H.O.P.E. Youth Board

 The HOPE Youth Board

Organized and facilitated by youth, the HOPE Youth Board meets monthly in the city of Midland. HOPE addresses issues relevant to foster & adoptive youth, identifies effective strategies to advocate for youth aging out of the system, assists in recruitment of peers to the youth board, and identifies door openers that connect with other youth and adults in the community. All eligible youth are welcome to apply to be a part of this young collective of change agents.

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To refer a youth to our program or for further information, please contact:

Selene Wadhawan / 772-8420 / wadhawans@michigan.gov

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Midland/Isabella Youth Opportunity Initiative: 

Helping youth make successful transitions to adulthood

The MYOI is an effort to support youth who have been touched by abuse and neglect. The goals of this initiative are:

1.  Encourage and support a successful, healthy transition to adult life.
2.  Offer needed resources and provide needed skills to assist in the transition to independent (interdependent) living.
3.  Provide insight and momentum in enhancing our social service system to further meet the needs of families and young people.
4.  To connect young people to safe, nurturing relationships that will encourage growth to full potential.
5.  To draw from the resources that young people possess to serve our community.

The Opportunity Passport TM is the centerpiece of the initiative's work. Designed to organize resources and create opportunities for young people leaving foster care and/or transitioning into adult life, the Opportunity Passport TM is a promising new tool with three related components:

1.  An Individual Development Savings Account (IDA) that is eligible for matching funds up to $1000 per year, when used to purchase approved transitional assets. This account initially receives $100 seed money and stipends are available for youth meetings and events.

2.  A second savings account for personal banking, without matching funds from the grant.

3.  A 'Door Opener' program to recruit new and exiting opportunities and services that help MYOI youth prepare for a successful transition to independence. Door Openers are both socially oriented and community sponsored such as: passes and transportation to local recreational activities, low cost housing and waived deposits, driver's education classes, car maintenance assistance, haircuts and new clothing for job interviews, academic tutors.

A Youth is eligible for the Opportunity Passport TM if:
1.  Current age is 14 through 21st birthday
2.  Foster care, adoption or kinship placement after the 14th birthday because of abuse and/or neglect
3.  Current residence is in Midland/Isabella County (MYOI is available in other counties as well.)

The Opportunity Passport TM improves a young person's understanding of financial matters and demonstrates the positive impact of planned saving for both the short and long term. To enroll, each youth completes a financial literacy class and commits to a realistic savings plan.

To receive matching funds, IDA must be used

for the purchase of major assets:

Housing: deposit/ down payment
Car: Purchase, insurance and licensing
Health: physical and mental
Education and Training
Micro-enterprise and investment

The initiative includes several youth-driven projects and community-based components that support our framework of financial literacy and community connectedness.

Youth Board "Official Stuff" 

(Minutes, Agendas, and Documents)

Youth Board Members

(Current and Alumni Roster & Contact Information)