Casa Valentina

Casa Valentina’s innovative program model is specifically designed to support former foster care and homeless youth by providing safe, affordable housing alongside a comprehensive life skills curriculum. In this nurturing environment, residents are empowered to focus on achieving their educational, employment, and financial goals while building the strength, confidence, and self-esteem necessary to overcome past challenges and unlock their full potential

Our programmatic work focuses on:

- Empowerment Through Education: Our residents create their own educational goals upon their arrival. Program Coordinators support our youth to explore educational opportunities while connecting them with academic resources like tutors and mentors, and to programs to develop skills towards their educational goals. 100% of our current residents are enrolled in school. Of our recent alumni, 43% are currently enrolled in an educational institution.

- Full Employment: With the support of their Program Coordinator, residents receive guidance to explore their interests, complete resumes and applications, prepare for job interviews, and connect with internship and job opportunities. 

- Housing for At-Risk Youth: We offer 21 residents fully furnished, comfortable apartments in safe neighborhoods within Miami and close to public transportation. Nationwide, 20% of youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness within 3 years. 96% of our alumni are in stable housing.

- Financial Autonomy: Residents create a budget and develop critical skills to ensure success in personal financial literacy. They work to create a savings plan that empowers them to make wiser financial decisions. 87% of participating youth increased their proficiency in economic self-sufficiency life skills.- Enhancing Overall Well-Being: Program Coordinators work closely with residents to assist them in caring for themselves holistically through mind, body, and spirit. Our youth learn to advocate for their personal health and well-being. Residents learn to navigate the day-to-day tasks of life - household maintenance skills, using public transportation, grocery shopping/meal planning, car care, and mental health support.

- Community Development: We conduct community outreach and offer education and training on critical foster care issues to create greater awareness and support for youth emerging from foster care. Through a partnership with the Department of Children and Families, Casa Valentina offers life skills to even more school-aged youth, ages 13-23. In the last three years, we served an additional 1500 youth in our community program across Miami-Dade public middle and high schools and community partners.