The mission of A & A Cottages is to make a positive difference in the lives of at-risk youth through quality residential and support services, that promote dignity, integrity, and responsibility. A & A Cottages, INC. was formed in 1996 to address the increasing need for foster care group homes for teenage youth. Unfortunately, the amount of foster families available to care for these youth has not met the demand of the foster care system. Teenagers, in particular, can be extremely difficult to place into a foster family situation, thus, the need for group homes. A & A Cottages is committed to providing loving, caring homes for Arizona’s foster care teens that have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect.
The youth in our homes are traditionally placed here until they turn 18 years of age. During that time we truly become home to these girls. We strive to provide the teens with all the skills needed to face our world. We provide our teens not only with a strong residential program but a youth development program and volunteer program as well. The following is a brief description of our current programs:
A & A Cottages’ residential group homes, Contessa House and Vista Linda Home provide care for up to 10 girls at a time in each home. Through respect, acceptance, and understanding, program staff meet the needs of each girl’s unique personality, specific issues, and life goals as we help guide the girls through their personal journeys. We encourage our girls to learn from their mistakes and understand the natural consequences that typically follow. Expression of individuality and development of self-sufficient behaviors is a high priority. Daily living incorporates instilling a sense of stability, improving educational competence, acquiring independent living/life skills, and promoting positive health and fitness activities.
Of the 10,000 youth in foster care they have an average of 11 foster care placements before they reach adulthood, and 73% of them will be referred to courts for delinquency matters. Once they reach adulthood, life continues to hold little hope for this abused population. According to the Children’s Action Alliance, statistics for youth in foster care are grim. They state that “youth who were formerly in foster care are more likely to face health and mental health problems, homelessness, joblessness, low educational attainment, substance abuse problems, and incarceration” than youth not faced with the realities of foster care. Sadly, studies of foster youth have found that: 66% will never graduate from high school, 25% will be homeless, 54% have current mental health problems, and 5% have a serious drug problem. (Statistics all taken from Children’s Action Alliance, March 2005).
The EMPOWER program starts to address these needs through providing a wrap around independent living program. This program standing for Education, Mentoring, Positive Use of Self, Opportunities, Well Being, Employment and Resiliency provides our youth with life altering opportunities to become self sufficient. Sadly, when youth leave foster care at the age of 18 they often fail due to the lack of support and resources. Recognizing this tremendous need for our vulnerable youth, A & A Cottages provides the youth in our program and additional group homes in Mesa with the needed tools to guide them to success. These tools are provided to them through weekly independent living skill workshops, monthly life skills workshops, mentoring, peer support, and wrap around services from our Independent Living Coordinator to ensure they are prepared through education, employment, mentoring, and support services.
A & A Cottages’ Volunteer Program is designed to provide valuable resources and support to our girls. We utilize volunteers as tutors, mentors, home improvement project helpers, recreational activity coordinators, birthday party celebrants, and life skills instructors.
Recognizing that youth exiting the foster care system are not always ready at the age of 18, A & A Cottages developed a program for youth who are aging out of the foster care system with little support to guide them. The EMPOWER house provides young woman ages 18-21 with the opportunity to complete their educations, obtain employment and develop positive support systems before facing the world on their own. It is A & A Cottages intent to empower these young people into breaking the cycle of poverty and violence in their lives.
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. Gym memberships are donated annually for all of our kids from Superstition Springs Toyota, and bicycles are donated for each of our girls, upon request, from Foster Angels of Arizona.