Fostering Life-Changing Opportunities

WEAVING RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS TOGETHER SO ALL YOUTH FLOURISH.

EMERGENCY & BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE FLO HAS EARMARKED FUNDS THAT ARE RAISED THROUGH SPECIAL EVENTS, MERCHANDISE SALES, AND INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS TO MEET BASIC AND EMERGENCY NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AS THEY ARISE. MEETING BASIC NEEDS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORTS POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR FLO'S OTHER PROGRAMS. STAFF TRACK REQUESTS AND EXPENSES FOR ASSISTANCE, COMPLETE CASE NOTES, MANAGE AGREEMENTS, AND PERFORM FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL/HOUSEHOLD RECEIVING ASSISTANCE USING SECURE CLOUD-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS. NEEDS CATEGORIES INCLUDE EDUCATION-RELATED, EMPLOYMENT-RELATED, FOOD, MEDICAL/PHYSICAL HEALTH, SHELTER/HOUSING, TECHNOLOGY/COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION.

THE FLOURISH HOME ('FLOME')IN 2020, THE FLOURISH HOME OPENED FOR OPERATION WITH CAPACITY TO PROVIDE UP TO 6 YOUTH (AGES 16-19) EMERGENCY SHELTER AND/OR TRANSITIONAL LIVING SERVICES, DEPENDING ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL HOUSING NEEDS. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE FOR CLIENT REFERRAL, INTAKE, ASSESSMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND DISCHARGE. RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OTHER FLO AND/OR COMMUNITY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AS THOSE ARE APPLICABLE, BASED ON THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT GOALS. GOALS ARE DEVELOPED BASED ON BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL ASSESSMENTS AND WITH INPUT FROM YOUTH AND THEIR OTHER SUPPORT SYSTEMS. EACH RESIDENT HAS THEIR OWN BEDROOM AND IS ASSIGNED CHORES TO HELP MAINTAIN A CLEAN, SAFE, STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WITH SUPERVISION FROM QUALIFIED, CARING HOUSE PARENTS.

$AVES THE STUDENTS ACHIEVING VALUING EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS ($AVES) PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWO COMPONENTS INDIVIDUALIZED 'GAME PLANS' FOR STUDENTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO EARN DEPOSITS INTO A 529 SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND MENTORING. GAME PLAN GOALS ARE CREATED WITH STUDENTS AND ARE BASED ON ASSESSMENTS AND SCHOOL OR PARTNER AGENCY INPUT. GOALS AND ACTION STEPS ARE UNIQUELY CREATED TO MEET POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. ACTIVITIES THAT FULFILL ACTION STEPS ARE COORDINATED BY FLO STAFF, SUCH AS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND PROVIDED BY FLO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VETERANS UNITED EMPLOYEES OR OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHEN ACTION STEPS ARE MET, SAVINGS ARE DEPOSITED. HIGH SCHOOL $AVES STUDENTS ARE ALSO OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR WHO CAN SUPPORT STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUCCESS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR GAME PLAN. MENTORINGTHE GOAL OF MENTORING IS TO MATCH STUDENTS WITH A TRUSTED, CARING ADULT WHO CAN SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THEIR SOCIAL CAPITAL AND HELP THEM DEVELOP LIFE AND CAREER SKILLS. VOLUNTEER MENTORS ARE RECRUITED, TRAINED, AND MATCHED BY STAFF FOR QUALIFYING STUDENTS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN OTHER FLO PROGRAMS. MENTORS ENGAGE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES THAT CAN INCREASE LIKELIHOOD OF THEIR MENTEES' POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS; INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE LISTED ON THEIR MENTEE'S GAME PLAN. THEY ALSO LIAISE WITH CASE MANAGERS WHEN BASIC OR EMERGENCY NEEDS ARISE FOR THEIR MENTEE. MENTORS WORK WITH FLO STAFF TO CLARIFY STUDENT GOALS AND MENTORSHIPS ARE PROVIDED ONGOING SUPERVISION. INTERNSHIPS FLOURISH INTERNSHIPS HAVE GROWN INTO TWO PROGRAMS, PREP I AND PREP II, AND ARE OFFERED TO RISING JUNIORS AND RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT. THEY WORK EITHER PART-OR FULL-TIME AND RECEIVE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN A REAL-WORLD, CORPORATE SETTING. PREP I INTERNS APPLY THEIR LEARNING TO COMPLETE A SERVICE PROJECT WHILE PREP II GETS MORE HAND-ON EXPERIENCE AT 40 HOURS A WEEK WITHOUT AS MUCH PROGRAMMING. INTERNS IN BOTH PROGRAMS WALK AWAY WITH AN EMPLOYMENT PORTFOLIO, INTERVIEW OUTFIT, A FUTURE CAREER OR HIGH EDUCATION PLAN, AND ENHANCED SOFT AND HARD EMPLOYMENT SKILLS. THEIR PERFORMANCE IS MANAGED AND EVALUATED ALONG WITH THEIR FINAL PRESENTATION. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION, EACH INTERN RECEIVED A $2500 SCHOLARSHIP FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH EDUCATION.

SCHOLARSHIPS THE FLOURISH INITIATIVE'S FIRST FORMAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2020. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROGRAMS SHAPED UNIQUELY FOR TRADE, TECHNICAL, LICENSING, CERTIFICATE, 2-YEAR OR 4-YEAR DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS, THE GOAL IS THE SAME--TO REDUCE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BARRIERS AND INCREASE ACCESS TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR IN MISSOURI. IN ADDITION TO SCHOLARSHIPS, STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH GROUP MEETINGS, ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, OR RECORDED PRESENTATIONS ON AN ONLINE LEARNING WEBSITE. SOME SELECTED SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE ALSO PAIRED WITH MENTORS TO INCREASE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT NETWORK AND HELP THEM MEET UNIQUE ACADEMIC/CAREER-RELATED GOALS. CASE MANAGEMENTCASE MANAGEMENT IS A WRAP AROUND SERVICE WOVEN THROUGHOUT ALL FLOURISH PROGRAMS. QUALIFIED YOUTH SPECIALISTS ENGAGE, ASSESS, INTERVENE, REFER, MONITOR, EVALUATE, DISCHARGE, AND FOLLOW-UP LONG-TERM WITH FLOURISH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND SOMETIMES THEIR FAMILIES, TO ENSURE BASIC (PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS) ARE MET AND THAT SERVICES ARE COORDINATED AND INFORMED ACROSS PROGRAMS.