Crossroads Campus
Programs
Description
Caring Connections is a humane education program that provides healing experiences for troubled youth through positive interactions with animals. Humane education enhances empathy, self-awareness, and self-esteem, all of which are critical to positive youth development and may play a role in reducing violence in our communities. For young people who have faced adversity, especially those who are dealing with the effects of neglect, abuse or trauma, humane education provides an opportunity to change not only the way these individuals view animals, but also the way they view themselves and other people. Caring Connections empowers young people by recognizing that they have something of value to give and can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable animals. Through lessons in animal companionship, dog training and animal safety, the students learn things like 'how to read a dog's body language' and come to understand the effect that their own body language and tone of voice have on a dog. This enhanced self-awareness can transcend their interactions with animals and lead to improved relations with peers and adults. The students also learn the power of positive reinforcement, a critically important parenting tool, as they experience firsthand how much more effectively they can train a dog using treats and praise, than with threats or an angry voice. Of equal importance is the opportunity for these young people to laugh and experience joy as they work with the dogs-- using games such as hide-and-seek to teach name recognition or trying various antics to coax a dog through a tunnel during agility training. Lastly, Humane education teaches the proper treatment of animals, changing the way these young adults look at dogs, cats, and other animals in their communities. By empowering these young adults, we reduce the perpetuation of misconceptions that lead to animal abuse, neglect, and pet overpopulation, one positive interaction between person and pet at a time.
Program Areas Served
None
Caring Connections is a humane education program that provides healing experiences for troubled youth through positive interactions with animals. Humane education enhances empathy, self-awareness, and self-esteem, all of which are critical to positive youth development and may play a role in reducing violence in our communities. For young people who have faced adversity, especially those who are dealing with the effects of neglect, abuse or trauma, humane education provides an opportunity to change not only the way these individuals view animals, but also the way they view themselves and other people. Caring Connections empowers young people by recognizing that they have something of value to give and can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable animals. Through lessons in animal companionship, dog training and animal safety, the students learn things like 'how to read a dog's body language' and come to understand the effect that their own body language and tone of voice have on a dog. This enhanced self-awareness can transcend their interactions with animals and lead to improved relations with peers and adults. The students also learn the power of positive reinforcement, a critically important parenting tool, as they experience firsthand how much more effectively they can train a dog using treats and praise, than with threats or an angry voice. Of equal importance is the opportunity for these young people to laugh and experience joy as they work with the dogs-- using games such as hide-and-seek to teach name recognition or trying various antics to coax a dog through a tunnel during agility training. Lastly, Humane education teaches the proper treatment of animals, changing the way these young adults look at dogs, cats, and other animals in their communities. By empowering these young adults, we reduce the perpetuation of misconceptions that lead to animal abuse, neglect, and pet overpopulation, one positive interaction between person and pet at a time.
Program Areas Served
None
Budget
$880,000.00
Description
Crossroads Pets- Shop and Adopt is a nonprofit store (social enterprise) that provides pet product retail and grooming services for the community, job training and employment for young adults who face barriers, and adoptions for homeless dogs and cats from our city shelter. At Crossroads Pets, program participants care for and train our adoptable pets, work in our grooming salon, and help carry out the day-to-day operations of the store. Our Crossroads Pets store generates more than $500,000 in earned revenues annually, and to date more than 1300 homeless dogs and cats have been cared for and adopted out through our Crossroads Pets store.
Category
Employment - Youth Job Training & Employment
Beneficiaries
Adolescents
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
$880,000.00
Description
Crossroads Pets- Shop and Adopt is a nonprofit store (social enterprise) that provides pet product retail and grooming services for the community, job training and employment for young adults who face barriers, and adoptions for homeless dogs and cats from our city shelter. At Crossroads Pets, program participants care for and train our adoptable pets, work in our grooming salon, and help carry out the day-to-day operations of the store. Our Crossroads Pets store generates more than $500,000 in earned revenues annually, and to date more than 1300 homeless dogs and cats have been cared for and adopted out through our Crossroads Pets store.
Category
Employment - Youth Job Training & Employment
Beneficiaries
Adolescents
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
Budget
$600,000.00
Description
Crossroads Campus offers 26 units of affordable housing at our Germantown Campus (a 4 unit dormitory style apartment) and our Buchanan Campus (16 efficiencies and two 3-bedroom shared living apartments). Our residential program provides safe, income-based housing and a supportive community for our young adults at risk of homelessness. Our goal is to deliver intensive housing, job training, and social-emotional support programs that include workforce readiness, one-on-one case management plus career support services and life skills coaching to help create pathways for our young adults as they transition to independence as adults with job skills for sustainable employment that pays a living wage and long-term stable housing.
Program Areas Served
None
$600,000.00
Description
Crossroads Campus offers 26 units of affordable housing at our Germantown Campus (a 4 unit dormitory style apartment) and our Buchanan Campus (16 efficiencies and two 3-bedroom shared living apartments). Our residential program provides safe, income-based housing and a supportive community for our young adults at risk of homelessness. Our goal is to deliver intensive housing, job training, and social-emotional support programs that include workforce readiness, one-on-one case management plus career support services and life skills coaching to help create pathways for our young adults as they transition to independence as adults with job skills for sustainable employment that pays a living wage and long-term stable housing.
Program Areas Served
None
