Model Program

The Program, the Goals and the Outcomes to Date
ET has developed a holistic approach and a model program called "Mentor America" for the nation to direct this population, to independence through education by way of one-on-one educational mentoring, life skills training and in-school support groups/mentors and out of school community mentoring. ET has found that their approach works, as more than 95% of their youth are enrolled in academic programs.

The three-part program designed with funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service, and presented to the Federal Mentoring Council creates a symbiotic support system between members of the community serve as one-on-one mentors, in school supports and peer mentors that address the educational needs of foster youth, and community resources to teach the life skills necessary to transition successfully into adulthood.

Since Educate Tomorrow was founded in 2003, its primary mission has been to develop an educational mentoring program, however mentoring alone was not enough to support the overwhelming needs of foster youth. Therefore, there are three essential components of the Educate Tomorrow model. They are: mentoring, in-school/on-campus support groups and mentoring and life skills camps. Educate Tomorrow believes that these three components are the baseline programs for successful transition into adulthood.

Educate Tomorrow follows best practice models and policy and procedure manuals developed by MENTOR, the office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, Big-Brothers/Big-Sisters, Mentor.org, and other leading national organizations.

Services Provided and Populations Served
Since 2003, Educate Tomorrow has served over 300 foster youth, both male and female (~30% teen-age parents, ~80% with some type of disability, and ~60% with history in the juvenile justice system), ages 16-23 and making the transition into adulthood. These youth reside throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties. However, through this proposal ET seeks to serve Latino foster youth in Miami-Dade County ages 13 to 18. Educate Tomorrow believes that with support from the OJJDP we will prepare youth for proper transition into adulthood. By utilizing a creative approach that integrates life skills, education, public and self advocacy, employment, leadership, housing, health and interpersonal relationships involving, but not limited to: life skills camps and workshops, educational mentoring, in school/on campus support systems and mentors, and as the primary manager of www.icanmakeit.org, a resource base for transitioning adults, youth will be better prepared for their transition.