Vita Nova Inc

VITA NOVA IS A SAFE BRIDGE TO INDEPENDENCE FOR FORMER FOSTER CARE, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)LGBTQ AND OTHER HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 18-25 IN PALM BEACH COUNTY THROUGH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING.

VITA NOVA INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES (VNILS)VITA NOVA IS THE COUNTY'S MAIN PROVIDER FOR YOUTH FROM THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM CHOOSING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SUPPORTS AND SERVICES (PESS), AND AFTERCARE SERVICES. YOUTH IN THE PESS PROGRAM RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLING, MAINTAINING AND COMPLETING THEIR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, INCLUDING CERTIFICATION FOR A TRADE. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTS YOUTH WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY, HOUSING, AND OTHER SUPPORTS TO HELP THEM COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATION. YOUTH ENROLLED IN AFTERCARE SERVICES RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM VITA NOVA IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, WELLNESS, TUTORING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, COUNSELING, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. BOTH SERVICES PROVIDE A BRIDGE FOR A YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-23 YEARS OLD, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO GET HELP AFTER TRADITIONAL CHILD WELFARE SERVICES HAVE ENDED. VITA NOVA SERVED 138 YOUTH THROUGH VNILS DURING THIS YEAR. > 55% OF YOUTH INVOLVED IN PESS [POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION & SUPPORTS] ARE EMPLOYED > 24% OF OUR OLDER FOSTER YOUTH HAVE ACHIEVED GRADUATION > 70% DEMONSTRATED FORWARD PROGRESS TOWARDS A DEGREE IN COLLEGE

VITA NOVA VILLAGEVITA NOVA VILLAGE IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS LEARN TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN FIVE CORE AREAS: FINANCIAL LITERACY, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL HEALTH, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND HEALTH & WELLNESS. AT VITA NOVA VILLAGE, YOUTH CONNECT WITH A HOUSING CASE MANAGER TO LEARN DAILY ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS RANGING FROM COOKING, CLEANING, MANAGING PERSONAL FINANCES, TO EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS. VITA NOVA VILLAGE SERVED 36 YOUTH DURING THE CURRENT YEAR. 100% OF YOUTH WHO LIVE AT VITA NOVA HOUSING COMPLETED FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING.100% OF YOUTH WHO LIVE AT VITA NOVA HOUSING RECEIVED LIFE SKILLS TRAINING IN (EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, WELLNESS, HOUSING, AND FINANCIAL).

THE SPOTVITA NOVA OPERATES THE ONLY DROP-IN CENTER FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUTH AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY, CALLED THE SPOT. LOCATED IN WEST PALM BEACH THE SPOT IS A SAFE AND NON-JUDGMENTAL CENTER FOR YOUTH AGES 18-25 YEARS OLD. THE SPOT TEAM HAS ACCESS TO MANY OF THE RESOURCES REQUIRED TO MOVE A YOUTH QUICKLY FROM HOMELESS TO HOUSING IN AND PROVIDE FOR BASIC NEEDS. THIS TEAM CONSISTS OF AN INTAKE SPECIALIST PROVIDING FIRST CONTACT AND ASSESSMENT, A THERAPIST TO ADDRESS OVERALL WELLNESS, A HEALTH CARE SPECIALIST HELPING YOUTH FIND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE INSURANCE AND CONNECTIONS TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, EMPLOYMENT CASE MANAGERS TO HELP YOUTH CONNECT TO JOBS AND EDUCATION, AND WRAP AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION WITH EACH YOUTH. THE SPOT FEATURES A COMPUTER LAB, MUSIC THERAPY ROOM, AND PANTRY WITH SHELF STABLE FOODS, HYGIENE AND HEALTH ESSENTIALS, AND CLOTHING.THE SPOT SERVED 350 YOUTH DURING THE CURRENT YEAR.1. 94% OF DISCONNECTED YOUTH INCREASED SUPPORT NETWORKS RELATED TO SCHOOL AND WORK AS EVIDENCED BY JOB MAINTENANCE, AND PRE/POST TESTING. 2. 88% OF DISCONNECTED YOUTH INCREASED EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AS REPORTED ON POST TESTING. 3. 80.68% OF DISCONNECTED YOUTH GAINED EMPLOYMENT OR ENROLLED IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.4. 100% OF ALL YOUTH AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS PARTICIPATING IN INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES RESULTING IN LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY SUPPORTS.VITA NOVA ALSO OPERATES A HOUSING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+ IS A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH AGES 18-22. THE RUNAWAY HOMELESS YOUTH TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM (RHY TLP) SPECIFICALLY SERVES LGBTQ RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH WHO FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A SAFE PERMANENT RESIDENCE. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING SHELTER FOR 18 MONTHS, WHILE TEACHING LIFE SKILLS, JOB TRAINING, ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, CONNECTIONS WITH AN ADULT SUPPORT SYSTEM TO PREPARE FOR ADULT INDEPENDENT LIVING. VITA NOVA HAS SERVED 11 YOUTH IN THE RHY TLP PROGRAM FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.OUTCOMES:- 100% OF VITA NOVA'S RHY YOUTH PARTICIPANTS HAVE SHOWN AN INCREASE IN POSITIVE AND PERMANENT CONNECTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE RHY PROGRAM.- 100% OF YOUTH ACQUIRE EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT.- 80% OF YOUTH PARTICIPANTS WITH A GOAL OF FURTHERING EDUCATION ACHIEVED ACADEMIC MILESTONES.- 100% OF YOUTH PARTICIPANTS INCREASED SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING ACROSS DAILY LIVING SKILLS, SCHOOL, WORK, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS.YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (YHDP) VITA NOVA OPERATES RAPID REHOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS THROUGH YHDP. VITA NOVA HAS SERVED 106 YOUTH THROUGH YHDP.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDING THRIFT STORE OPERATIONS.