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Causes: Children & Youth, Youth Development Programs
Mission: Our Place After School Care encourages teenagers with special needs, ages 13-20, to practice academic, social, and life skills and enable them to be involved in community service and enriching experiences.
Results: Our program started in 2018 in the basement of a church that didn't charge us rent or utilities. We had three families with teens who had disabilities. A short five years later, we are a 501 (c)3 nonprofit with a large space to hold our after-school program and a small gift shop. We have assisted two teens in gaining the life skills needed to hold jobs in the community. We currently serve eight families. Our families are supported with finding and applying for assistance from Health and Human Services and school districts. We brought the need for this type of programming to the attention of our Health and Human Services and legislature. After four years of asking for licensure and funding to support the licensure, a bill was passed.
Target demographics: families of teens with disabilities
Direct beneficiaries per year: 10 teens and their families. We brought attention to the need for this type of program to our state legislature and Health and Human Services resulting in a license and funding being created.
Geographic areas served: Hastings, Nebraska
Programs: after school and summer care for teens with disabilities. We also provide support to caregivers with applying for funding programs and assistance with educational needs.
We were in need of care for our 18 year old daughter while we worked during the day and there’s no school. The Our Place program has been great for our daughter. She is able to spend time there with friends outside of school. The staff not only provide social activities but work on essential LifeSkills for these individuals. Our daughter is always happy to go there. This program has been a blessing to our family.
