Residential Programs
Transitional Living/Cooperative Living/Independent Living
Monroe Harding’s residential programs have been providing a home for at-risk youth for 115 years. The program is the only one of its kind in the state to focus services on older teens aging out of state custody. The residential programs serve youth ages 16-21 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or behavioral problems. The youth in the residential programs are required to pursue an education, utilize vocational training and master basic life skills needed to transition into independent adults. These youth progress from a group home setting, to a cooperative living environment where they learn the skills necessary to live on their own, then to an independent living residence where they truly master what they have learned at Monroe Harding. The goal is for all of the youth to become successful, independent members of the community.
Contact Darci Halfman for more information.
Non-Residential Programs
Project SHARE
This program encourages healthy attitudes regarding education by matching at-risk elementary students with adult mentors. Project SHARE is unique in that volunteers are encouraged to come into the schools during class time to help engage the students in the educational experience. Project SHARE is a collaborative program between Monroe Harding, the Rape & Sexual Abuse Center, Juvenile Truancy Boards and Nashville Metro Public Schools. Components include:
- One on One Mentoring
- Safe at Last Education - Volunteers teach children how to differentiate between good and bad touches, identify safe people, along with assertiveness and problem solving in unsafe situations.
- Bullying Prevention Classroom Participation - Mentors help encourage the students to recognize bullying, to respond to it and how to avoid being a bully.
- ESL Group Mentoring - Children with limited to no English speaking skills receive classroom assistance from Spanish speaking volunteers.
- After School Mentoring
Contact Laquita Harrison for more information.
Youth Connections Resource Center
On Oct. 17, 2005 the Youth Connections resource center celebrated the grand opening of the first “one stop shop” for youth aging out of the foster care system in Tennessee. This is a collaborative effort between Monroe Harding and the Department of Children’s services, along with other agencies, to fill the gap in services for those youth leaving foster care or other state custody with no support system.
Youth Connections is the only transitional program in Middle Tennessee accredited for providing youth independent living services along with social development and family preservation services.
The Center is a central place where youth transitioning into adulthood can find assistance in five comprehensive areas:
- Education
- Employment
- Housing
- Life Skills & Well-Being
- Opportunity Passport - an asset building component including financial management training and classes.
Also housed at Youth Connections is the Totally Yours Thrift Store. Totally Yours offers clothing and household items to young people who are in, or who recently aged out of state custody. The youth receive vouchers from case workers and instructors for appropriately participating in their own personal development. For example, they may receive a voucher for attending an educational seminar on financial planning, for dressing appropriately for a court hearing, or for actively seeking employment. With this voucher system, the youth never have to pay any cash amounts for the items they “purchase” at Totally Yours.
Contact Karen Coleman for more information. Or Visit Youth Connections Website Here.
