R U Connected?
A Peer to Peer Outreach Program
The R U Connected? program employs current and former foster youth to reach out to youth who are currently involved in the foster care system. The program's goal is to let them know about the resources available to them in Allegheny County, both now and in the future. We distribute resource-packed jump drives that serve as a guide to services, and as a guide to life. Our jump drives include information about and resources to assist with education, health, employment, housing, and general resource guides. We reach out to youth and the providers that assist them in a number of ways. We make presentations to youth and providers at program sites, conduct monthly workshops with expert presenters, and host quarterly social gatherings featuring inspirational speakers. Team members follow up and keep in touch with the youth we present to - through our facebook group, email list, and by phone. The Street Team also attends resource fairs, and is available for meetings and events to raise awareness of our program and the services available to foster youth. Our team also participates in service learning activities to expand their own horizons of different fields and further understand service delivery from a variety of perspectives. A group of youth conceived the idea for this “peer to peer” outreach program when they identified a common need to be more aware of the resources available to them as a result of their involvement in the system. These young men and women receive information about programs from other youth who have been in their position and have utilized these services to help them achieve success. This information is presented from a different perspective than what youth usually hear. Each team member shares a little about their own story and how they have used these resources, in addition to delivering information on their topic and applicable services. Not only is the program youth-delivered, it is also youth-driven. The team has created their own presentation, and has come up with ideas for their workshops, events, speakers, and service learning activities. At weekly team meetings, the team leader facilitates the synthesis and realization of these ideas with the team, and new ideas are always explored and encouraged. |
