$13,230 raised by 132 donors
85% complete
$15,500 Goal
Aging UP is a trauma-informed, strength-based mentoring program for youth with any experience in foster care. Our mission is accomplished through one-to-one mentoring, positive recreation, and independent living skills education (taking place both in-person and virtually) for Sacramento region youth (ages 13-20) who have current or former foster care experience.
Statistically, youth from foster care are our community's most vulnerable population. They face futures ranging from low-education attainment to long-term mental health challenges. Aging UP was founded in May 2016 by child welfare, mentoring, and nonprofit professionals who saw the unmet needs of local youth from foster care. They banded with other passionate professionals to design a unique program, intended to reduce and reverse these statistics. And it's happening!
See what our Mentoring Matches have to say:
"I grew up with people not being in my life so having someone to open up to is what I love about Aging UP. — 19-year-old mentee (matched 2.5 years)
"I'm so thankful to have you as one of the people that has stuck with me. …I'm glad I have someone that wants to stay." — 16-year-old mentee to mentor (matched 4 years)
"I'm a [positive] distraction. More than anything, he gets to be an 18-year-old kid and we get to go out and laugh." — Mentor Mike (matched 9 months)
"She asked if I had other mentees and I told her, 'Nope, I am just hers.' She then said, 'Yes, then you are my Cheryl!' It was at this moment I realized how important it is to these kids to have someone of their own." — Mentor Cheryl (matched 6 months)
Sacramento has more than 2,000 children and youth in its foster care system. They entered at no fault of their own. Approximately 10% "age out" annually. Unfortunately, too many enter adulthood in survival mode. They often lack relational support or sufficient life skills needed to become successful adults. However, research shows that the connection with a stable, caring, supportive adult helps youth heal from trauma and improves overall resiliency. Through mentoring, Aging UP helps youth from foster care thrive into adulthood!
To empower youth with experience in foster care to successfully transition into adulthood.
MENTORING MATCH SUPPORT: Aging UP's exciting growth requires hiring an additional Program staff member who will support Mentoring Matches.
LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS (UPshops): Funds raised allow us to hold skill-building workshops specifically for older, transition-age youth. Topics will focus on life skills needed for self-sufficiency, such as financial literacy, college/career readiness, job placement, and housing support.
EMERGENCY FUND: The pandemic highlighted unique needs that were beyond our original program model. As our teens become young adults, those needs continue to be common. When emergencies arise, we want to assist with unexpected costs associated with daily necessities, tuition and educational supplies, transportation and more.
GENERAL OPERATIONS AND MARKETING: Support is needed to cover overall program and administrative expenses as well as to produce awareness and marketing materials to recruit mentors, volunteers, and donors.
GIFT CARDS: Our volunteer mentors give not only their time but also cover the majority of costs while they're hanging out with their mentees. Your donation of gift cards will provide memorable moments for teens with their mentors and will also be given directly to youth.
Aging UP is proud to be an inclusive community that is committed to empowering youth with experience in foster care. We recognize that youth in foster care face significant barriers and that Black, Brown and LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in the foster care system. We also understand that trauma can negatively affect behavior and that all too often, youth in foster care get labeled unfairly, while the source of why they may act out is often unaddressed.
As a trauma-informed, strength-based organization, we are proud to put our values into action. Thanks to support from our generous community, our staff, mentors, board members and volunteers receive training on trauma as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We also use a cultural focus when matching youth to mentors and offer resources and opportunities that enhance social equity.
Yet, we are committed to doing more. Our current steps include a newly launched youth leadership group, expanding mentor and board recruitment within communities of color, training more on sensitive race, gender and economic issues, increasing the ethnic and cultural experiences for our teens, and advancing the sociopolitical development of the youth we serve.
However, we cannot do this alone. You can help us better serve our diverse community of young people. Join us by donating, volunteering, or mentoring.
Together, we empower youth toward happy, healthy, self-sufficient futures. This has been and will continue to be our commitment as an organization.
Thank you for being part of our inclusive and caring community.
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Volunteering
Discover Mentoring
TBD
Ongoing opportunity
Organization name
Aging UP
Tax id (EIN)
81-3023085
Mission Category
Youth Development
Operating Budget
$250,001-$500,000
Organization Need
Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, In-Kind Donations
Demographics Served
Youth & Children, Low-income individuals/families, Black/African American
Counties Served
Sacramento
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
PO Box 22963Sacramento, CA, US