Teen Leadership Foundation

The Launch Pad: Transitional Housing for Young Women Leaving Foster Care

TLF’s most comprehensive program, the Launch Pad transitional housing program started in 2014 to meet a dire need for housing and services for emancipated and non-minor dependent foster youth. Originally co-ed, the Launch Pad program has evolved to focus on young women ages 18 to 24, including parenting moms, because of the pressing demand and limited options for them. The Launch Pad operates out of two four-bedroom homes, one in Costa Mesa and the other in Santa Ana. We purchased the Costa Mesa location in October 2018 and closed escrow on the Santa Ana home in February 2021 (despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic). The Santa Ana home replaced leased property and marked the achievement of a goal to own our homes. This move supports TLF’s own sustainability. Along with subsidized housing, residents receive an array of services in the areas of education, career, finance, and wellness. The support builds on the unique strengths of each young adult, working with them to develop a plan to achieve their desired goals such as balancing a budget, obtaining a driver license, securing a job, becoming a better parent, or attending college. The program requires residents to pursue a trade or a degree that will position them for sustainable earnings for the future. With staff oversight, much of this support is provided by volunteer teams known as “Flight Crews.” Each resident is matched with a long-term team that includes a mentor, an education tutor and a budget coach, at a minimum. Most residents stay in the program for two years, with an additional two years available to those pursuing a four-year college degree. In addition to residents in the two homes, the Launch Pad program also extends to young women, including single moms, who live off-site in the local community. Some are former Launch Pad residents who continue to need various types of limited support, others have been brought to our attention by their social workers. We offer the same level of services to those who reside in satellite locations, including a designated Flight Crew.

Teen Programs for Foster Youth

These programs offer supportive adult relationships and skill-building events that primarily serve teens ages 13 to 24; some programs such as mentoring also carry over to the young women in our Launch Pad transitional housing program. - MENTORING pairs a trained adult with a foster teen or emancipated youth, serving as a supportive and consistent role model for life-long impact. - THE NETWORK is an employment readiness program supporting at-risk youth as they enter the workforce.