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A & A Cottages, Inc. house

Homes with Heart...Help for Kids

A Nonprofit 501(C)3 Organization

Goals

Permanency

According to the Child Welfare League of America, the average child in foster care changes placements about every six months, thus rarely having the opportunity to bond and attach to key individuals in their lives. Our goal is to keep a child in our homes as long as possible, all the while preparing them for life on their own. The less a child is moved around, the better the chance of that child succeeding throughout adulthood. The youth at A & A Cottages truly do feel that this is their home, complete with cluttered rooms and posters on the walls to prove it. Many youth frequently call and visit after they have moved on, creating a wonderful opportunity of role modeling for our younger girls.

Education

Because of our emphasis on individuality, it is rare that any two youth attend the same school. We currently utilize 12 different schools – charter, public, and vocational – for our youth. By individualizing our youth’s educational experiences, they are able to gain support networks separate from the group home, a crucial factor for a successful transition into independent living. Because youth learn in many different ways, we are also able to accommodate someone who learns better in a smaller setting (charter school), a more mature setting (community college), or a more social setting (large public high school). We also provide tutoring, educational advocacy, college/vocational planning, and certified surrogate parents (for our special needs youth).

Life Skills

Life skills training comes in many different forms at A & A Cottages. For some, learning basic hygiene is where we need to start; for others, securing a part-time job, starting a bank account, and saving for that deposit and first month’s rent to a new apartment is more of a priority. We coordinate community field trips, job shadowing opportunities, multi-cultural experiences, guest speakers, and one-on-one activities to empower our youth to be successful community contributors.

Health & Fitness

Proper nutrition and physical activity are important to maintaining the physical and mental health of our youth. A registered dietician approves all of our menus, and we have partnered with the National School Breakfast & Lunch Program for additional nutrition support.