New program for foster youth offers education and workforce support

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) is introducing the Keys to Success program and its new partnership with the Gila River Indian Community thanks to their recent $50,000 donation. Luis De La Cruz, President and CEO of Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, joined us to discuss.

The Keys to Success program is an education and workforce development support service ensuring foster youth experience a successful transition to independence.

The funding provided by Gila River Indian Community is used to support AFFCF’s programming for youth in the state’s foster care system, not the tribal foster care system, which is separate.

The Keys to Success program helps people ages 16-26 in the foster care system “achieve baseline education,” ensure they remain employed and have stable housing, according to De La Cruz.

“We work relentlessly and we recognize that the path to getting them there is not linear and we acknowledge that they are kids that have limited social capital, limited meaningful connection and so if it doesn’t happen on the first try, we again a second time,” De La Cruz said.

The program is “evidence-based” which means that the participants are measured by their success and efforts. For example, the program will watch to see how long it takes a participant to get hired and then the duration they can keep it. Another example regarding the adult participants would be the success of gaining housing with and past the support of the program.

De La Cruz said that it takes about $3,500 to support a participant through the entire process of the program. The $50,000 donation the program has been granted from the Gila River Indian Community will guide a few dozen participants “to get them through that path of self sufficiency,” according to De La Cruz.