Women Making History – Reverend Ester Holzendorf of CSWS and Justine Burton of StopGap Inc

StopGap Inc – Helping Young People Aging Out Of Foster Care Survive and Thrive **This is a reairing from JoJR show on February 23, 2015 Host Allie Catherine Bush talks with Justine Burton, CEO/Founder of StopGap Incorporated of Lawrence Kansas. They are a grassroots non-profit organization working for youth that age-out of foster care and other at-risk youth. Their Mission is to empower youth aging-out of foster care and at-risk youth in attaining ownership of their lives by providing them with a foundation of life skills to transition from dependence to independence and compete in society. The basic life skills offered to most youth as they approach the end of their length of stay in foster care is just what it states: “Basic.” In most cases it is delivered to groups of youth lumped together based on their geographical location, age or what the contracted person feels would be a good mix. Consequently, little attention is given to the educational, emotional, health and behavioral concerns of neither youth’s, nor their risk factors. Fortunately, there are resources and opportunities available for youth after they leave the foster care system. Yet, there is a deficiency for the basic skills and understanding needed…