Empowering System-Impacted Youth for Success in Career & Beyond

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Seen&Heard addresses the critical issue of social-emotional skill development for systems-impacted youth. These young individuals face significant challenges that hinder their transition to adulthood and sustaining stable employment. Challenges include:
Mental Health and Emotional Challenges:
87% of youth in foster care report experiencing mental health issues.
50% of foster youth experience high levels of anxiety and depression.
Education and Employment Barriers:
70% of youth in foster care do not complete high school by age 18.
50% of youth in foster care are unemployed by age 24.
Homelessness and Financial Instability:
20% of youth aging out of foster care experience homelessness within a year.
40% lack stable housing by age 21.
These statistics highlight the urgent need for programs like Seen&Heard, which equip systems-impacted youth with essential social-emotional skills to successfully navigate their transition to adulthood.

The grant will support a comprehensive program which consists of four key phases:
Phase 0: Monthly community workshops focusing on various skills, such as resume preparation and industry-specific panels. These workshops serve as an introduction to the program and a recruitment channel for deeper engagement. Phases 1 & 2: An 18-week earn-and-learn program combining emotional intelligence practices with artistic training and professional development is offered twice a year. Participants meet weekly to engage in acting, scene work, and improvisation to explore emotions and build essential skills like effective communication, distress tolerance, and self-confidence. Phase 3: A 10-week one-on-one coaching program for graduates of Phases 1 and 2, focusing on individualized career, education, or wellness goals. This phase helps youth balance work and personal life, moving away from a survival mindset to one of growth and achievement.
Alumni Leadership Program: This phase offers alumni work opportunities in volunteer and paid roles, such as Teacher’s Aides or Advisory Board members. It emphasizes leadership development and continued personal and professional growth.
Seen&Heard helps participants develop the resilience and skills needed to overcome barriers and thrive personally and professionally.

Our intended impact is to empower youth with the confidence and skills needed for personal and professional success. Graduates will demonstrate improved mental health, emotional resilience, and professional capabilities. Over time, this will create a ripple effect, reducing the societal costs associated with unemployment, mental health crises, and homelessness. The vision for success includes a thriving community where youth are connected. Those who once faced systemic and familial trauma now forge stable and successful pathways forward into their future. For longer-term scaling, Seen&Heard plans to expand its reach by partnering with more organizations across Los Angeles County. By increasing the number of participants and extending our trauma-informed arts curriculum to other regions, we aim to create a sustainable model that can be replicated nationwide, ultimately fostering a generation of empowered and capable young adults.

Seen&Heard measures its impact through participant surveys, retention rates, and qualitative feedback. Key metrics include:
Survey Results: In 2023, 100% of participants reported using new skills daily, feeling more committed to their education, and having a deeper understanding of self. 87% improved their anxiety management, and 60% increased occupational engagement.
Retention Rates: The program maintains a 65% retention rate, demonstrating sustained participant engagement despite the challenges faced by the youth.
Qualitative Feedback: Participants provide testimonials and participate in focus groups, offering insights into the program’s effectiveness in improving emotional resilience, communication skills, and self-confidence.
This evidence indicates that Seen&Heard’s trauma-informed performing arts training effectively equips systems-impacted youth with the social-emotional skills needed to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.