( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) Goodwill “Transition Youths” Initiative Assists Young Adults From Child Welfare
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
Young adults transitioning out of foster care often face many challenges, including difficulty finding stable employment. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, a longstanding champion of opportunity, is tackling this issue head-on through a groundbreaking partnership with 2nd Mountain Homes. This initiative, aptly named “Transitioning Youths,” offers invaluable job training and support, empowering these young people to build a brighter future. According to the Journal of Public Child Welfare, the “Transitioning Youths” initiative helps older youths who are leaving the child welfare system and have struggled with receiving education and employment assistance with hands-on job training opportunities.
The “Transitioning Youths,” during the first 90 days, will work one-on-one with specialists to help them identify their goals, connect with resources to solidify those goals, and do daily check-ins for progress. According to Lorvins Eugene, Founder and President of 2nd Mountain Homes, “Our partnership with Goodwill is already making a significant impact in the lives of the ‘Transitioning Youths,’ As someone with firsthand experience facing trauma, I know the profound impact of working with someone who believes in your abilities. This program provides our young men with invaluable training and builds their sense of self-worth.” Goodwill Industries of Central Florida directly channels more than 90 percent of its annual revenue into programs that enable individuals to secure meaningful employment, achieve their personal goals, and thrive economically.
We spoke with 2nd Mountain Homes founder Lorvins Eugene and Zach Chandler, who oversees youth programming at Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. They both shared the unique strengths 2nd Mountain Homes brings to this partnership with Goodwill and the longevity and support they provide for young adults. In addition, they both commented on the “Transitioning Youths” Program and various therapies they offer for confidence building and mental health resources. Lastly, Eugen and Chandler share the benefits of this partnership and the donation process.
What are the unique strengths that 2nd Mountain Homes bring to the partnership? How does the collaboration ensure long-term support for young adults?
Lorvins Eugene: 2nd Mountain Homes is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive transitional support for young adults aging out of foster care. Our strengths lie in our holistic approach, which combines stable housing, employment readiness, mental health services, and life skills development, all of which are critical for long-term success.
Through our collaboration with Goodwill, we are expanding opportunities for youth to gain meaningful employment, develop trade skills, and establish financial independence. By aligning our programs with Goodwill workforce training initiatives, we ensure that participants receive hands-on experience in high-demand industries while being supported through career coaching and mentorship.
This partnership isn’t just about short-term job placement; it’s about creating sustainable pathways for young adults to thrive. We work closely with each individual to develop personalized career and education plans, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support to achieve self-sufficiency beyond their time at 2nd Mountain Homes.
Zach Chandler: From Goodwill Industries of Central Florida’s perspective, 2nd Mountain brings a unique approach to this partnership. We work directly with participants in this youth training program through case management and a collaborative approach. This allows us to provide continuous feedback in both directions, ensuring that we can best support each participant individually in strengthening their ability to learn hard, soft, and, most importantly, transferable skills along the way.
What have been the results of the TYP initiative with 2nd Mountain Homes so far, and how does it impact young adults transitioning to adulthood and out of child welfare?
Lorvins Eugene: The transitioning youth program has seen significant success in equipping young adults with the tools they need to navigate life confidently after foster care. Some of our key results include:
100% of our youth are engaged in workforce development opportunities through Goodwill’s job training programs or other employment partnerships.
Increased access to stable housing, ensuring that participants are not left vulnerable to homelessness after aging out of foster care.
Expansion of mental health services, including equine therapy, pet therapy, and upcoming plant therapy, to support emotional well-being and trauma recovery.
Growing self-sufficiency: We’ve seen tremendous progress in youth taking control of their finances, securing jobs, and pursuing higher education or trade certifications.
This initiative goes beyond meeting immediate needs. It addresses barriers often preventing youth from thriving after leaving the child welfare system, laying the foundation for long-term independence and success.
Zach Chandler: The result for transitioning youth is that they leave our program with a strong understanding of what it takes to report to a workplace with an expectation of excellence. They are fully cross-trained in all areas, allowing them to serve the team in any capacity. Through this process, they develop strong social, employability, and transferable skills applicable to most entry-level positions. All participants gain interview skills through mock interview practice and work alongside other employees in Goodwill Industries of Central Florida stores. This allows them to build rapport with team members and management while simulating a real work environment.
Besides job skills training, does the “Transitioning Youths” help assist broader challenges young adults face in foster care, such as mental health resources and building self-confidence?
Lorvins Eugene: Absolutely! We understand that transitioning to adulthood involves much more than job readiness; it requires mental, emotional, and social support. That’s why our program integrates a range of services designed to build resilience, self-confidence, and emotional well-being:
Mental Health Resources
Through our partnership with HEM Alliance, we provide access to individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and counseling services tailored to each youth’s needs. We ensure they have a safe space to process trauma, learn coping strategies, and build emotional resilience.
Additionally, our equine therapy program with Healing Hearts with Horses has been an overwhelming success. 100% of our youth participate in this therapy, which has become one of the most cherished activities we offer. The hands-on experience of caring for and interacting with horses fosters emotional connection, stress relief, and self-confidence. The enthusiasm for this therapy is unmatched, and our youth are always eager to get in the van and participate, making it one of the most effective programs for helping them process past trauma.
Building Self-Confidence
Our approach emphasizes trust, autonomy, and responsibility. One of our most unique self-confidence-building initiatives is pet therapy, featuring Hank, a French bulldog who is an emotional support animal. Hank was originally my daughter’s puppy, but due to lease restrictions, she creatively decided to lease him to 2nd Mountain Homes so our youth could benefit from his presence.
Hank provides unconditional companionship, reduces anxiety, and encourages social interaction. Our youth also gain hands-on experience in responsibility by taking turns walking, feeding, and caring for him. These experiences teach valuable life skills while fostering a sense of accountability and emotional stability.
Plant Therapy Project with YAP Inc.
We’re also launching a Plant Therapy Project in collaboration with YAP Inc., allowing youth to cultivate edible plants and air-purifying greenery. This initiative teaches perseverance and responsibility while also enhancing their environment with plants that provide 3 therapeutic benefits:
- Air purification: English Ivy, Peace Lilies, and Snake Plants help remove toxins and improve indoor air quality.
- Stress reduction & improved sleep: Aloe Vera, Orchids, and Areca Palms create a calming atmosphere.
- Symbolic growth: Just as they nurture plants, youth learn that with time and care, they too can flourish.
By integrating equine, pet, and plant therapy into our program, we empower young adults with holistic tools to navigate life’s challenges, build self-confidence, and develop the skills necessary for long-term success. These initiatives go beyond traditional job training; they address mental health, emotional resilience, and personal growth, creating a truly transformative experience for our youth.
Zach Chandler: While addressing the fundamental necessities of comprehending job tasks and expectations, both Goodwill Industries of Central Florida and 2nd Mountain assist transitioning youth by acknowledging the impact of trauma and mental health needs. The Impact Team, store management, and 2nd Mountain work in tandem to instill confidence in learned tasks, relationship building, and competency as participants move from one task to the next, ultimately achieving mastery, independence, and autonomy. While tackling the job’s essential functions, we continue to hold space to provide guidance, support, and encouragement when participants face pressing personal matters that need to be heard, understood, and acknowledged.
How do you get people to contribute and assist in helping young adults achieve their goals?
Zach Chandler: From our perspective, we open our doors to school-day ESE programs and local organizations seeking to provide exposure and experience to young adults. This allows them to learn various aspects of contributing to the workforce community.
The “Transitioning Youth” program is a source of hope for the community and those it’s assisting. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida and 2nd Mountain Homes are fostering a more inclusive and flourishing future by equipping young adults with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. This collaborative effort serves as a powerful testament to the transformative impact of community partnerships and inspires all to invest in every young person’s potential. For more information about Goodwill, its job programs, and how to apply to the organization, visit www.GoodwillCFL.org.
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