Welcome to the new COMPASS Point Newsletter! If you are receiving this, it is because you are a valuable collaborator with COMPASS Programs at David & Margaret Youth and Family Services and expressed interest in staying connected.
The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed on what is going on at COMPASS Point Drop-in Center. As a subscriber to the Newsletter, you will be updated about ongoing events, partnerships with the community, opportunities to collaborate, and stories from our program participants.
COMPASS Point is a service and resource delivery hub, located at David & Margaret serving young adults with a history of foster care ages 18-25 who are experiencing homeless and other challenges.
COMPASS Point provides a multitude of amenities such as; a full kitchen, computer room, lounging area with a TV, shower facilities, laundry room, and lockers.
COMPASS Point also offers services such as peer led groups, vocational training, life skills training, tutoring, social events, and linkage to numerous community services and resources.
These services and resources are aimed at bettering their lives in physical, intellectual, social, and emotional wellness categories. By utilizing the various services and resources offered at COMPASS Point, the youth’s overall wellness will improve.
At COMPASS Point, young adults utilize programs and services offered on-site that are provided by David & Margaret and various community partners.
COMPASS Point is a community space that is always seeking new partnerships and collaborations with different organizations and businesses that can further support the youth and young adult participants.
If you are interested in collaborating with COMPASS Point Drop-in Center, send an email to COMPASS@davidandmargaret.org.
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"Over 1,100 youth age out of Los Angeles County's foster youth care system annually... Within the first year of leaving foster care, 1 in 5 youth report a period of homelessness." -Child Welfare Initiative "TAY Housing and Service Roadmap", 2013
Homeless youths do not have access to basic necessities, and as a result can face further difficulties and stress. Having access to hygiene products can alleviate stress and worry that homeless youths may face when it comes to taking care of their basic needs. To help address this problem, COMPASS Point Drop-in Center has created hygiene kits containing numerous items.
COMPASS Point was able to order supplies such as shampoo, conditioner, sanitary products, and more that will be in the hygiene kits. These hygiene kits will be available for anyone in the community who enters COMPASS Point and requests one. This couldn’t have happened without the support from Shelter Partnership and Assistance League of Covina Valley. Shelter Partnership is an organization that allows nonprofits to order free community supplies. Assistance League of Covina Valley is a nonprofit organization that puts caring and commitment into action through philanthropic programs.
To learn more about Shelter Partnership, visit their website, or email them at office@shelterpartnership.org.
To learn more about Assistance League of Covina Valley, visit their website, or email them at assistanceleague@alcovinavalley.org.
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Every quarter, COMPASS Point holds a quarterly Resource Fair with a different topic related to different areas of wellness. During the Resource Fairs, local community partners present different services and resources that relate to the topic for that event.
The third Resource Fair was held on March 15th, and the topic was Physical Wellness.
Representatives from Planned Parenthood, San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center, American Lung Association, 986 Pharmacy, Pomona Wellness Community, Luna Healing Wellness Studio, and Unite Us discussed the different services and resources they offer that promote physical wellness.
Some of the topics covered by presenters were COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ events, how to get a flu shot, meditation and sound baths, and LGBTQ care services.
David & Margaret’s own Director of COMPASS Programs, Marissa Scholefield, discussed ways COMPASS Point Drop-in Center promotes physical wellness, through events like Fitness Fridays, the gym on campus, and exercise equipment available in the Drop-in Center. The next Resource Fair will be held in June and focus on Intellectual Wellness.
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COMPASS Programs recently partnered with The Skills for Life to pilot their online life skills training services.
Rachel Ford, the Founder of The Skills for Life, has also partnered with COMPASS Point Drop-in Center to provide access to CarePortal.
CarePortal is an online platform where people can make specific request for items they may need, and an organization that is connected to the platform can donate the item directly to the person who requested it.
For example, if a program participant is expecting a baby and is in need of diapers, a crib, a breast pump or similar items, a post can be created on CarePortal and all organizations on the platform will see the post and if they are in the position to do so, they can make a donation of the needed items.
While giving a demonstration of how CarePortal works, Rachel pointed out that some requests were being fulfilled within minutes.
This partnership enables the youth and young adults who utilize COMPASS Point to receive items they need that aren’t currently available at the Drop-in Center while also receiving other services and resources.
CarePortal can be a valuable resource for organizations who help underserved populations, and can link organizations who want to make donations that will directly benefit someone in need.
You can visit CarePortal’s website to learn more, or email support@careportal.org.
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