What is Robyne’s Nest? Week 5 - How We Serve
Robyne's Nest provides year-round, comprehensive support and resources to the students we serve. Our programs address these teens' basic needs, mental health, educational and financial assistance, life skills, housing resources, life and career coaching and mentoring, and transportation.
BASIC NEEDS
Food Pantries: All high schools have fully stocked food pantries with grab-n-go foods, bottled water, apples, toiletries and some clothing. Toiletries like deodorant, toothbrushes/toothpaste, tampons/pads, hand sanitizer, single pack tissues, chap-stick are supplied. All pantries have socks and underwear and in winter months have coats/hoodies/sneakers. Our school pantries serve over 1ooo students that school administrators identify as in-need.
Other Assistance: We have the ability to assist with things like fixing broken glasses, lice treatment, and emergency clothing (new & used). Household items such as furniture, blankets, heaters/fans, etc. are also provided to families in need, again with a focus and thought on providing for the students when the parents cannot.
MENTAL HEALTH
Robyne’s Nest provides mental health therapy as a large part of a student’s care plan. We provide weekly sessions with licensed therapists whose backgrounds are extensive in trauma and abuse in children and teens and are certified telehealth providers with experience in distance therapy using video and phone. We believe in the power and need to take care of one’s mental health as much as their physical health. Students that have completed their therapy program have experienced a remarkable increase in their self-confidence, improved mindset, and the ability to make choices that are thought out and speak to their overall goals in life. We provide approximately 1,000 of free mental health therapy a year.
In recent years, the overall status of youth mental health has significantly declined along with basic everyday aptitudes. In response Robyne's Nest has created an outreach program with two local middle schools to provide 6-week classes centering around Social Skills, Anger Management Skills, and other groups tailored to the schools individual needs. These classes are developed to give these young students a foundation in coping skills to address current stressors and increase overall future wellbeing. Additionally, Robyne's Nest has been providing coping skills as well as study skills classes to the high schools in the Huntington Beach union High School District.
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
We provide additional educational assistance such as tutoring, school supplies, laptops, and grade incentives, to enable students to have the tools to do their schoolwork. Guidance regarding FAFSA, scholarships, career counseling, and further education is also provided to students in the program.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Student Living Stipend Program: A monthly student living stipend provides relief in managing daily needs. High school students may be working to provide for themselves or to help with family provisions. When work becomes their priority, their schooling and grades suffer. To be eligible to receive student living expense support, student must have passing grades in all classes, meet school attendance requirements and are not allowed to work Monday through Thursday (unless special circumstance of work hours).
At-Once assistance, with gift cards, is available as well as fresh and non-perishable foods, when available, to help students with their situations.
LIFE SKILLS
We offer life skills education class that will be required to be taken by all students in our program. Robyne’s Nest also teach in the high schools during the Saturday School classes to provide this valuable instruction to a wider audience of teens and young adults. Classes include personal wellness, employment, finances, coping skills for stress, personal data privacy, housing, transportation and many more. Taught by volunteers with expertise in the subject area, we are providing these young adults with life skills for the real world.
These classes help our students to learn to live within their means as government assistance is not allowed in the program except for Medi-cal health insurance (no housing vouchers or EBT assistance).
HOUSING RESOURCES
Housing Resources - Transitional Housing: Phase 1 of our transitional housing is designed to support a high school student who do not have safe, stable housing for up to 18 months depending on their age and situation. This consists of a managed home that provides a safe environment, stability and guidance to learn real-life, hands-on life skills while completing high school and working on their mental health. Once a student graduates from high school and displays certain independent living skills, they will plan to transition to phase 2 for up to 2 years.
Affordable Housing: Phase 2 is our rented, furnished apartments that are designed for students who still need some adult guidance but can live more independently. The support that they receive prepares them to secure stable, permanent housing on their own in the future.
Housing Assistance: This option is meant for the student who has “graduated” from Transitional Housing Program or has found their own housing and is only in need of short term/supplemental financial support. In both situations the goal is to help the student as they become completely independent. We provide some form of housing assistance to 13 students on average each year.
LIFE & CAREER COACHING/MENTORING PROGRAM
Robyne’s Nest Life & Career Coaching Program works to empower students by helping them make, meet and exceed goals in both their personal and professional lives. It also provides that dedicated, reliable volunteer to students who have lost parents and need our help guiding them through estate processes, banking, social security services and more to help them get life in order. Dedicated life and career coaching programs are provided in high schools for at-risk students.
TRANSPORTATION
Monthly bus passes/bikes/skateboards are available to provide students transportation to school, work and health care appointments. We have volunteer transportation when needed.
Robyne’s Nest also helps students get their driver’s license by providing drivers instruction and helping with the fees for getting it all done, including the next step of purchasing a car!
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS – available to all district students.
Scholarship Program for students who want to attend community college.
School Break Food Bag/Gift Cards – we provide over 300 students food bags for school breaks due to the lack of free lunch availability during that time, along with a $50 gift card for perishables.
Birthday/Finals/Holiday Care Bags
Senior Activity Assistance - Through application, seniors can apply for assistance of certain senior activities. Grades, attendance and supervision status applies to this assistance as well.