The HAY Center, a private/public program of Harris County Resources for Children and Adults, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to fund a new legal navigation pilot program. The support from the Texas Bar Foundation will provide former foster youth, agers18-25, with the help they need to overcome some of the legal challenges they face when they age out of the system. A legal navigator will begin assisting these young adults by helping them resolve their pending legal issues that often present barriers to their housing and employment. This legal navigation service will also develop a best practice model that will be included in the life skills classes provided to foster youth at The HAY Center. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $24 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation.
Every year approximately 200 foster youth in Harris County age out or emancipate from the foster care system when they turn 18 years of age. Without the help of the HAY Center, many of these youth are more susceptible to homelessness, unemployment or even incarceration. The HAY Center provides services to current and former foster youth in the Houston area, including training, mentorship, educational services, employment opportunities, parenting classes and more. With the help of partners, donors and volunteers, the HAY Center is able to provide services to more than 1,400 foster youth each year and empower them to be successful productive adults.
For more information about The HAY Center or ways to get involved visit https://www.haycenter.org/