NMCAN

NMCAN works directly with community partners, volunteers, and young people to advocate for systemic changes and to implement an array of interconnected services and opportunities designed to improve outcomes in education, employment, health/mental health, housing, permanency, financial capability, and social capital.

AUTHENTIC YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
We meet young people where they are— supporting them to build their social capital, access community resources, and advocate for their needs and solutions. We believe young people should have a respected voice and full participation in the development of the programs and policies intended to support them.

EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES
We promote anti-racist policies and practices and encourage young people to utilize their unique experiences as they pursue personal goals and engage in our advocacy work. This is particularly important because young people of color are disproportionally represented in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. We support them and our partners to better understand the through lines between the negative judgment and surveillance of poor communities and communities of color, and identify policies and practices that work to dismantle systemic racism.

BUILDING COMMUNITY
We link young people to healthy, stable relationships as well as work with local partners to understand the situations young people face. This is critical because our organization is not able to address all the challenges young people face, and our leadership development programming is not designed to stand alone. We believe a cohesive and informed community will help drive systems change.

STRENGTHS-BASED PRACTICES
We recognize that, in addition to trauma that forced young people’s disconnection from their families and communities, many young people face further stressors within systems. Our programming values all people, believes in their dignity and agency, and is responsive to their distinct needs.

For over thirty years, NMCAN has been leveraging community partnerships to improve children and youth’s experiences in foster care. During that time we have listened to and partnered with young people to develop an interconnected combination of services and opportunities that we know young people want and need.

For those young people who are participating in the Mentoring Project:
78% talk to their mentor when they have problems or are worried.
89% feel their mentor has helped them learn to deal with challenges in a productive way.

For those young people enrolled in Opportunity Passport, our financial literacy program:
100% have a checking or savings account.
73% had enough money to cover their expenses last month.

78% of young people reported that NMCAN events help them feel connected to their peers.

83% of Youth Leaders feel their voices are taken seriously by adults and are confident in their ability to partner with adults to lead change.