Casa Valentina

Casa Valentina’s unique program model combines safe and affordable housing with comprehensive life skills curriculum in a supportive environment where residents can focus on achieving their education, employment and financial goals and gaining the strength and self-esteem they need to reach their full potential. 

Our programmatic work focuses on:

- Empowerment Through Education: Our residents create their own educational goals upon their arrival. Program Coordinators support our youth to explore educational opportunities while connecting them with academic resources like tutors and mentors, and to programs to develop skills towards their educational goals. 100% of our current residents are enrolled in school. Of our 51 recent alumni, 43% are currently enrolled in an educational institution.

- Full Employment: With the support of their Program Coordinator, residents receive guidance to explore their interests, complete resumes and applications, prepare for job interviews, and to connect with internship and job opportunities. As a result, 85% of our youth are currently employed at such companies as Amazon, Capital One, and Whole Foods while 32% are participating in internships. 100% of our alumni are employed.

- Housing for At-Risk Youth: We offer 21 residents fully furnished, comfortable apartments in safe neighborhoods within Miami and close to public transportation. 20% of youth who age out of foster care will experience homelessness within 3 years. 96% of our alumni are in stable housing.

- Financial Autonomy: Residents create a budget, and develop critical skills to ensure success in personal financial literacy. They work to create a savings plan that empowers them to make wiser financial decisions.87% of youth increased their proficiency in economic self-sufficiency life skills.- Enhancing Overall Well-Being: Program Coordinators work closely with residents to assist them to care for themselves holistically through mind, body, and spirit. Our youth learn to advocate for their personal health and well-being. Residents learn to navigate the day-to-day tasks of life including household maintenance skills, using public transportation, grocery shopping/meal planning, car care, and mental health support.

- Community Development: We conduct community outreach and offer education and training on critical foster care issues to create greater awareness and support for youth emerging from foster care. Through a partnership with the Department of Children and Families, Casa Valentina offers life skills to even more school-aged youth, ages 13-23. In the last two years, we served an additional 978 youth in our community program across 12 Miami-Dade public middle and high schools and community partners.