected the donations, and that would have met the assignment, but the more we learned about foster youth, the more it was clear that the really important needs had nothing to do with physical things. They were connection, support, education, healing and encouragement," said Shoultes.

That is exactly the kind of feedback that lets Michelle Warch, Delaware Tech Human Services Department chair, know the program is succeeding in creating the next generation of dedicated human service professionals. While the official goals of the students' assignment were to recognize a need, propose a means to meet the need, provide services and evaluate efficacy, what Warch said she is really looking for is personal growth. "I hope they will be touched by the populations that they will come into contact with, and that their commitment to doing human service work will be confirmed," said Warch.

For more information on Children & Families First and the Seaford House, go to www.cffde.org. For more information on the Human Services program at Delaware Technical Community College, go to www.dtcc.edu/academics/programs-study/human-services.

 

 

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