2015 Child Protection Summit - HANDY LIFE

Program Broward County

Kevin’s Story

• HANDY Scholar Kevin Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPa8zEFsMRQ

HistoryA nod to our past:

• 1985 Founded by Guardian ad Litem Ed Pudaloff and a small group of dedicated child advocates, HANDY began with a donation of $1,000 from JC Penney Foundation. Shared space with the Guardian ad Litem Program at the Broward County Courthouse.

• 1997 Moved from the County Courthouse to a 3,200 square foot leased facility in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

• 2000 Expanded services/programs to include not only children in foster care, but those placed with relative and non-relative caregivers.

• 2002 Inaugurated LIFE Program (Life skills, Independent living, Foundation building, and Education/Employment) a first of its kind initiative serving youth who do not qualify for foster care independent living programs.

History Continued…• 2006 “D” in HANDY changed from “Dependent” to “Disadvantaged,” in a

effort to better reflect our mission.

• 2008 Purchased a 5,100 square foot facility thanks to a $2 million grant from the Lillian S. Wells Foundation.

• 2010 Began serving displaced Haitian youth living with relatives who were impacted by the tragic earthquake.

• 2011 Incorporated the Broward College STARS Academy tutoring initiative into the HANDY's LIFE Program.

• 2012 Named Scholarship America’s affiliate of the year for our educational case management and scholars program.

• 2014 Received Collective Impact for Youth Award at the Non-Profit Academy Awards.

• 2015 HANDY CEO Evan Goldman named Non-Profit Staff Leader of the Year at the Non-Profit Academy Awards.

• Our Future is NOW!!!

Mission Statement

HANDY’s mission is to EMBRACE,

EDUCATE and EMPOWER vulnerable

youth to become engaged, productive

adults.

How We Make It Happen…

Empower

• Economic Self-Sufficiency• Employability Skills • Independent Living

Educate

• Tutoring • Post Secondary Education• Scholarships

Embrace

• Youth Development • Life Skills • Social/Recreational

Development

Embrace Programming for youth ages nine-25 include:

• Dedicated LIFE Coaches for each and every youth.

• Emergency assistance for food, clothing, housing, transportation and healthcare.

• Life skills instruction & mentors.

• Exposure to music, art, dance and fitness.

• Back to school shopping and holiday gifts.

• Referrals to community resources.

EducateHANDY provides tutoring and educational activities including:

• Prevention education - drop out, pregnancy, substance abuse, anti-bullying, juvenile crime

• Tutoring from certified teachers and peers.

• Liaison with BRACE advisors and Guidance Counselors at individual schools to ensure that youth are on track for graduation.

• Annual college tours.

• Teaching LIFE Skills at 10 Broward High Schools/ICON

Educate…• The HANDY Scholars Program provides youth with post-secondary

education, financial and personal support and includes:

• Case management throughout youth’s post-secondary education.

• HANDY initiated college tuition waivers.

• Information on attending technical schools/certificate programs.

• Scholarships for books/supplies/living stipends.

EmpowerActivities that promote self-sufficiency include:

• Job shadowing and mentoring.

• Service learning projects/paid internships/job placements.

• Training and support includes resume writing, interview techniques, dressing for success and more.

• Extended Transitional Independent Living (TIL) support includes academic, career and housing assistance.

• Advocacy at the local, state and national levels.

HANDY programs provide youth with safety and wellbeing, education,

social and recreational activities and advocates to give these children a

voice and are individualized to meet their needs without restrictive

criteria by which other service providers may be bound.

The LIFE Program

Who Makes It Happen…

Our Dedicated StaffDid you know?

• Low staff turnover – The average HANDY staff member has been with the organization four years.

• All life coaches are experienced social workers.• The average staff member works over 40 hours a

week…voluntarily! • We employ program alumni and current HANDY

participants. • Our staff – program and administration – serve as

Mom’s, Dad’s, Aunts and Uncles to our youth.• Several staff members have been at HANDY since the

inception of the LIFE Program.• We are a multi-lingual, diverse staff of professionals. • We have two satellite offices located in Lauderdale

Lakes and Pompano Beach.• We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries!

But most importantly…we are a FAMILY!

Like most families…we support each other…

But most of all our YOUTH!

Our StaffEvan J. Goldman, Esq., Chief Executive Officer

Christine Bernard, Chief Program Officer

Maxine Brown-Webster, Director of Finance & Operations

Beth Bryant, Director of Development

Noelia Cabrera, Director of Business Operations

Deborah Ginsberg, Director of Education

Cara Malave, Director of Program Operations

Phyllis Tinker, Executive Coordinator

Nardege Laforest, Supervisor of Programs

Monique Ismael, Programs Compliance Manager

Richard Charlemon, Sr. Life Coach/Community Outreach

Specialist

Marjory St. Elien, Programs Administrative Assistant

Case ManagersAndrew JacasCynthia SewellSheri Smith

Life CoachesYushika Florence Taryn HoweSabine JeanWilliette Sejour-ThelismonTerran Vandiver

Program FacilitatorsBrice CallinsKris IshmaelJanine JonesFelicia Ray

Site CoordinatorsCynthia GilmoreKarlie Richardson

Peer StaffQuaiytimah AltidorLamont DennisShoshana EdwardsJonisha FelderChristopher Vaughn Alexis Young

We can’t do it without YOU!!!