The Supporting Kids in Independent Living (SKIL) Program addresses the challenges of young people trying to graduate from high school while living without the guidance of a parent or stability of a family home due to reasons beyond the student’s control. Their parents may be neglectful, abusive, addicted, incarcerated, deceased or homeless themselves. Some of these teens are already parents themselves. Most work one or two jobs while attending school full-time. These young people are greatly at risk of joining the one in four freshmen starting high school in Oklahoma City who does not graduate. Most will be the first to graduate from high school in their family.
SKIL offers financial and emotional support to ensure students get the help they need to graduate. Youth are referred by counselors, teachers, coaches, principals and staff within the Oklahoma City Public School District. Each student has different needs but they may receive financial assistance for apartment or utility deposits or payments, groceries, work or school uniforms, car repairs or insurance, college testing and entrance fees or graduation expenses. They may need guidance for finding a safe place to live and obtaining home furnishings, employment, medical care, or legal assistance. They receive life skills education in areas such as banking, budgeting, nutrition planning, grocery shopping, financial aid application, college entrance procedures, job searching and interview protocol.
Contact:
President/Director , (405) 235-7537
Posted on
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
by Alicia Hill