Work Appreciation for Youth Program (W.A.Y.)

Each day we are reminded of the consequences when youngsters leave home or are abandoned to walk the streets uneducated, unskilled and unprepared to be gainfully employed members of society. The Children's Home took a major step in addressing this very issue last year by forming a partnership with The Children's Village, which has completed over 18 years of research in developing a productive, educationally based, vocational employment program.

The Work Appreciation for Youth Program (W.A.Y.) is a comprehensive five-part curriculum that includes mentoring, employment workshops, community service projects, career assessments, employment worksites, educational tutoring and an unprecedented five-year aftercare component.

The Child Welfare League of America published the results of five-year longitudinal study that showed that, of WAY alumni studied, 80% had completed high school. Furthermore, 80% of alumni studied, between the ages of 21 and 39, were employed employed with earnings averaging $23,000, which is a dramatic difference from those youngsters now incarcerated or drug addicted due to lack of education and support. It is critical that we touch these youngsters' lives before they are placed in situations where their alternatives and opportunities are few. The publication, entitled “The WAY Program: Work Appreciation for Youth, An Independent Living/After Care Program for Youth Leaving the Foster Care System and Other High Risk Youth,” item number 8048, may be purchased through www.CWLA.org.

Take Alex, for example. He has suffered tremendous abuse and pain since he was very young with no direction, education or parental guidance. It was very hard for Alex to stay in class, and he would become easily frustrated and disruptive. Since becoming involved in W.A.Y., Alex has excelled in his training workshops and has started working here on campus with hopes of securing employment in the local community very soon. What is most impressive is that Alex has improved in his academic productivity. No longer is he the disruptive young boy we first encountered, but rather a maturing young man who is a hard worker and eager to learn more.

While we have forged a valuable partnership to initially bring W.A.Y. to The Children's Home, we are in need of funding to continue providing the training courses, worksites for employment, uniforms, reading materials, aftercare program and tutors.

If you would like to make a donation to The Children's Home W.A.Y. Program, you can do so by:

* Mailing your donation to:

The Children's Home, W.A.Y.

243 Pine Street

Mount Holly, NJ 08060

* If you would like to charge your donation by phone you can call us at

1-877-TLC-KIDS or 609-267-1550

* Make Your Donation Online!

Make payments with PayPal - it's fast, free and secure!