“The mission of L.I.S.A. Inc. is to provide a safe supportive, empowering environment, for youth and families. Our programs and services are directed to help individuals develop healthy interpersonal relationships, obtain academic achievement, manage social and cultural interactions, facilitate the exploration of spirituality and teach independent living skills”
Living In Safe Alternatives, Inc. is a private nonprofit, multi-service agency dedicated to providing transitional housing and daily living skills to foster care youth. Each year L.I.S.A., Inc. provides services for 65-70 foster care youth and their young children who are in the process of ”aging out” of the child welfare system. With organizational roots dating back 40 years, the agency has a unique understanding of both the challenges and the significant stressors that foster care children face as they reach adulthood.
Each year an overwhelming number of adolescents and young adults leave the foster care system lacking the necessary resources and skills adults need to pursue vocational, educational, housing and fiscal opportunities. In contemporary society; most young people do not become self-sufficient adults until well beyond their 18th birthday, yet the average age of a young person leaving foster care is only 18.5 years old. Unlike decades past, young adults now depend on their families for emotional and financial support until they have sufficient education and/or training to live independently. In fact, about half of non-foster care youth ages 18-24, in the United States still live at home and nearly two-thirds of young adults in their early 20’s still receive economic support from their parents (California NGA Policy Academy Team, 2006). In an effort to bridge this gap, L.I.S.A. Inc. provides hands-on vocational skills that not only advance socioeconomic status, but will enable these young adults to achieve a healthy and successful adulthood.
L.I.S.A. Inc. operates program(s) that are grounded within the following principles and philosophy:
To empower adolescents through mentorship, vocational experiences and higher education. We believe that these young adults will be able to achieve long-term economic stability through, education and “hands on” life and work experiences;
To help individuals develop healthy interpersonal relationships, manage social and cultural interactions and facilitate the exploration of spirituality;
To assist individuals with the capacity to maintain meaningful relationships with peers, family members and other adults . Teaching youth the importance of embracing such characteristics as warmth, mutual respect, and positive regard for others;
To promote a sense of mastery and self-confidence through programming that encourages interaction with the world and developing a wide range of skills and abilities. Fostering experiences of independence and success in everyday life settings such as school, career(s), social settings, and familial interactions;
The Vision of L.I.S.A Inc. The youth and families we serve will utilize the programs, services and resources needed to facilitate their journey from interdependence to healthful independence. Employing the virtues of equality, justice and integrity, they will become healthy, responsible and self-directed individuals.
If you are interested in learning more about programs at Living in Safe Alternatives or how you can help, please click here to contact us.
