During the month of July, the students, staff, and faculty from Ross Medical Education Center in New Baltimore, Michigan worked as a team to be a blessing to some very special girls at the House of Providence in Detroit. The House of Providence is a non-profit organization that gives priority to finding families, closing educational gaps, promoting healing. and stimulating future-focused thinking in Michigan’s foster youth that may otherwise age out of the system. So many children that age out of foster care will find themselves alone in the world with very little or no support and will unfortunately fall prey to becoming just another statistic of a broken system.
According to the House of Providence website:
- Well over 60% of these young women will find themselves in the sex industry via prostitution, exotic dancing, and other as victims of human trafficking
- Over 60% of the young men will experience a period of incarceration at some point in their adult life
- One in five or more youth will become homeless after aging out of foster care
- Seven in 10 females who age out will be pregnant before they are 21
- Less than half will be employed at age 24
- Fewer than 2% will earn a college degree in young adulthood
- One in four will be incarcerated within 2 years of aging out
These statistics are not okay with the founders and staff at the House of Providence who pour their hearts and souls into these children. They desire to help give them hope and a future and a forever family to call their own.
Ross Medical Assistant program instructor Bri Miller shared, “I have volunteered at House of Providence for years and am honored to have witnessed some of the most beautiful success stories of children who leave The House of Providence no longer allowing the chains of their past to define them. With the help of the entire campus, we were able to collect a wide variety of personal hygiene items to donate to the girls residing at the home as well as a number of formal gowns for their annual Wishes Gala. Many of these girls have never been given the opportunity to attend an event like this. For this one evening they get to have their hair, make-up, and nails done and pick out a dress that makes them look and feel beautiful and surround themselves with individuals that have committed themselves to proving to them that regardless of what they have been shown, they are worth fighting for and their future is far brighter than they could ever imagine. Donated dresses may seem like such a small gesture, but trust me when I say, this day will be one that they will never forget. I am truly grateful to be surrounded by such an amazing group of coworkers and students that are excited to give back to those that just need to be shown what love looks like”.
For more information on how you can get involved or to purchase tickets to attend the “Wishes Gala” you can visit www.thehofp.org.