The Let It Be Us Springboard to Adulthood Program is bringing a new employment technology to support the young people in the Program who are aging out of foster care, as well as those in the program who have recently aged out. 

The young people in the Springboard to Adulthood Program will have the benefit of having access to the Clifton Strengthsfinder 2.0 technology designed by Gallop. The online assessment tool identifies natural talents, helping young people identify professions and achieve personal growth. 

The technology will be introduced and managed by Monica Thigpen, a Human Resources expert whose company, TalentWise Consulting, has operated to provide services to many young people.

“I love working with teenagers and young adults because they are in the beginning stages of exploring their potential career path(s) and life journey. Helping them build confidence and realize where their inherent strengths lie is such a fulfilling and transformational process, ” said Thigpen.

The Springboard to Adulthood Program fills a significant need for young people who are in foster care and are at risk for aging out of the system without a family or permanent support system. We believe strongly that all young people deserve and need support as teenagers and young adults to successfully launch into adulthood. In Illinois, children age out of the child welfare system when they turn 21 years old. That means that a young person who has not reunified with his or her biological parents or family, hasn’t been adopted, or isn’t being supported by a foster home after aging out, is left to navigate young adulthood on his or her own.

Let It Be Us wants to change that by working with young people ages 16+ to place them within families or family-like housing and then provide wrap-around services to support life-sustaining educational and employment goals, improving their overall life outcomes. 

“I am extremely excited about having our Springboard to Adulthood young adults take advantage of the Clifton Strengthsfinder 2.0,” said Kendra Wright, Springboard to Adulthood Program Manager.

The Let It Be Us Springboard to Adulthood Program is funded in part through the Megan Patricia Butz Legacy Fund, the Jim and Missy James Family, and the Canning Family Foundation.. To learn more about this program or to refer a young person please contact:
Kendra Wright
Program Manager for Springboard to Adulthood and Special Families Programs
kendrawright@letitbeus.org

About Let It Be Us

Let It Be Us is a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the landscape of foster care and adoption in Illinois. Our mission is to inspire foster care and adoption so more children in care grow up in stable, healthy homes. Funds raised will go to programs that build a strong and innovative bridge between our waiting children and foster and adoptive parents. Learn more at letitbeus.org