Martin Pollak Project Inc

Independent Living The Martin Pollak Project, Inc. (MPP} Independent Living Program (ILP) serves youth in foster care from 17 to 21 years of age. The average census was 22 and all received individualized life skills training, hands on support in community supporting youth's educational, vocational, and social objectives. Providing each youth an single apartment enables the program emphasis of living on your own. Each youth is given a strength based psychiatric evaluation and medication management at admission. Each participant is offered and referred for mental health services as needed. Individualized health promotion and self-care psycho-educational processes, embedded psychotherapeutic mental health services, formal policy driven support for LGBTQIA+ young adults, academic advocacy/ repair and facilitation of community based vocational rehabilitation services are among program services. ILP provided 3 community-based events, i.e. bowling party, picnic, and a sports event outing. All events included invitations to the participants' families. A evidence based S.E.L.F. Group Curriculum is employed with the ILP Young Adults. This psychoeducational group continues to get very positive responses from program participants. The addresses Safety, Emotions, Loss, and Future, these topics mirror and resonate with the trauma impacted developmental, social and emotional needs of the youth. MPP ILP Young Adults had the following success numbers 100% life skills training, 50% of youth gained and maintained employment for a year. 3 matriculated to college and 3 aged out with employment and stable housing. MPP ILP female youth continue to participate with Women in Transition Program working toward entry level tech jobs with a major company upon successful completion. in MPP TFC & ILP has (0) maltreatment incidents. MPP TFC social work staff exemplifying employment of Trauma-Informed Responsive service have by provision of TF-CBT, and Safety, Emotion Loss and Future (SELF) Therapeutic arts program, as well as annual seasonal outing and events for children, youths and resource and biological families as possible. MPP ILP female youth continue to participate with Women in Transition Program working toward entry level tech jobs with a major company upon successful completion.