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March 2012 Volume 6 Issue 3
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March is National Social Work Month!
The social work profession has been instrumental in achieving civil rights and human rights advances in the U.S. and across the globe for more than a century. The primary mission of social work is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable. My Friend's Place fulfills this mission of social work and seeks to understand the youth we serve by adhering to the following core values:
- Compassion - Sense of Humor
- Flexibility - Strength Based
- Honesty - Trust
- Human Worth - Valuing Diversity
- Integrity - Willingness and courage to
- Openness engage, address and discuss
- Respect
The White House officially recognized March as National Professional Social Work Month in 1984 and continue to observe by raising awareness of various social issues. This year's theme is Social Work Matters.
MFP understands, first hand, just why social work matters as we help some of the most vulnerable members of our community move towards greater stability. Staff at MFP engage youth each day through a range of support and interventions that create opportunities for self-sufficiency.
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 GED Tutoring at MFP
MFP's primary goal is to provide homeless youth with the opportunity to improve their physical, intellectual, and physical capacity to reach their potential. In order to fulfill this mission, we are always looking for ways to reinvigorate the broad range of programs we offer young people in their transition to self-sufficiency. The challenges associated with homelessness, and a focus on survival, are often barriers in the pursuit of education. Data taken from a study at MFP indicated that 53% of MFP youth did not complete their high school education and 34% reported to have a learning disability. It is our hope to assist young people in transcending these barriers with our new tutoring program.
The General Education Development (GED) test was developed by the American Council on Education to offer a high school equivalency credential and to provide individuals with a second chance to advance their education, personal, and professional aspirations. The certificate is nationally recognized and often required for employment and higher education in the absence of a high school diploma. The GED is comprised of five tests: Writing, Social Studies, Science, Reading, and Mathematics.
At MFP, we are in the early stages of tutoring and preparing these young people who are interested in attaining this credential. Because the time and cost of offering this program is significant, we need your help. The test costs $150 and we also need to provide students with study materials and supplies. If you'd like to get involved in tutoring as a volunteer or would like to sponsor a student, please contact Natalie at (323)908-0011 x101 or development@myfriendsplace.org.
We look forward to sharing with you the progress and successes of MFP youth!
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Housing for MFP Youth
In the past few months, MFP has seen a jump in supportive housing for young people.
By the Numbers:
*50 youths placed in temporary housing
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There's No Place Like Home
Sponsor a Young Person in Supportive Housing
We are so pleased to help young people transition into new supportive housing, but many are without resources to begin their new lives.
MFP is committed to providing the best possible environment in order to ensure a comfortable home and healthy future for these young people.
You can help furnish new housing for a transitioning MFP youth with any of the following:
- bedding/sheets/blankets
- towels
- small appliances
- furniture
- dishes/eating utensils
- cleaning supplies
- gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Ikea or any other home goods store
CLICK HERE for a more comprehensive list of household items that we'd like provide to newly housed youth.
*We ask that all items be donated be NEW, as required by many supportive housing guidelines.
For donations and gift inquires, please contact Natalie at
(323) 908-0011x101 or development@myfriendsplace.org.
We are happy to keep you posted on the progress of the young person you are supporting!
Check out some other ways to give!
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BREAKING NEWS!
MFP is excited to announce that the
Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation is generously funding a large-scale renovation of our resource center for homeless young people!
If you'd like to get involved in this awesome building renovation, please contact us at
(323) 908-0011 x101.
The more support we receive, the more work we can do to transform the lives of the near 2,000 homeless youth we serve.
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| Mission
My Friend's Place assists and inspires homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives.
Please consider supporting MFP's mission! Contribute through our
Learn more at |
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Word From the Streets
Written in MFP Workshops
Untitled
Jasmine is a flower
Silent while the wind howls
Peaceful as the rain falls
Optimistic as her petals drop to the ground
Jasmine is a flower
With roots as deep as the sea
With beauty unappreciated as moonlight
And a smile as far as dusk
Jasmine is a flower
She grows
Written by Jasmine
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IN THE:
Homelessness in Metropolitan Areas
at Disproportionately High Rates
On January 18, the National Alliance to End Homelessness released The State of Homelessness in America 2012.
The report found
that homelessness has decreased by one percent nationally from 2009 to 2011, yet homelessness is found at higher rates in metropolitan areas.
Nearly 70 percent of the homeless population lives in the 100 largest metro areas, while a comparatively smaller percentage of the general population lives in these areas (65 percent). According to the report findings, 7 of the top 20 metro areas with the highest rates of homelessness in the US are in CA. The five metro areas with highest rates of homelessness belong to (1) Tampa, FL, (2) New Orleans, LA, (3) Fresno, CA, (4) Las Vegas, NV, and (5) Honolulu, HI. All of the top five metro areas have rates that are more than twice as high as the U.S. homeless rate of 21 people per 10,000 in the general population.
Read the full report here.
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Volunteer of the Month
Junior Members of
 The Beverly Hills Women's Club continues a tradition of service through the efforts of its Junior Members, who've shown great dedication and support to the young people of My Friend's Place. After participating in a clothing drive during the holidays, Victoria Gordon, Junior Member president expressed the group's excitement about getting involved. While they support various philanthropic endeavors, the Junior Members were particularly interested in partnering for the first time with an agency that serves teens their own age, remarking, "We're very fortunate, but many teens our age don't have these opportunities. We love the idea of being able to help other teens succeed." The Junior Members have certainly made a great impact; their recent candy fundraiser raised over $1,000 toward the purchase of a washer and dryer for the youth of MFP! Victoria continued to describe My Friend's Place saying, "it's small, but mighty; a place where teens can go without fear of judgment in order to receive support and the resources they need." MFP would like to take the opportunity to thank the Junior Members of the Beverly Hills Women's Club for strengthening our efforts to help homeless youth build self-sufficient lives!
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