Nuevo Amanecer Latino understands that within the realm of foster care, our youth population in particular, are at risk of not going on to have successful lives after foster care or emancipation. The reasons for this are due to lack of services which can provide the life skills necessary in order for youth to learn to become self sufficient.
In 2013, Nuevo Amanecer Latino launched its Mentoring Program which is led by former foster youth Enrique Montiel. After having spent more than eleven years in the foster care system, seven of them under the care of Nuevo Amanecer Latino, Enrique has gone on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from California Polytechnic University of Pomona, in 2006. Enrique was also one of the first college students to be part of the Renaissance Scholars Program at Cal Poly Pomona which aims at empowering former foster youth through education. Additionally, Enrique also went on to receive his Masters degree of Science in Psychology in 2008.
Nuevo Amanecer Latino’s Mentoring Program aims at providing services to prepare and equipped our Transitional Age Youth (TAY) population to be independent and self sufficient after emancipating from the foster care system. What makes this program so unique is that it is run by four former foster youth who also went on to obtain a college degree,are employed with Nuevo Amanecer Latino, and were also under the care of Nuevo Amanecer Latino. Under the Mentoring Program, Independent Living Skills (ILP) trainings are provided on an annual basis to youth.
Since 2009, NALCS has been providing its youth with Independent Living Program Life Skill Trainings. NALCS ILP Trainings have covered the following Components: College, Financial Aid ,Housing, Money Management, Employment, Gang Awareness, STD’s Prevention and Safe Sex, Drug Awareness, Available Resource Available to eligible ILP youth.
NALCS has made collaborations, partnerships, and connections with the following organizations/programs which have reached out to our youth at our ILP trainings:
Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, Inc. 526 E. Orange Grove Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91104 Christina Boothman Community Education Manager
Homeboy Industries 130 W. Bruno St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Los Angeles Job Corps 217 W. 11th St. LA., CA 90015 Blanquita Siongco Admissions Counselor
Cal Poly Pomona Renaissance Scholars Program 3801 West Temple Ave Pomona, CA 91768 Sara Gamez Coordinator
Cal State Fullerton Guardian Scholars Program 6828 P.O Box C-120 Fullerton, CA 92834 Grace Johnson, Director
Mt. San Antonio College Extended Opportunity Program & Services Concepcion Toledo EOPS Outreach Specialist
Since 2009, NALCS has provided and graduated 136 youth ranging from 16-19 years old. Out of those 136 youth who have attended NALCS ILP trainings, 15 (11%) have gone on to graduate from high school and pursue higher education via UC, CSU, Community College, or trade school. As a whole, considering those that have completed NALCS ILP classes and those that haven’t; since 2002 NALCS has had 28 youth graduate from high school and pursue higher education via UC, CSU, Community College, or trade school.