LSS-SW Division Services
Transition Services
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest provides transition services for Foster Youth and Former Foster Youth at our Transition Center in Mesa, Arizona.
Starting with our drop in youth lounge, youth Voice and Choice are central in this peer-led one-stop center where young people can find every type of service they might need, from housing to job coaching to counseling.
The Transition Center
807 North Stapley Drive
Mesa, Arizona 85203
Phone: 480-969-2218/480-969-2423
transitioncenter@lss-sw.org
Open from 2:00pm to 9:00pm. Wednesday through Saturday
Current Center Programming:
2:00pm to 9:00pm—Lounge is Open
2:00pm to 5:00pm—Phones Answered
4:00pm to 6:00pm-Therapist Available
6:00pm to 7:00pm—Support Group
The Transition Center will address the many issues facing foster youth by providing the following services:
- Counseling
- General and Therapeutic Case Management
- A Computer Lab
- Post secondary education and training assistance: FAFSA Workshops, ETV Access
- Access to Employment Training and Job Coaches
- Mentors (Short-Term and Long- Term)
- An Aftercare Services Program to serve 18-24 year old former foster youth
Working Together In Partnership
Through Community Partnerships, the Transition Center provides referrals to other service providers and community resources designed to assist youth:
- Health Care
- Housing
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Parenting Classes
- Social Security Income
Working together with youth and community partners, the Center will be an innovative resource for foster youth that serves as an easily accessible, inviting hub for comprehensive, integrated services and unique job training.
The Center’s goal is to provide services and resources that address the following Priority Areas:
- High School and Post-secondary school planning.
- Youth empowerment
- Transition to independent living.
- Provide an integrated and comprehensive linkage and referral system.
- Provide hands-on job training and experience operating a small business.
- Invite foster youth to provide input in service delivery design, evaluation, and county policy development.
- Facilitate the integration of case management and support services among agencies and community-based organizations that cross systems.
The Transition Center includes a significant bank of clothing, linens, and other basic household items typically needed by individuals as they set up their first independent living environment.
The center will serve as a job incubator in a couple of different ways. Emancipated foster youth will be trained to serve as paraprofessional case management advocates to help foster youth negotiate educational and social service systems and achieve self-sufficiency. The center will open its door for the youth to hang around and be themselves.
