Story Changers

Unwavering belief, advocacy, and a willingness to take a risk on behalf of another human being changes stories.

Are you a Story Changer? Here’s how to tell:

  • You are ready to advocate vigorously on behalf of youth and young adults from hard places, emancipated foster youth & orphans.
  • You unwaveringly believe in the value and potential of those from hard places.
  • You KNOW their past does not need to determine their future.
  • You are willing to take risks of time, talent, and finances to make a difference in a life.

 

Youth Advocates
Ready to join our nationwide network of individuals, families, and businesses that are ready and able to lend a hand to students wanting to make positive transitions in life? Welcome aboard! Youth and young adult needs range widely, but here are a few to get you thinking about what you might want to offer:

  • Care packages for those at your local college
  • Occasional meals or a place to catch a movie on a weekend
  • Tutoring help
  • Businesses willing to consider resumes
  • Safe housing on school breaks
  • And everything you needed or wanted as a teen or young adult

We offer academic life coaching for all the youth in our programs, so another way great way to get involved is by referring students in need to us. Coaching is by phone or video conferencing, so wherever you or the students in your life reside, we are able to connect.

How it works:

We’d love to learn a bit about you and your community. We put together a short questionnaire to help us make great connections between individuals, families, and businesses with the youth and young adults in our program. Please fill out our short questionnaire and the background check information. Once you submit your information and are an approved volunteer, we will begin watching for that GREAT match for you, your family, or business.

Youth Workers
We know, you might be feeling skeptical. How is coaching different from all the services youth have been receiving up until now?  Simply put, the most powerful thing in the life of a student is what comes from them; the things they hear themselves say as they are processing the present and the future.  When youth are in the driver’s seat, so to speak, on:

  • Who they want to be
  • The meaning they want to give to their life experiences
  • What they want to do with their future,

The door is open for the story they tell themselves about themselves to change in amazingly positive and empowering ways. This is the gift you can offer the youth in your life simply by choosing to refer students for coaching.

Yes, we take referrals. We are able to coach youth anywhere in the country where they have access to a phone or internet. Depending on the location, we may be able to match youth with a local coach as well.

**All the coaches we work with have had background checks and are required to follow the International Coach Federation code of conduct and adhere to International Coach Federation ethical coaching standards in their interactions with youth.

Youth Organizations
We love partnering with others wanting to make a difference in the lives of youth! If you see some ways we can support you in what you are doing, we want to hear from you. What does that look like? Here are a few ideas we came up with:

  • We set up time to connect by phone or video conferencing. You share your needs and we look for ways to come alongside what you are doing.
  • We provide coaching for students in your program
  • We help you find the right coach training program for you and/or your staff
  • We help you help students make community connections with our network of individuals, families, and businesses willing to offer a hand up.

We like ideas and we like saying yes. If we can help, we will. Let’s talk!

Academic Life Coaches

Are you ready for the coaching adventure of a lifetime? We’d love to have you join us in helping youth from hard places change their stories. We all know it’s possible. Mindsets, values, structures, habits, self-talk, and a clear vision of where they want to go are all things YOU can help them tap into to move toward a healthy and fulfilling life.

How it works:

Currently we are accepting applications to join our network of youth advocate coaches from individuals in the USA who have completed the Academic Life Coaching 1.0 coach training program and are either ICF certified or are on the ICF certification track.

If this is you, please fill out our short questionnaire and complete all fields required for background checks. Once you submit your questionnaire and are approved as an independent coach contractor:

  • We will contact you when a student match is made
  • We will provide a coaching agreement aligned with ICF standards for you to use with your student client for continuity of experience and expectations for all those in the program
  • If the match is not a good fit for either you or the student you are working with, we will help create a smooth transition
  • We are raising funds to help fund the cost of coaching. Our Board will do an annual assessment of ALC fees around the nation and then set a standard rate we can offer coaches taking part in coaching youth and young adults from hard places.
  • Coaches offering pro-bono coaching or coaches who are willing to extend their coaching relationship with students past the 10 session program will be given priority when matches are made.

Have other questions? We’d love to hear from you. Please contact us.

Story Sponsors
Helping provide life coaching and other tangible supports for youth from hard places is not just another good cause, it’s a life-changing cause.

  • Every year, between twenty and thirty thousand youth age out of the foster care system in the United States.
  • No longer eligible to live in government-subsidized foster or group homes, they often end up on the street, incarcerated, sexually exploited, or living in other precarious situations.
  • There are approximately half a million kids in foster care in the US.
  • Of those who will age out this year, only about 50% will have graduated from high school
  • 70% have stated a desire to go onto college.
  • Less than 4% of those who do go onto school will graduate with an advanced degree.
  • Many of those who try college will either live on the street while taking classes, or spend school breaks at homeless shelters as they have no other options.**

**Statistics  change  slightly  from year  to  year. All  numbers  specified  here  are approximations.  Please check out the latest AFCARS report for future updates. 

Why are we convinced our particular program will make a difference when so many others have not? Youth have opportunity to take ownership of what has possibly never before been within their control; their own lives and future. The most powerful thing in the life of a student is what comes from them – the things they hear themselves say as they are processing the present and the future. When they are in the driver’s seat, so to speak, on:

  • Who they want to be
  • The meaning they want to give to their life experiences
  • What they want to do with their future

The door is open for the story they tell themselves about themselves to change in amazingly positive and empowering ways.

This is the gift you can offer the youth and young adults by choosing to join us through financial giving.

Give Now

 

I'd like to Volunteer

    Thank you for your interest in being part of our network of Story Changers! Without volunteers, our program would not be possible. We value your interest and love that you want to make a difference in the lives of others. Please submit your completed form and we will be in touch!

    Name*: MaleFemale

    Email*:

    Phone:

    Current college student: YesNo If so, what college are you attending:

    Address:

    City: State:

    Best way to contact you:


    We love stories and would like to hear yours!

    1. When you think about your time, talents, and passions, what are some of the first things that come to mind you as you think about what you would like to offer youth from hard places?

    2. What are some of the reasons behind your desire to volunteer?

    3. Do you have some personal or professional experience working with youth from hard places? If so, please share.

    *Required Field

    Coach Questionnaire

      Thank you for your interest in coaching youth from hard places! We are currently accepting applications to join our network of youth advocate coaches.

      Name*:

      Gender: MaleFemale

      Email*:

      Phone:

      Business Name:

      Address:

      City: State:

      Best way to contact you:


      Please check all that apply:
      I have completed the Academic Life Coaching 1.0 Training Program.I am on the ICF certification track.I am an ICF certified coach

      We love stories and would like to hear yours!

      1. Please share a bit about your coaching experience and what is drawing you to want to join our network of youth advocate coaches.

      2. Are you at a place in your business where you can offer some pro-bono coaching? If so, how many hours a year?

      3. Are you open to continuing a coaching relationship with youth past the 10 session ALC program?

      4. Coaching fees vary widely around the US. While our board will do an annual evaluation to set the amounts we are able to offer, we are curious, what will it take for you to have ongoing involvement in our network from a financial sustainability perspective?

      *Required Field
      **Due to IRS regulations, any income you make through contracts with our foundation cannot exceed 25% of your total business revenue.

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