Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana is seeking funding to provide Youth Engagement learning activities for the Good Transitions Foster Youth Program. Annually, Goodwill provides individual case management and group activities to support more than 75 foster care youth.

The goal of the Foster Care Independent Living Training Program is to ensure youth, ages 14-21, make successful transition from the foster care system to adulthood. This is done by developing their skills and providing necessary supportive training and services, while helping teach them to assume personal responsibility for their daily care.

The funding will expose 48 foster youth to various activities that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience, including traveling out of state, going to an amusement park, eating at a buffet and the companionship of being with other foster youth. 

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has found that children/youth in the foster care system are not afforded the same activities or experiences of youth not in the system. The repercussions of this can be profound and long-lasting consequences on aspects of child development – poor attachment formation, under stimulation, development delays, poor physical development and/or antisocial behavior(s). 

Goodwill wants to provide them the chance to experience the thrill of Six Flags – whether they are huddled together while waiting in line or socializing over lunch, they will be developing new skills and building confidence in themselves!