Launch Ministry
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Mission Statement
Launch Ministry empowers all unsheltered and in-crisis young adults to experience lives of stability, resiliency, and wholeness by providing a safe and stable space to practice the responsibilities of adulthood.
About This Cause
Launch Ministry addresses a specific need within the community – Empowering young adults (age 18-29) to lead lives of stability, resiliency and wholeness. Many young adults are relationally strained within their families and social network. Lacking adult mentors and healthy relationships to launch successfully into adulthood, this group struggles with the elements of a stable life – a safe place to live, a job, education, solid relationships and connectedness to others and the community. In early 2009, Corey Magstadt and Andrew Peterson met to discuss church youth group graduates who were struggling as they left high school and entered adulthood. It became clear the needs of this group went beyond mentoring as many of the young people were struggling with homelessness, chemical dependency, family issues, death of parents, pregnancy, and lack of direction in employment and education. Further investigation identified a significant community problem with limited resources for these struggling young people. Launch Ministry began later that year to address this problem, initially focusing on meeting regularly to share thoughts, discuss basic life skills, and have fun. Homelessness was a common problem and Launch helped young adults find stable housing. Launch was asked to work with the Carver County Jail Transition Program and participate in a state housing placement program. Realizing the need for a safe, non-public place to meet, and a center for program operations, Launch established its drop-in center in Chaska, and began providing basic emergency supports (meals, gas cards, clothing, etc.) To address the needs of all in-crisis youth, however they identify, Launch developed a culturally competent approach to connect with and serve ALL in-crisis youth. Launch's diverse, growing service population reflects the ongoing success of these initiatives. Drop-In Center: Located in downtown Chaska, this is the center of program delivery and the public face of Launch in the community. A safe place where homeless and in-crisis young adults hang-out with peers, volunteers, and Launch staff. Services delivered include: * A hot meal–Volunteers bring in a hot meal for young adults, volunteers and staff to share. * Clothes, Food & Personal Products Shelf Services – Provide for the immediate emergency needs of young adults in crisis, as well as provide financial relief to those in the process of seeking long-term financial stability. * Laundry Services – Scheduled use of washer and dryer providing financial relief and access to those who are homeless. * Personal Assessments – Quick self-directed, on-line assessment questionnaire getting a preliminary understanding of each person's situation. This is continuously updated. * Housing Assessments – Determine if young adult qualifies for federal, state, county housing programs and assists program registration. * Referral to public/private resources - Provide appropriate referrals and guidance on how to access local public, private, and non-profit resources. Adulting Program: A multi-phased, multi-dimensional, mentoring program empowering young adults with skills to experience lives of stability, resiliency, and wholeness. Youth receive incentives for achieving goals in one on one mentoring relationships. Youth also can participate in a skill-building cohort that focuses on teaching life skills, employment readiness and housing skills. Housing Program: Launch Ministry is committed to ensuring that young adults experiencing homelessness have access to safe, high quality and affordable housing as well as the supports they need to successfully transition from crisis to independent living. Launch utilizes Housing Support (formerly GRH), a state funded rental and utility subsidy program designed to serve youth adults who have been without shelter for over a year.