Fostering Growth

Fostering Growth is FI's one-on-one mentoring program. Working with this special population of youth for the past five years has taught the staff at FI that one of the most important things foster youth need is someone to provide them with guidance, encouragement and nurturing. That someone for many of us would be a parent(s), but for these youth many of them go through life without a single stable adult they can call in times of need or to share in a happy moment (graduation, birthday, holiday). The goal of Fostering Imagination's Fostering Growth program is to ensure that each child has atleast one stable adult in their lives to meet those needs. Each adult is encouraged to help guide the child in their transition in to adulthood by helping them plan a life and career plan. Examples of how our mentors are helping our youth are the very things we used to take advantage of from our parents, such as learning how to drive, graduating from high school, tutoring, moving housing, creating resumes, job skills and just someone to support the youth in important milestones and holidays in their lives.

In addition, FI mentors empower youth to become positive peers, future mentors and community role models by providing a variety of opportunities and resources. Our youth have been given the opportunity to travel to Sacramento to speak at the State Capital, Guests on Radio Shows bringing awareness to foster care issues, publish articles in newspapers and so much more. The life experiences FI provides to its youth have made a positive impact on their futures.

Fostering Growth is run by FI's Founder and Outreach Director Ilia Jauregui and the FI's team of one-on-one mentors.