Pathways to Independence: Reflecting on a Year of Youth Services
In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the Youth Services served 84 youth ages 2-24 and their families through Youth Group, Summer programs, in-school services, and education advocacy.
Paraquad Youth group (September-May) focused on social skills, self-advocacy, and independent living skills for youth 14-24. This occurred through activities like bowling, learning about the importance of voting from staff from the Public Policy Department and cooking activities.
Summer programs June-August) focused on community engagement, pre-employment, independent living skills, and healthy relationships. For middle school youth (10-14), this occurred through field trips out in the community. The museum of transportation where they thought about how they would travel when they are older), music therapy at the City Park and a trip to the zoo where they learned about different jobs available at a place like the zoo. For our high school students, for teens 14-24 years-old, the focus was on pre-employment. Youth learned what a resume is, participated in mock interviews and job shadowed at Schnucks, MERS-Good will and even had the opportunity to gain experience of being an occupational and physical therapist at the Orthwein Center. Our high school -age youth also had the opportunity to visit Forest Park Community College and ride the bus and Metrolink. In July, the focus was on healthy relationships.
Healthy Relationships classes took place in the schools, over spring break and as part of our summer options. Youth (14-21) participated in the healthy relationships class where they learned about friendships, public VS. private, boundaries, internet safety, and sexual health.
Education Advocacy (birth-21) focuses on assuring that youth and their families have the knowledge and resources to make sure that they are getting the most out of their IEP or 504 plan. Last year, we helped an unhoused youth and her parent who found housing I the city get enrolled in the appropriate school.