MBA NWO 2022 Charity
History of Love & Luggage:
In 1999 a scrappy, cautious nine-year-old girl came to our home to be adopted. She had been in foster care through Lucas County Children Services for the prior 3-years. She was 9 soon to be 10. We had built our home life ready and able to bring Amanda into it with love, God’s guidance and the love and support of a loving church and personal home family. We did all that was prescribed by Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) to make it a safe environment and one that would encourage and embrace her arrival in December of that year. Her name: Amanda Lynn Otis.
Amanda and her case worker showed up with two black garbage bags of her personal belongings. She came with her possessions of 10 years in two bags. How do we measure the life of a child who has had a life of personal trauma in two garbage bags? What defined her was hurtful and was demeaning. We knew we could do better. She thought nothing of being packed up in two garbage bags. This was her life.
Around 2010, the concept of Love and Luggage was developed (in heart and in theory). In 2018, conversations began with LCCS about this concept. There were grants available, but to submit to the Greater Toledo Community Foundation or other prospective donor foundations, one had to be a registered 501.c.3. It was not our desire to create another nonprofit in Northwest Ohio. Teaming up with a local nonprofit that also worked with foster youth was the best way to support this idea. Eventually, a decision was made to team up as a project of Adopt America Network. What began as a mutual connection has grown into a supported program that encourages adoption and healthy relationships for these youth.
Need for Love & Luggage:
424,000 children are in Foster Care in the United States. On any given day, there are nearly 424,000 children in foster care in the United States. In 2019, over 672,000 children spent time in U.S. foster care. On average, children remain in state care for over a year and a half, and five percent of children in foster care have languished there for five or more years.
In 2018, LCCS had an average daily caseload of 1,471 children. Almost all (98 percent) of these children were living in a family environment: • 605 (41 percent) were living in their own homes • 431 (30 percent) were in foster care or a similar placement • 401 (27 percent) were living with a relative or other kinship caregiver
Love and Luggage is meant to address the need for a caseload of 30 children yearly. Starting out for 2021, LAL will meet the need for teens (18-21) who are emancipating from the child welfare system. Once they graduate high school, most of these teens will be going to reside on their own-- attending college, joining an apprenticeship or other training, or entering the work world. Since they lived in group, foster, or relative caregiver homes, most won’t have the amenities necessary to start living on their own.
These young adults could benefit from adult luggage large enough to put their personal belongings in. Additional items to go in the bags based on recommendation will be provided through a pantry housed at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee. (Love First) Included in each duffle bag – as examples would be hygiene items, a towel set, housewares, cleaning supplies, personal items and a Visa Card and a NIV Bible. In addition, there will be a resource guide for organizations and support systems/numbers to contact. (This is best determined by needs identified by supporting organization.
Sustainability of LAL- Outcomes The sustainability of Love and Luggage is a crucial consideration because teens emancipate from care year after year. It is also our desire to see this grow into Love and Luggage to support the number of children in foster care but are taking the call to help those emancipating from LCCS.
The number of LCCS teens emancipating will vary, so the annual expense will rise or fall depending on that figure. The long-term viability of the program will depend on donors such as churches, businesses, civic organizations individuals, and foundations. The Otis’ will be tithing to fund this project.
There is interest to move to a more holistic approach to support emancipated youth through partnerships that support teens. Post COVID will allow us to expand on this opportunity. This is a community “investment,” because the more successful emancipating teens are at transitioning into adulthood, the more likely they will become productive, taxpaying citizens themselves. Teen homelessness is a particular problem among emancipating teens, both locally and nationwide. This then leads to other problems, such as crime, drug use, and others. Statistically, 70% of emancipated youth will be homeless within their first two years. At each quarterly gathering, a short survey is given to help us adjust what we are offering and how we can be of support to these young people.
Power of partneringWorking to support the “channel” of children in care
Current Partners
In 1999 a scrappy, cautious nine-year-old girl came to our home to be adopted. She had been in foster care through Lucas County Children Services for the prior 3-years. She was 9 soon to be 10. We had built our home life ready and able to bring Amanda into it with love, God’s guidance and the love and support of a loving church and personal home family. We did all that was prescribed by Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) to make it a safe environment and one that would encourage and embrace her arrival in December of that year. Her name: Amanda Lynn Otis.
Amanda and her case worker showed up with two black garbage bags of her personal belongings. She came with her possessions of 10 years in two bags. How do we measure the life of a child who has had a life of personal trauma in two garbage bags? What defined her was hurtful and was demeaning. We knew we could do better. She thought nothing of being packed up in two garbage bags. This was her life.
Around 2010, the concept of Love and Luggage was developed (in heart and in theory). In 2018, conversations began with LCCS about this concept. There were grants available, but to submit to the Greater Toledo Community Foundation or other prospective donor foundations, one had to be a registered 501.c.3. It was not our desire to create another nonprofit in Northwest Ohio. Teaming up with a local nonprofit that also worked with foster youth was the best way to support this idea. Eventually, a decision was made to team up as a project of Adopt America Network. What began as a mutual connection has grown into a supported program that encourages adoption and healthy relationships for these youth.
Need for Love & Luggage:
424,000 children are in Foster Care in the United States. On any given day, there are nearly 424,000 children in foster care in the United States. In 2019, over 672,000 children spent time in U.S. foster care. On average, children remain in state care for over a year and a half, and five percent of children in foster care have languished there for five or more years.
In 2018, LCCS had an average daily caseload of 1,471 children. Almost all (98 percent) of these children were living in a family environment: • 605 (41 percent) were living in their own homes • 431 (30 percent) were in foster care or a similar placement • 401 (27 percent) were living with a relative or other kinship caregiver
Love and Luggage is meant to address the need for a caseload of 30 children yearly. Starting out for 2021, LAL will meet the need for teens (18-21) who are emancipating from the child welfare system. Once they graduate high school, most of these teens will be going to reside on their own-- attending college, joining an apprenticeship or other training, or entering the work world. Since they lived in group, foster, or relative caregiver homes, most won’t have the amenities necessary to start living on their own.
These young adults could benefit from adult luggage large enough to put their personal belongings in. Additional items to go in the bags based on recommendation will be provided through a pantry housed at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee. (Love First) Included in each duffle bag – as examples would be hygiene items, a towel set, housewares, cleaning supplies, personal items and a Visa Card and a NIV Bible. In addition, there will be a resource guide for organizations and support systems/numbers to contact. (This is best determined by needs identified by supporting organization.
Sustainability of LAL- Outcomes The sustainability of Love and Luggage is a crucial consideration because teens emancipate from care year after year. It is also our desire to see this grow into Love and Luggage to support the number of children in foster care but are taking the call to help those emancipating from LCCS.
The number of LCCS teens emancipating will vary, so the annual expense will rise or fall depending on that figure. The long-term viability of the program will depend on donors such as churches, businesses, civic organizations individuals, and foundations. The Otis’ will be tithing to fund this project.
There is interest to move to a more holistic approach to support emancipated youth through partnerships that support teens. Post COVID will allow us to expand on this opportunity. This is a community “investment,” because the more successful emancipating teens are at transitioning into adulthood, the more likely they will become productive, taxpaying citizens themselves. Teen homelessness is a particular problem among emancipating teens, both locally and nationwide. This then leads to other problems, such as crime, drug use, and others. Statistically, 70% of emancipated youth will be homeless within their first two years. At each quarterly gathering, a short survey is given to help us adjust what we are offering and how we can be of support to these young people.
Power of partneringWorking to support the “channel” of children in care
- Working to support the "channel" of children in care
- Non duplication of services
- Not creating an additional 501.c.3 but encouraging supporting existing services
- Fund raising experience of both groups
- Involvement of partnerships that exist- churches, civic groups, business community and the strength this gives LCCS and LAL to be successful
- Opportunity for more grants due to partnerships
- No back end created/expenses to support the program- utilizing existing
Current Partners
- Lucas County Children Services/Friends of LCCS
- Greater Toledo Community Foundation – Smith and Rowles funds
- Adopt America Network
- First Presbyterian Church, Maumee
- Cornerstone Church, Maumee
- Ebeid Neighborhood Promise/ProMedica
- Sunrise Home Restoration Services
- All Saints Church, Rossford
- Soul Sisters of Maumee
- Church of the Cross, Toledo
- Mortgage Bankers Association of Northwest Ohio
PREVIOUS MBA NWO SUPPORTED CHARITIES
|
|
|
|
|