Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services to provide Transitional Housing Program

Dec. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- ETTIE LEE YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES

         Contact:

         Vicki Mastro

         626/960-4861

         vicki_m@ettielee.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services to provide

Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) Services

December 08, 2014 – The County of Los Angeles, Department of Children and Family Services has issued a start notice to Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services to provide Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP –Plus) services. Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services will begin providing THP-Plus services on December 15, 2014.

THP-Plus provides affordable housing and supportive services to Youth Transitioning from California’s Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems.  THP-Plus was created by the California State Legislature in 2001 in response to the alarming rates of homelessness among former foster youth.  It creates a system that makes a safe, supported transition into adulthood possible. In its 2013-14 annual report, The John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes, states that THP-Plus has provided safe, affordable housing to over 15,000 former foster youth, ages 18-24.  In 2014 the California Senate passed SB1252 (Torres) which further allows young people who are completing secondary education or enrolled in enrolled in secondary education to participate until they are “not more than 25 years of age.”

For more than 64 years Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services has served the complex needs of at-risk youth with emotional and behavioral problems and their families in Southern California.  “We are committed to doing whatever it takes to provide services to children, youth and families.  THP-Plus is another way that we can serve,” says Terri Varnum, President & CEO of Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services.

Last year Ettie Lee served 373 unduplicated youth and families: 64% were Hispanic, 18% African-American, 11% Caucasian, .1% Asian/Pacific Islander; .1% American Indian; 5% mixed and over 97% were from low-income and/or disadvantaged families.

About Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services

Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services is a nonprofit, non sectarian organization started in 1950.  Ettie Lee does Whatever It Takes to help vulnerable children, youth and families to build a life worth living.  The vision of Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services is for all children, youth and families to achieve safety, permanency, and well being in their lives.   Ettie Lee Youth & Family Services is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation.   To learn more about Ettie Lee, visit the website at www.ettielee.org.

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