Pathways to Independence: Reflecting on a Year of Youth and Family Services

In 2025, the Youth and Family program served 84 participants (ages 2–24) and their families through Youth Group, summer programs, in-school services, and education advocacy.

Youth Group & Summer Programs

Paraquad’s Youth Group focused on social skills, self-advocacy, and independent living skills for youth ages 14–24. These goals were achieved through activities such as bowling, cooking, and learning about the importance of voting from our Public Policy Department staff.

Our summer programs, which ran from June through August, focused on community engagement, pre-employment, independent living skills, and healthy relationships:

Middle School (Ages 10–14): Students participated in community field trips, including a visit to the Museum of Transportation to consider future travel options, music therapy at City Park, and a trip to the zoo to learn about various career paths.

High School (Ages 14–24): The focus shifted toward pre-employment. Youth learned resume-building, participated in mock interviews, and job-shadowed at Schnucks and MERS Goodwill. Some students even gained hands-on experience in occupational and physical therapy at the Orthwein Center. These students also practiced navigating the city by riding the bus and MetroLink to visit Forest Park Community College.

Healthy Relationships & Education Advocacy

In July, the focus turned to our Healthy Relationships curriculum. These classes took place in schools, over spring break, and as part of our summer programming. Participants (ages 14–21) explored topics such as friendships, public vs. private boundaries, internet safety, and sexual health.

Our Education Advocacy (Birth–21) ensures that youth and their families have the resources needed to maximize their IEP or 504 plans. Last year, this support was vital for an unhoused youth and her parent who, after finding housing in the city, were able to successfully enroll in the appropriate school with our assistance.