Origin Story
In 2019, there were no organizations in the Baltimore area designed to address the overwhelming needs of youth coming out of the foster system. Foster care youth are particularly vulnerable in terms of finding affordable, safe housing after they leave care.
Founder Kareen Hill therefore decided to set up Transforming Youths Into Adults, with the goal of providing connections to community and PRP support, life skills, education and career pathways, and access to wraparound permanent housing services.
Since then, the organization has grown in scope, forming connections with institutions such as Race Forward and the RISE program from the Los Angeles LGBT center. By forming a web of positive connections with other organizations and initiatives already dedicated to serving youth, we believe we will be able to provide the “growing-up experiences” so many foster youth lack.
Mission Statement
At Transforming Youths Into Adults, our mission is to change the landscape of homelessness for youth in foster care with connections to community support, life skills, education, and access to wraparound permanent housing services.
Philosophy and Values
Equality and Inclusion
Every young adult deserves access to the same opportunities in life. Foster care youth often find themselves disadvantaged in many regards when they age out of the foster care system; at TYIA, we aim to “bridge the gap”, preparing and supporting these young people in their transition into society and ensuring they enter the adult world on an equal footing with their peers.
It is a sad reality that BIPOC and LGBTQ youths often experience even greater difficulties and are more likely to face homelessness and social exclusion, due to systematic, societal and individual prejudices. At TYIA, we have specialized support groups for these young people in which we provide emotional and mental support, teaching how to navigate institutional prejudice and embrace our identities and self-concepts. Our “safe spaces” program also provides dedicated housing opportunities for LGBTQ foster care youth.
Mental Health
Mental health support is an essential component in the transition from foster care to society. We work hand in hand with therapists to determine and provide the most effective therapeutic solutions for each individual in a supportive and compassionate environment. We also provide interventions to help participants access community resources and the best available psychiatric support.
Dedicated support and therapy are vital in helping foster care youths attain the psychological and spiritual stability necessary to begin their adult life, whether they wish to study or go straight into employment. We supplement this with our skills training sessions and housing support programs, directly tackling the causes of many stresses and anxieties that can trigger mental health issues in the first place.
Community
Foster care youths are deserving and valuable members of their local communities, just as any other young person is. Nonetheless, upon emerging from the foster care system, they can often feel a sense of isolation and lack of community belonging. Inclusivity enriches our community as a whole, and no-one deserves to feel left out. This is why at TYIA we work hard to help these young people integrate into society, teaching them the skills necessary to access the same opportunities as everyone else. Through our Community Support Services and Community Integration Program, our team helps foster care youths to bridge the gap and gain the confidence to know and feel that they belong.
How you can help today
With a donation, you can help fund essential mental health services for foster youths. An investment in mental health today can mean a more productive, happier citizen tomorrow. Together, we can make a better Baltimore. If you would like to support us in our mission, please visit our donation page here. If you have any questions, please just get in touch with us via our contact details and we will be more than happy to answer.
Awareness is also hugely important in the information age, and by following us on social media, you can not only keep in touch with our news but also spread the word and raise public awareness of our mission.
