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| What We Do: Bridging the Gap |
 Believe that foster youth deserve the support they need to succeed in life.
Recent data show Colorado has 13,000 children in foster care; more than a third of those are between the ages of 14 and 21. Annually, in Colorado, an average of 360 young people will “age out” of the foster care system. Without families, young people miss out on the comfort and security families provide and they lack role models for creating resilient families, successful work lives, and strong cultural and ethnic identities.
Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap provides foster youth with financial education classes, matched savings accounts, assistance with finding affordable housing, employment and scholarships for college, and peer networking and adult partner coaching.
Making A Difference
Bridging the Gap is a focused program that is shining the spotlight on the unique challenges of foster youth. The services made available through Bridging the Gap are preparing foster youth to lead successful, independent lives.
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Financial Education - classes that teach foster youth to balance a checkbook and manage their expenses. |
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Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) - matched savings accounts available through Mile High United Way that help foster youth build financial security. |
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Housing - assistance available to help foster youth find safe, stable housing. |
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Employment - career exploration assistance available to foster youth through job shadowing, work-study, volunteer work and career mentors. |
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Education - scholarships available to foster youth to help them take advantage of higher education opportunities. |
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Support and coaching - opportunities available to foster youth for peer-to-peer support and adult/mentor coaching. |
For more information, contact Julie.Hegge@unitedwaydenver.org.
Learn more about Mile High United Way, read our stories of success, watch our online videos and join the movement for positive change at www.unitedwaydenver.org.
Believe that We Can Do More Together!
Click here to read a Bridging the Gap Success Story
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