A new state grant, Connecting the Dots, will help Hamilton County foster youth transition to adulthood.

The goal of Connecting the Dots is to improve the employment and education outcomes for foster kids ages 15 to 18 currently in Hamilton County foster care. The program will also serve recently emancipated youth, ages 19 to 21.

Connecting the Dots has two components. First youth will receive a mentor from Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BBBS). The mentors are vocational and are trained specifically to work with kids in foster care. Although, BBBS usually serves younger children, they are extending their outreach to include older foster youth.

The second component of Connecting the Dots is connecting the youth with a workforce development agency to work on life, job and interview skills.

Specifically, the agency will help youth with:

1. Tutoring, study skills and dropout prevention,
2. Alternative secondary school offerings,
3. Summer employment linked to academic or occupational skills,
4. Paid and unpaid work experience,
5. Occupational skills training,
6. Leadership development,
7. Supportive services,
8. Comprehensive guidance and counseling and
9. Follow-up activities for no less than twelve months after completion of participation.

"The goal is really to increase the kids staying in high school, graduating and completing their GED," said HCJFS Director Moira Weir. "The program will also look at higher education, opportunities for employment and ways to reduce earliness of motherhood or fatherhood."

There are currently five partners (Cincinnati State, Easter Seals Tri-State, Job for Cincinnati Graduates, Lighthouse Youth Services and Literacy Center West), which will work with HCJFS to recruit kids.

Connecting the Dots will serve the youth over a period of two years. It will provide stability and further assist youth who, once they turn 18, age out of the foster care system and stop receiving benefits.

Check out the stories on Connecting the Dots from Fox 19 and WLWT.