About us
StopGap Inc. currently offers an 8-week life skills program designed to help young people make a successful transition into adulthood. Our goal is to provide a safe, welcoming environment where at-risk youth and those aging out of foster care can connect with mentors and access the services available to them through existing state and community programs.
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Through close work with youth and their caseworkers, we've learned that what many young people need most is a guide; someone to help them identify the right steps, navigate the system, and build a personal plan for becoming a successful, independent adult.
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Because StopGap is not a state-run organization, we have the flexibility to create individualized plans for each young person we serve. Our vision is a team large enough to meet every need, whether that's help with college or trade school applications, a ride to a job interview, access to food and housing assistance, or support navigating state paperwork. Whatever it takes.
Our mission:
To empower youth aging-out of foster care and other at-risk youth in attaining ownership of their lives by providing them with a foundation of life skills to transition from dependence to independence and compete in society.
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Our Diversity Policy:
Stopgap, inc. is dedicated to diversity in all areas of its work. We feel and believe that we can learn and benefit from diverse cultures and perspectives and that diversity will make StopGap, inc., more effective in meeting the needs of all participants. We are committed to developing and maintaining an organization in which different opinions, ideas, abilities, backgrounds, and needs are cultivated and valued and where those with diverse backgrounds and experiences can participate and contribute.
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Here's the revision:
"The future of StopGap is growth — expanding our Youth Empowerment Outreach Program to serve as a direct resource for teens who have aged out, or will soon age out, of foster care. Our vision is to connect every young person we work with to the opportunities available to them and support them in taking the steps toward a successful, independent life — on their own terms, according to their own goals.
our Executive Director:
Justine was homeless at the age of 16, and experienced firsthand the kinds of problems many youth that will “age-out” of foster care face: homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, prostitution, and many other harrowing experiences. With her unique perspective, faultless drive, and a degree in human services, Justine created StopGap Incorporated, a program that stands alone as the only facility in Douglas County with the primary goal of assisting at-risk youth’s transition from dependence to independence and helping them achieve their full potential.
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- Jamie Southerland
