Stephen Vinson

Ward Home, Inc.

Established in 1905 by Robert B. Ward to provide a safe haven for children who had no place to call home, Ward Home has grown into the premier provider for independent living services for at-risk young adults and teens in southwestern Pennsylvania. Ward Home's Supervised Independent Living (SIL) Program is a community-based, residential program that serves at-risk foster youth, 16 to 21 years old, who have grown up in the foster-care system. Ward Home foster teens live in apartment-style housing with 24-hour supervision, where they are taught vital life skills in our Life Skills Training Program. The SIL Program is designed to teach foster teens the responsibility of independence through the philosophy of self-discipline. The SIL sites are more than just temporary housing; they are safe, nurturing home environments where the teens are encouraged to reach their individual goals and grow into successful, independent members of the community. Our teen girls site is located in the Friendship neighborhood of Pittsburgh, our teen boys site is located in Swissvale Borough, and our teen moms site is located in Wilkinsburg Borough. Emphasis is placed on developing social and life skills, obtaining and maintaining employment and/or volunteer work, completing an education plan, staying safe, and developing healthy relationships. Our foster teens are engaged through enhanced creative and academic enrichment programming so that they become skilled enough to sustain independence. Ward Home's My Best Self Program ensures that all foster youth 12 to 21 years old in Allegheny County have access to hair care services and products. Through the My Best Self Program, foster youth have the opportunity to participate in social skills workshops with the goal of enhancing each foster youth in Allegheny County to look good, feel good, and to be their best self.