Ep. 03 | The Chafee Contract and Serving Older Youth in Missouri

In this episode, hosts Nate and Jasper welcome Lisa Lowrance, Program Director, and Ben Umble, Chafee Supervisor, to discuss the newly awarded Chafee contract for the Southwest and Northwest regions of Missouri. Ben explains that the Chafee program is a federal initiative designed to help youth ages 14 through 22 transition successfully out of the foster care system by building independent living skills, career preparation, and healthy support networks. Lisa highlights the critical hurdles these older youth face, such as housing insecurity and transportation barriers. To overcome these challenges, Ben shares an exciting new proposal to develop "church hubs" across the state, which will equip local congregations with trauma-informed training to provide consistent, reliable mentorship and a loving support system for youth right in their own communities.