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Casa Valentina commends State Senator Ileana Garcia (R-Miami-Dade) for securing $175,000 in state funding that will directly assist its ‘Foster Care to Independent Living’ Program.
“We are beyond thankful for the continued commitment Senator Garcia, Representative Duran, and the Governor have made to Casa Valentina and the underserved population we serve, said Casa Valentina Executive Director Janice Graham. “The state funds received from these elected officials will help Casa Valentina continue our life skills programming for aged-out foster youth, as well as improvements to our residential facility, which serves as home to many of these vulnerable youth.”
Senator Garcia made the announcement during a recent visit to Casa Valentina’s Insert facility.
Since 2006, Casa Valentina has served at-risk youth and youth transitioning out of foster care between the ages of 13-23 at its downtown and West Grove facilities, which house 21 youths in residence for at least two years. Casa Valentina provides wraparound mentoring and coaching services tailored to each resident, as well as safe, affordable housing to help them achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
Program eligibility is based on students being enrolled in school, remaining drug-free, without children of their own, and demonstrating they can live self-sufficiently. These standards make them eligible for the State of Florida’s Road to Independence Scholarship Program, which gives fostered minorities a monthly stipend of about $1,256 for passing their academic courses.
Close to 175 young men and women have successfully transitioned to independent living because of Casa Valentina’s residential program. Casa Valentina’s goal is to extend the life-skills-based programming it currently offers.
For more information about Casa Valentina, please visit CasaValentina.org.
