How Does It Work?

Rise to Resilience was created to help transition age foster youth recognize and mitigate the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress so they can live healthy, fulfilling lives. Without intervention, toxic stress can lead to a whole array of health issues and maladaptive behaviors including obesity, heart disease, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, emphysema, cancer, unintended pregnancies, suicide, and even premature death.

Rise to Resilience helps participants manage and lessen the consequences of toxic stress through workshops, resources, group sessions, individual coaching, a network of healthy connections, and more — all focused around eight key practices based on healing-centered engagement: healthy relationships, nourishment, mindfulness, holistic fitness, rest & sleep, self-exploration, community, and play.

A Rise to Resilience Retreat is also held yearly, where members of the JIT community are invited to a day-long experience that includes expert speakers, interactive wellness activities, and much more, all focused around healing and happiness.

Requirements

To join Rise to Resilience, you must:

• Be a current JIT participant dedicated to transcending trauma in your life

How Do I Join?

Rise to Resilience is available year-round and open to all JIT participants! 

Apply for Rise to Resilience in the JIT Application Hub here.

Active JIT participants are also welcome at our annual Rise to Resilience retreat. Please be sure to let our team know if you’re interested!

How Does It Work?

Like you, our Lived Experience Coaches:

• Participate in JIT services
• Face challenges leaving foster care
• Are Committed to their healing journey

With Lived Experience Coaches you get:

• A role model with similar experiences
• A strong, present, and empathetic listener
• A champion as you work towards your goals
• A JIT buddy to attend workshops and community events
• A long-lasting, (or “life-changing”) reliable, real relationship with someone who “gets” you

Even if you are already paired with a volunteer coach, you can have a PEER mentor with lived experience in foster care.

Requirements

To join Lived Experience Coaching, you must:

• Be a former foster youth
• Meet with your coach on a weekly basis
• Must be residing in San Diego County

How Do I Join?

To get started, contact Samantha samantha@jitfosteryouth.org to find out if you’re eligible or apply for Lived Experience Coaching in the JIT Application Hub here.

How Does It Work?

Through My Life, My Story, youth between the ages of 18-26 are invited into gender-identifying cohorts for men and women. Within the cohort, participants will develop a partnership with a coach, gain insight from workshops, their peers, and the JIT team! Within these empowering spaces, participants are supported on their journey of self-discovery while building healthy relationships.

My Life, My Story provides workshops, hands-on-experiences, and connections to an extended community of supporters. Throughout the cohort, youth explore topics related to identity, self-care, communication, confidence, sexual health, femininity/masculinity, and more!

By providing individualized attention to personal growth, youth are empowered to take ownership of their life stories and focus on their strengths to maximize their potential.

Requirements

To join My Life, My Story you must:

• Be a transition age foster youth between the ages of 18-26
• Be working, going to school, or both (or have a clear action plan to do so after the cohort is completed).

How Do I Join?

My Life, My Story is an 8-month cohort service that runs from April through November, with recruitment starting each spring. However, inquiries are always welcome!

If you would like more info contact: esmeralda@jitfosteryouth.org

Apply for My Life, My Story in the JIT Application Hub here.

How Does It Work?

As humans, each of us deserves to have the support we need to be well.  JIT is committed to helping people access this support by helping them connect with wellness professionals both within the JIT community as well as with trusted community partners.  Wellness therapists may consist of licensed professionals and/or doctoral students who are able to provide free or low-cost individual, couples or family sessions. 

One of the JIT staff on the JIT Mental Wellness Resource, will contact you to chat about your interest in mental wellness support and share about the different resource options for your consideration. The intention of the JIT staff is to be your “buddy” in getting you connected to a mental wellness resource.  The goal from this initial conversation is for the JIT staff to understand you interest/need, share resources with you and to together determine which mental wellness resource you want to get connected to. The JIT staff will follow up with you on how to connect with the resource. 

Requirements

Must be a JIT participant (ages 18-26) or JIT alumni (27+) who desires additional support in your healing journey 

How Do I Join?

To learn more or connect to the JIT Mental Wellness Resource, you may:

1. Directly contact one or all of the JIT staff member of the Mental Wellness Team: 
2. Irving Chavez | irving@jitfosteryouth.org | 619.657.6924
3. Dr. Jill Ault | drjill@jitfosteryouth.org | 916-663-7121
4.  
5. Apply for Mental Wellness in the JIT Application Hub here.