Our Remarkable Story
Started over a decade ago with a heart to provide hope and a positive future for under-served youth in the Greater Sacramento area.
Scott and Jacquie Flanagan became aware of the challenges that aged-out foster youth face in their 20’s while serving as youth leaders in the Bay Area. Discovering that one of their youth, Marvin, was going to be homeless two-weeks after his 18th birthday, they stepped into action trying to find programs for aged-out foster youth. Their search did not produce results, so they invited him to live in their one-bedroom apartment. For the next five and a half months, they empowered Marvin to become independent by helping him find a job, while mentoring him in basic life skills and helping him with sustainable employment. After clearing probation and maintaining his job for five months being, they assisted Marvin with budgeting and finding a place to rent. Little did they know that this experience would lead to work that would be started 22 years later. With the help of their friends, Todd and Luann Johnson, Compassion Planet started bringing aged-out foster youth into their one-year mentoring program in the summer of 2013.
Today, this dream is impacting the lives of under-served youth in the South Placer and Sacramento Counties. With thriving social enterprises, corporate sponsors and generous community support, Compassion Planet is able bring up to forty youth, called trainees, into their Mentoring Program in four groups throughout a calendar year. Comprised of aged-out foster youth and youth from at-risk backgrounds (ages 18-24), these groups are empowered by 1,500 to 1,900 hours of Workforce Development Skills, Educational Therapy and Life Skills Training in a one-year program. Upon graduating from the Mentoring Program, youth enter into an Aftercare Program which includes lifelong services. Their stories and journeys are incredible and Compassion Planet is privileged to be a part of the of the lives some amazing youth.
Media & News
The Issue
Every 2 minutes, a child enters the U.S. Foster Care System. At 18, they age out of foster care & become one of the most at-risk people groups in the United States.
Before turning 18, foster youth will change homes 3 or more times
60% of trafficking victims come from foster care
Nearly 40% go homeless upon aging-out of the system
1 in 4 will be imprisoned within 2 years of aging-out
Less than 50% graduate from high school
Less than 3% graduate from college
70% are pregnant by 21 & 50% repeat the cycle of brokenness
Nearly 70% of California’s prison population were in the foster care system
Our Mission
We empower aged-out foster youth & youth from at-risk backgrounds to achieve independence, overcome personal obstacles, & reach their fullest potential. Through our 2-Step Mentoring Program:
Trainee Program
Year-long intensive 1200 hours of training & mentoring with job skills, coping skills, life skills and education support.
Next Step Program
Upon graduation, our trainees enter into our Next Step Program which provides lifelong services.
Our Leadership & Staff
Our Board
Our Compassion Planet
Partners
Thank you to our partners who empower lives in our community with their generosity!
As a Business & Community Partner, your investment in Compassion Planet is an investment in our community. More specifically, your gift will help fund our one-year Trainee Program which provides over 1200 hours of services to aged-out foster youth which includes: life skills training, employment, group and individual counseling, job training, leadership skills, and dozens of person-centered learning opportunities in a family-like setting.
Business Partners:
Community Partners:
Financials
When you give to Compassion Planet, 80.7% of our total revenue goes directly to our Mentoring Programs, 6.1% goes to fundraising, and 13.2% goes toward management and administrative expenses.
