Serve with PEARLS Court to develop life skill resources, enhance the knowledge and resiliency skills of aging out foster youth, and build resources that support the commitment of mentors, volunteers, and community partners promoting the PEARLS mission.
Service Activities
The VISTA member will create strategies for effective coordination of necessary resources with team members, volunteers, and community. In addition, the member will develop an effective life-skill curriculum and mentor program to enable PEARLS participants to achieve set program objectives. Furthermore, the VISTA will create strategies to build partnerships across interagency departments to address program needs in the areas of culture, age and gender needs, educational, vocational skills, employment training and placement for program youth.
Community Need Addressed
PEARLS Court serves a vulnerable population of female teens who are permanent members of the foster care system. Outcomes for this population, of over 1,500 youth in Bexar County, are dismal. These youth are more likely to be: truant, incarcerated, homeless, jobless, and become teen parents. Currently, less than 3% of foster care youth graduate from college. More than 33% are homeless upon release from foster care.
Position Outcomes
The mission of PEARLS Court is to invest in female girls ages 14 to 18 who have been placed in foster care. By providing therapeutic care and case management, life skills training, and mentoring, PEARLS (Preparation, Esteem, Achievement. Resiliency, Learning, Strength, and Stamina) Court supports them through aging out.PEARLS Court provides a network of support including a one-on-one relationship with a caring adult (volunteer mentors) who will help them to value their whole selves and inherent strengths.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
Writing/Editing , Leadership , Conflict Resolution , Social Services , General Skills , Public Speaking , Community Organization , Communications , Team Work , Youth Development , Recruitmen
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process
Tools
Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently