Transitional Living Programme for Children in State Care (TLP-CSC) Mentee Handbook

Approximately 700 young people are discharged from Jamaica's child protection system each year, with about 290 youth "aging out" on attaining 18 years. Many youth are not confident about their readiness to leave care and live as grown-ups. The TLP-CSC project provides life skills coaching, vocational skills training, mentoring, and access to a safe and appropriate transitional living facility for up to two years. Additionally, "starter-kits" are given to the youth to help with their transition. Other benefits include employment opportunities through a network of public and private companies, and scholarships for further studies at The University of the West Indies Open Campus. The project is being implemented through the collaborative efforts of The University of the West Indies, Open Campus, and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The MultiCare Youth Foundation (MYF) is contracted to execute the mentorship component of the TLP-CSC project. This includes the training, matching, and support of the youth who will live in the three independent living apartment complexes being provided. The mentoring component of the project provides ongoing support to help the young people fit the life skills they learn into their day-to-day lives and achieve their educational and career goals. MYF will support both mentors and mentees by monitoring their relationships for one year. The TLP-CSC project aims to help the youth avoid risky outcomes, including crime, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy, and to empower them with the skills and knowledge necessary for independent living. The MultiCare Youth Foundation (MYF) is a leading youth development organisation providing critical social intervention programmes benefitting approximately 2,500 vulnerable children and youth between the ages of six and 29 years annually. MYF is an amalgamation of three youth-serving organisations: The MultiCare Foundation, Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE), and Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU). The foundation has positively impacted the lives of more than 150,000 Jamaican children and youth over a combined 55 years. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administers the United States of America's foreign assistance programme, providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. The University of the West Indies (UWI) is the largest and most long-standing higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally. The TLP-CSC project is a collaborative effort between various stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organisations, and international partners. The project aims to provide a supportive environment for young Jamaicans leaving State care to transition into independent living, and to empower them with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful and fulfilling life.