MISSION WEST VIRGINIA

The goal of The Bridge is to provide academic advocacy and services to remove barriers to success for students in the foster care or kinship care. We currently serve 150 students in 6 rural high school settings who reside either in foster or kinship care. We improve their odds for success through academic success coaching, advocacy, and post-secondary career planning. In addition, the Bridge works to normalize educational experiences and provide funding and opportunity for students to have positive school experiences similar to their peers. This includes extra-curricular activities, field trips, prom/graduation attire, etc. To date, every student has graduated from the program and went on to pursue a post-secondary career path.

Kinship caregivers often face tremendous financial burdens when they add a new member to their family. Many are poor and already live below the federal poverty level. Moreover, many kinship caregivers are grandparents who are often retired with a fixed income. Kinship caregivers often do not receive assistance from a variety of income support programs for which they are eligible including TANF, food stamps, and Medicaid. Many do not know that they are even eligible for these programs. Without additional supports and help, the child and family both incur unnecessary hardships that we would be able to help them with. We can provide a much-needed resource to them in a very difficult and critical time in their family.

The Carry-On campaign eliminates trash bags as an acceptable form of luggage for kids in foster care. MWV provides luggage, hygiene products and personal security items for kids in foster care who move from family to family. We have partnered with community and corporations across WV to collect and distribute thousands of pieces of luggage to provide to thousands of kids in care.