Mentoring Program
After three years of successfully running our programs we have come to realize that Mentoring is central to all of the services we offer. To that end, Fostering Imagination is expanding and enhancing its existing Mentoring Program.
By Creating an Emancipation Program
Each of our youth between 16-19 is partnered with a long-term mentor. This mentor will help build their self-esteem and confidence and assist them in making a healthy transition in to adulthood. Being foster children, many of our youth don't have a stable supportive relationship with an adult they can trust. Our long-term mentor/mentee relationships are created to address this need.
Offering classes and workshops to help prepare youth for emancipation and independence. Classes and workshops include college and trade school preparation, job assistance, finding and keeping an apartment, managing their finances, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and drivers training and education.
Partnering with Organizations and Individuals
Through our mentoring program, we learn more about our youth's interests, goals and aspirations. By partnering with other organizations and individuals in the community, we are able to offer a more comprehensive program and a wider selection of classes, workshops and activities, so that our youth can continue to explore their creative, educational and future career interests.
Arranging Youth Appreciation Events, such as Holiday and Birthday Celebrations
Because many of our children are no longer living with their families, birthdays and holidays go by without being celebrated. Fostering Imagination for many has become a family unit that they have come to rely on. F.I. has Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations and recognizes each child's birthday with a cake and song, and a gift with a card signed by each member of the F.I. Family.
Planning and Implementing Mentor/Mentee Outings
Each year, F.I. plans four additional events a year, inviting mentors and mentees from all of our programs. These events include bowling, picnics, minature golf, sledding, and much more. They are planned during the period when our programs are on break, so that we can stay in contact with our youth throughout the year. Additionally, our outings bring the whole F.I. Family together, providing our youth the reassurance that F.I. is here to stay.
Imagination Station
A placed donated by the Ruskin Group Theatre, and through the love and hard work of volunteers Eddie Jauregui, Ilia Lopez and Jesion Azali became a home for FI. It provides youth a place to use computers for homework and research, attend various life skills classes, receive information regarding scholarships and other important opportunities, and is an editing bay for our filmmaking program.