Alex Candalla is always looking for ways that his Los Gatos, Calif., continuing care retirement community can reach beyond its walls and do some good – for young people in particular. Candalla, executive director at The Terraces of Los Gatos, says he has long dreamed of being able to help teenagers in foster care.
“I had read and heard about the challenges these young people meet when they age out of the system,” Candalla says. When he received a phone call from John Hogan, founder and CEO of TeenForce, Candalla knew he had found a way to execute his vision.
For Hogan, it was merely business as usual. He was simply calling Candalla to inquire about employing teens at the ABHOW community. Up until that point, the Silicon Valley nonprofit TeenForce had been equipping young people ages 13 to 20 with work readiness training, skills development and job placement.
Candalla explained his interest in the foster care system and made his case: He would employ teens from TeenForce if he could build a foster youth jobs program.
“We want to reach out to these teenagers and provide them with training, a place to work and valuable experiences they can use in later years,” Candalla says. “We care about mentoring our employees and nurturing their careers in the health care field, and this is a great way to serve and connect with our community.”
The Terraces of Los Gatos and TeenForce immediately joined forces with EMQ Families and Silicon Valley Children’s Fund for help in identifying and supporting foster youth.
After extensive training, The Terraces of Los Gatos now employs six teenagers in various departments – five of the teens were formerly in foster care. The group has logged nearly 800 hours since starting their jobs in May.
Despite often tumultuous home lives and everyday challenges like transportation, Hogan says that the program has been a great success so far.
“We’ve seen ups and downs for the kids, but we’ve been able to keep work as a constant and positive thing for them,” he says.
Elizabeth Larios, 18, says she feels much more independent since starting her wait staff job at the community in May. “I’m most proud of my attitude change,” Larios says. “I think I’m learning self control.”
Candalla says that he has seen significant changes in all the teens’ demeanor and confidence.
“They are developing etiquette and skills for this work environment," he says. “I really am delighted. There really isn’t another program out there like this.”
He hopes that his relationship with TeenForce will inspire other ABHOW communities to get involved, especially given how nicely the program aligns with the company’s program of social accountability.
On September 22, The Terraces of Los Gatos will host the Youth Workforce Development Luncheon, designed to educate more people about the foster youth jobs program. “Welfare systems seem to focus on youth safety and staying in school,” Candalla says.
"Having a first job is a rite of passage, and what we are trying to do is to provide them a positive work experience, and the self-esteem and relationships that are established through working here.“
To learn more about ABHOW’s commitment to social accountability or to view the 2010 Social Accountability Report, click here.
About ABHOW:
Founded in 1949, ABHOW is widely known for its pioneering leadership in senior housing and health care. The company serves more than 5,000 residents in 37 retirement communities in California, Arizona, Nevada and Washington.
To learn more about ABHOW visit www.abhow.com.
This article appeared in the September 2011 issue of ABHOW Words
