LUBBOCK – The BCFS Health and Human Services’ Lubbock Transition Center has received a $4,800 grant from the Lubbock Area Foundation (LAF) to fund the Court Improvement Project which changed the way local youth in foster care participate in hearings that impact services they receive and their quality of life.

BCFS’ Lubbock Transition Center is a safe-haven for local youth, helping youth in foster care, those aging out of care and those at risk of homelessness, poverty or other challenges transition successfully into adulthood and independence. The center – which serves approximately 600 youth each year – provides case management, counseling, mentorships, and assistance with education, employment and housing location.

When BCFS began partnering with Judge Kevin Hart to hold youth hearings at the transition center rather than the intimidating environment of the courthouse, they saw a positive increase in youth’s active participation in hearings, the youth’s satisfaction with the outcomes, and creative collaboration between participants like case workers and family members.

The Lubbock Area Foundation grant will be used to support the Court Improvement Project and pay for things like technology costs for hearings held remotely, transportation costs to ensure youth attend, food and snacks, and other efforts to keep the hearing environments comfortable and inclusive to better serve the youth.

Lubbock Area Foundation is the community foundation for the entire South Plains area and exists to help people who care about the Lubbock area to invest – at any level – in its future. The Foundation provides an easy and effective way for generous people to create permanent charitable endowments for the benefits of this area. Grants are awarded from endowments based on the interest of the donor or through an open competitive process that is responsive to the changing needs of our community.

BCFS’ Lubbock Transition Center is hosting their annual Hope Chest luncheon Wednesday June 18th to honor youth in foster care who recently graduated high school and college, and equip them for their next steps toward independence with Target store credit or a shopping spree for necessities like bedding, towels and hygiene supplies.

For more information about BCFS’ Lubbock Transition Center, visit DiscoverBCFS.net/Lubbock. To support the work of the transition center by donating, contact Kathleen Maxwell-Rambie at (806) 792-0526, give securely online, or send checks to 125 Chicago Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79416.