Crisis does not only affect adults. Children and youth in our community also experience crisis. Many do not necessarily know effective ways to handle these feelings on their own. Their internal struggles make them silent sufferers. Through our outreach and education, we hope that youth and teens who need help seek help from the resources the Cedar Rapids community has to offer them.
Youth
Youth Services
Youth Shelter
Foundation 2 Youth Shelter is an emergency shelter for youth, between the ages of 11-17, who are experiencing a personal or family crisis, which makes it necessary to temporarily live away from home.
Referrals are accepted from parents/guardians, law enforcement officials, social workers, and other human service professionals. Contact the Foundation 2 Youth Shelter at 319-366-8797.
Where Do Participants Live?
Currently, this 17-bed facility is the only one available in Linn County. We offer temporary shelter and support services to both system youth and youth who are not in the judicial system—a safe alternative to the dangers of living on the streets.
What's Provided?
- Meals, limited transportation, medical care, and an accepting environment
- Structured supervision from professional staff; 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Individual and group counseling, educational programming dealing with youth-related issues
- In-shelter school program is also available, and taught by certified teachers, for those not enrolled in the Cedar Rapids school area
Our Goals
Shelter and family counseling services are designed to:
- Restore appropriate parent-child roles
- Clarify strengths, values, and needs
- Aid in listening and understanding
- Explore solutions to troubling issues and build skills in order to prevent or resolve future conflicts
- Focus on preventing runaway behavior, suicide attempts, child abuse, family breakup, school failure, or the placement of a runaway or homeless youth
Independent Living Services
Foundation 2’s Independent Living Services provide supportive services for youth (ages 17-23) located in the Cedar Rapids area. Services include Iowa aftercare services, Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP) and Youth Transition Decision Making. The goal of Independent Living Services is to help young people transitioning out of foster care to have the support and resources they need to reach and maintain stability as independent adults.
Services under the Independent Living Program include:
Iowa Aftercare Services Network
Achieving Maximum Potential
Who Is Eligible?
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Independent Living Program serves eligible youth ages 17-23
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Iowa Aftercare serves youth who have reached the maximum age to receive formal child welfare services
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AMP is a foster care advocacy group for anyone who has been in and out of home placement, including those who have aged out of foster care (ages 13-21)
For More Information
Contact the Foundation 2 Independent Living Services at 319-368-3376.
Learn more about ILP services with Stephanie’s story.
AMP (Achieving Maximum Potential)
AMP is a youth-driven, statewide group that seeks to unleash the full potential for personal growth among foster and adoptive children in Iowa. AMP offers leadership opportunities, service learning projects, speaking opportunities, and educational/vocational assistance. AMP also provides the life skills youth need to become self-sufficient, independent adults.
Who is Eligible?
AMP members are youth ages 13-23 who have been involved in foster care, adoption or other out-of-home placements.
Where and when does AMP meet?
The Foundation 2 AMP group meets the second and fourth Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the First Church of the Open Bible (1911 E Ave NW in Cedar Rapids). Youth currently involved in foster care and former foster care youth are welcome to join us. If you would like more information about this program, please contact the Foundation 2 Independent Living Program office at (319) 368-3376.
What do AMP youth do?
- Train to become advocates for themselves and others.
- Participate in valuable leadership opportunities.
- Develop their voices by telling their own stories.
- Educate legislators, foster parents, the public, child welfare professionals and juvenile court representatives about foster care and adoption from the youth perspective.
- Build youth/adult partnerships in the community that create opportunities for service learning.
- Encourage others to open their homes to teens in foster care or those available for adoption.
- Provide understanding, support, and encouragement to one another.
- Gain the life skills necessary to become healthy, independent adults.
- Explore educational/vocational options to chart their path to become successful productive adults.
How can you help?
Let us speak. AMP youth have a compelling story to share. Please consider having them speak at your next luncheon, meeting or event.
Share a skill, talent or hobby! The majority of youth who reach adulthood while in foster care do not get the chance to develop critical life skills – skills that enable others their age to succeed. Please consider sharing your skills and knowledge with our young people. You can help them build a resume, fill out a car loan or college application, or understand personal finances, to name a few.
Donate a service or item. Teens leaving foster care have many needs that other teens coming of age are provided by their biological families. Furnishings, sheets, blankets, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, towels, kitchen supplies and more are all items these youth will need to live independently.
Aftercare Services
Foundation 2 is a member of the Iowa Aftercare Services Network (IASN) which provides voluntary services and support to young people ages 18-23 who have aged out of foster care or other court-ordered placement.
Aftercare services guide young people toward stability and self-sufficiency in six key areas:
- Education
- Employment
- Housing
- Health
- Life skills
- Relationships
Participants meet at least twice monthly with a Self-Sufficiency Advocate (SSA) who partners with youth to help them address barriers and develop skills to achieve their individual goals. In addition, needs-based financial support is available to youth who qualify for the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program.
Aftercare Services may be contacted several months prior to a young person’s planned exit from the foster care system, State Training School, or court-ordered detention. Aftercare SSAs are available to attend Youth Transition Decision-Making (YTDM) meetings, transition meetings, or other events related to a young person’s transition from care. Involvement prior to discharge helps SSAs build a relationship with eligible youth and facilitates a connection to Aftercare services.
For more information regarding Aftercare services and eligibility requirements, visit www.iowaaftercare.org or call 800-443-8336 to be referred to an IASN provider.
J-FAST
Juvenile & Family Assistance & Stabilization Track
If you are concerned about a youth in crisis, J-FAST can meet with you to discuss options. Issues we can help with include: depression, cutting, violent behavior, substance abuse and thoughts of suicide. We can be at your Linn County location within an hour of your call. Additional services include:
- Assessment & Referrals
- Case Management
Services are available 24/7.
J-FAST is a joint effort of Foundation 2, DECAT, ASAC, Abbe Center, Tanager Place, Heart and Solutions, Covenant Family Solutions, Four Oaks and St. Luke’s Chemical Dependency with the common goal of serving youth with immediate mental health or substance abuse needs quickly. J-FAST serves Linn County youth ages 8-17.
For More Information
Contact Foundation 2 J-FAST at 319-247-0030.
Our therapy and support services also extend to youth