Holistic Support Program for At-Risk Youth

The Children Mending Hearts Holistic Support Program for At-Risk Youth Initiative is a beacon of hope for at-risk children in the heart of the City of Angels, providing personalized mentorship, educational resources, and mental health care. By addressing immediate needs and promoting long-term stability, we empower these resilient youth to thrive. Our close collaboration with community partners ensures they receive the comprehensive support necessary for successful, fulfilling lives.

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What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

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

What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?

Holistic Support Program for At-Risk Youth initiative by Children Mending Hearts provides hope for children facing challenges in the heart of Los Angeles. These children have shown strength despite facing hardships like instability, trauma, and a lack of support. Our program aims to nurture this strength by offering tailored mentorship, educational assistance, and mental health services to help them overcome obstacles hindering their growth.
We focus on meeting their needs and ensuring long-term stability while encouraging resilience, self-reliance, and empowerment. By working with community partners and utilizing resources effectively, we are committed to providing these young individuals with the necessary tools and assistance for a successful and fulfilling future.

Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.

Our initiative stands out by providing a comprehensive solution that includes personalized mentorship, educational resources, and accessible mental health care, all tailored to the unique needs of each youth.Our empathy-in-action strategy focuses on recognizing our youth's immediate needs and long-term aspirations. We are committed to addressing their challenges and laying the groundwork for long-lasting stability, personal growth, and future success. We aim to empower these individuals by creating a supportive, loving environment that encourages resilience and self-reliance.
At the heart of our empathic approach is a strong belief in the power of collaboration. We forge robust partnerships with community organizations, pooling our resources and expertise to maximize our impact. Our partners include the LAPD, Housing Authority of Los Angeles, La County, and other local non-profit providers like Children's Institute. This collaborative model, a testament to our commitment to long-term sustainability, not only enhances the effectiveness of our initiative but also ensures that our support is comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and responsive to the unique needs of each youth participant.
By investing in their holistic development, we aim to create lasting positive outcomes that benefit the individual youth and have a ripple effect, positively impacting their families and communities.

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

Our goal is to impact the lives of youth in Los Angeles County. This project aims to establish ties within the community by collaborating with organizations to offer resources and opportunities to young individuals.
Collaborating will empower people to develop resilience and independence. Through creating a support system, we strive to implement a youth support initiative that addresses educational, emotional, and social needs. Our focus includes mentorship and personalized academic support to enhance performance and increase graduation rates. Additionally, access to health services will play a role in promoting emotional well-being and reducing trauma.
Through these endeavors, we aspire to lead by example in supporting and uplifting at-risk youth in Los Angeles County, paving the way for a more resilient future for the entire community.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

Our goal is to assess the effectiveness of our program using an evaluation framework. To measure its impact, we will consider performance indicators such as achievements, mental well-being, housing stability, and the overall welfare of the participants.
In terms of analysis, we will evaluate success based on metrics like high school graduation rates, college enrollment numbers, attendance records, the number of individuals who achieve stable housing, and how long they maintain it. Additionally, we will assess health outcomes through post-program evaluations using recognized scales to measure anxiety levels, depression symptoms, and overall psychological health.
We plan to conduct interviews and focus groups involving participants, mentors, and community partners to gain insights into the program's effectiveness and pinpoint areas for enhancement. The program's success will also be evident in the growth stories and resilience displayed by the youth involved.

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 150.0

Indirect Impact: 500.0

Children Mending Hearts

Since its inception in 2009, Children Mending Hearts has helped over 12,000 disadvantaged youth become involved in practicing Global Citizenship and positive social activism. The thing we’re most proud of is helping children of ALL cultural, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds learn that they have the power to make a positive difference in another child’s life. After participating in our community outreach events or after school programming, we have seen countless children — most of whom are themselves challenged by poverty, community violence and limited educational opportunities — gain a sense of empowerment as they discover that they have an innate capacity to make life better for someone else. As their sense of pride and self-esteem grows, they become eager to reach out and help in their communities. Some of Children Mending Hearts’ additional achievements include: - Providing free, sustained after school programming for hundreds of youth living in Los Angeles neighborhoods challenged by drugs, gang violence and poverty; - Developing a CMH blog that educates thousands of Los Angeles parents and youth about volunteerism, Global Citizenship and positive social activism; - Sponsoring outreach trips to Haiti, Darfur and Democratic Republic of Congo, where we provided thousands of children living in crisis with arts and educational workshops, in addition to providing them with basic necessities such as shoes and school supplies; - Holding large-scale public children’s events in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, where hundreds of children learned about the importance of volunteerism and Global Citizenship and participated in projects to help their local communities; - Successfully developing and implementing our Global Arts After School program, including publishing a formal curriculum that teaches middle school-aged youth the importance of acting with empathy and helping people in their own communities as well as the world at large.

Organization website
childrenmendinghearts.org
Learn about this organization’s budget, leadership and mission
charitynavigator.org

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