What is Connections?
Connections is a unique program that connects permanent placement providers, community-based organizations and Hennepin County in a formalized partnership to provide support for youth in foster care. The program is specifically designed to meet Hennepin County's goals for youth in foster care to increase the number of successful emancipations from the foster care system, which means the emancipated youth are not reconnecting with the system through:
1. Welfare
2. Criminal Justice System
3. Open Child Protection Cases of Their Own
4. Homelessness
All youth in the program are under the legal custody of the Hennepin County Department of Children, Family & Adult Services.
SAOIC's Connections Program has the flexibility to design services to meet a wide range of individual needs and circumstances for foster care youth, and to coordinate services with both local government agencies and community organizations that provide complementary supportive services to foster care youth and providers.
Services offered to youth under the Connections Program include: Independent living skill classes providing youth with knowledge about securing a job, money management, making decisions and choices, building self-esteem, skills training, financial assistance with college or vocational schools, vocational and educational homework help, ACT preparation, job readiness, college preparation, and personal development, including gender specific groups to share life experiences and how to maintain healthy relationships.
