Inside TRAC — March 2005
For more information, visit www.traconline.org or call (214) 370-9300

 

TRAC Celebrates Second Anniversary

 

YES, it'll be two years on March 18 since TRAC opened its doors.

In that time, over 700 youth have been referred for TRAC services.

Many of these youth have found jobs and housing, completed their GEDs and started college. With the support of TRAC staff and mentors, TRAC's goal is to increase the number of young people who have the necessary skills and resources to successfully transition from substitute care to adulthood and successful independent living. TRAC's transition services include:

• assessment and Planning

• skill building: life skills, employability skills, financial literacy

• job placement and retention

• educational advocacy

• housing referrals

• mentoring

• crisis intervention

• case management

• training for caregivers

Many thanks to our donors and collaborative partners who make  TRAC possible!

 

TRAC and PAL - a natural partnership

 

TRAC was recently awarded the contract from CPS to teach the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) classes for the 19 counties of Region 3, Arlington district. The TRAC staff will offer a fun and experiential curriculum to engage youth and prepare them for the challenges they'll face in their transition to independent living. This life skills training is a natural complement to TRAC's transition planning services. PAL classes, which are mandatory for youth aging out of care, are scheduled to start in the last week of March and will be held in various locations around the region.

 

Youth must be referred to the PAL classes by their PAL workers. Youth may contact their respective PAL workers for more information: Rebecca Daniel (Lewisville office) at 972-221-3910, Sheryl Dudley (Dallas office) at 214-370-9300 x23 or Denna Hill (Hurst office) at 817-255-2311.

 

Get OnTRAC   For youth who are six months or less from emancipating from care and don't feel totally prepared for the move to be on their own, OnTRAC is the place to be!  The next class will be May 21, 2005 at 9:30 AM at the Transition Resource Action Center. But if you miss this one, don't worry! TRAC will be offering OnTRAC several times a year to refresh your practical knowledge of all your possible PAL benefits such as: transitional Medicaid, college information/tuition waiver, and PAL transitional living allowance. The group will also go over all those great life skills you learned in PAL classes and have never had to use in the real world. According to Jennifer Grant, "It's PAL squished into one day AND a barrel of fun!" Contact Jennifer to reserve your space.

TRAC is growing!

 

TRAC will be expanding its reach into the Ft. Worth and Duncanville areas in 2005 to better serve youth in this region. This is keeping in line with TRAC's strategic plan to expand in the North Texas region and provide services and training for foster youth and foster parents.

 

Kelley Donovan will be providing services in Tarrant County. She joined TRAC in February as a services manager. Kelley most recently worked as a case manager providing services to individuals with serious mental illness. Kelley has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has also worked as a writer/editor, specializing in health care and foster care issues. Having grown up in foster care, Kelley has served on several foster care advisory councils, including the National Foster Youth Advisory Council, and has been a mentor for foster teens.

 

TRAC hosting second Career Fair   TRAC will host its second career fair March 17, 6-8pm in Ft. Worth for youth in substitute care. Youth will have the chance to meet professionals from various business and private sectors such as a nurse, a police officer, a firefighter, a secret service agent, a dental hygienist, and a massage therapist. They will get a first-hand, realistic perspective on these careers and what it takes to get started, compete and be successful. The fair will be held from 6pm to 8pm at Lena Pope Home, 3800 South Hulen, Suite 230, Ft. Worth, TX 76107. For more information, contact Kelley Donovan.

 

Interested in being a Certified Nurse's Assistant? Great opportunity!

 

TRAC has established a partnership with a local long-term care provider. They will pay youth $6.75 per hour while youth complete a 3-week training certification program. After passing the licensing test, the youth will be placed in one of their facilities for employment or be provided vocational case management for job placement elsewhere. Please contact Jennifer Grant for more information.

 

TRACsters, Start Your Engines!   On May 7, TRAC and Joe Stinson, the founder of Texas Star Racing, will host a cookout for the community to meet  and learn more about TRAC, Central Dallas Ministries and Texas Star Racing.   Mr. Stinson is a volunteer at TRAC and once he saw firsthand the benefit provided by TRAC, he offered to feature the logos for TRAC and one of its major partners - Central Dallas Ministries – on his race car.  Mr. Stinson said this is one way to get more Texans involved in giving money and time to TRAC and Central Dallas Ministries, since many people – like Mr. Stinson a short time ago – have no idea how difficult the process can be for foster youth. Race fans will see these two new logos on driver Blake Harris’ car during the 2005 season. The car, which will be painted in a cobalt blue and metallic silver scheme for the new racing season, will be at TRAC on May 7th! Contact Kathaleen Dean for more information.

 

TRAC hoops it up

 

A group of more than 20 youths and mentors went to the American Airlines Center prepared to watch the Mavericks stomp the Bulls. Folks hooted, hollered, and yelled out for their Mavs, but the Bulls still won. The group made a pact that next time, they’d be even LOUDER to make sure the Mavs brought home the glory. For more information about the fun our mentors and youth are having, contact Kathaleen Dean.