By Kelly Thompson
For Mission West Virginia
Mission West Virginia’s Bridge Program is concluding its 9th school year of academic mentorship, serving nearly 600 high school students in foster and (formal/informal) kinship care, with outcomes that continue to demonstrate a clear truth: when consistent support is in place, youth can and will succeed.
Youth in foster and kinship care often face significant barriers to educational success, including school instability, moves, loss of relationships, poverty, trauma, and limited support systems. Disproportionally, they fall academically behind, and it is usually due to obstacles encountered. The continued outcomes of students in Mission WV’s Bridge Program highlight the impact that stable relationships and individualized support can have on long-term student achievement.
Implemented through Check and Connect, a nationally recognized dropout prevention model, Mentors pair strategy with consistency and heart to get youth to the finish line. The ultimate goal for each child in the Bridge program is to graduate on time with a plan in place for their futures. In achieving this, Mentors set unique goals with each child, their school, and their family to create a network of support. Attendance, behavior, and grades are tracked – allowing students to see their progress over time and after almost a decade of implementing services, results continue to show promise.
This year, 98% of seniors in the Bridge program graduated with a high school diploma in hand and a concrete plan for their future. That’s 125 young adults moving forward with established plans in place for their future and the tools and supports in place to pursue those paths. From college to the
work force and everything in between, Mentors spend countless hours with each student in preparation for this moment.
Mission WV Program Manager, Ashley Arthur says “This model works because it is based on consistency. Mentors get to know their students and families on a personal level, and it takes long term connection to get these kids to the finish line. We have been at this long enough now that many of our students have been with their Mentors since their 9th grade year of high school. Our team is fortunate to work with these students, and we all feel optimistic about this generation of young adults and what they will do for West Virginia and beyond.”
About the Bridge Program:
Pairing strategy with consistency in the lives of youth, the Bridge Program is an evidence-based mentorship opportunity for teens in foster/kinship care. Services are currently available in 7 West Virginia counties: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam, and Wood. Mentors receive
referrals from school staff to help youth in foster/kinship care. Areas of focus include attendance, behavior, grades, credit recovery, school participation, and high school graduation with post secondary plans in place.
About Mission WV
Mission West Virginia is leading a statewide effort to promote positive futures for all kids in West Virginia. We work alongside families as they navigate West Virginia’s foster care system and provide evidence-based life skills education to help teens envision and create positive futures. As a result of our work, putting kids first in collaboration with social services, school districts, private foster care agencies and other nonprofits, the future looks brighter for West Virginia.
Learn more at www.missionwv.org.
