“Project Future” Interns Complete Intensive Training Program at El Paso County Offices
On Friday July 27, 2012, El Paso County will host a graduation ceremony for 13 young adults who participated in this year's "Project FUTURE" internship program.
The program was created at the beginning of the year by the El Paso Women's Bar Association to assist "aged-out" foster care youth get their futures on a path to success.
"Aged-out" foster care youth are young adults who leave the managing conservatorship of DFPS/foster care system at the age of 18 (or later under certain circumstances) and are not adopted or returned to their parents. These youth face the challenges of work, higher education and daily life without a support system. Lacking a stable support system and being ill- equipped to face the challenges of independent living, these youth face a higher risk of incarceration, homelessness, unemployment, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse.
A key component of "Project FUTURE" is an internship program in law-related County offices. The program seeks to provide not only a great work experience but also to expose the youth to positive and stable influences in order to assist them in developing a goal-oriented perspective with respect to their future.
This summer 13 former foster care youths were selected to participate in the 6-week paid internships. They were assigned to the following County departments:
- County Attorney's Office
- District Attorney's Office
- County Clerk's Office
- District Clerk's Office
- Human Resources Department
- 65th District Court
- 327th District Court
- 120th District Court
- Mental Health Support Services
Interns will be honored for their participation in the program with a Completion Ceremony from 12:00-1:00 on the 3rd Floor gallery, behind the elevators (near CASA).
WHO: Project FUTURE Interns
WHAT: Graduation ceremony for the internship program
WHEN: Friday July 27, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: El Paso County Courthouse, 3rd floor gallery 500 E. San Antonio
# # #
Project Future Graduation Press Release.pdf