I Pour Life

A huge thank you to Hogan Land Title Company for joining us at Social Capital Club last Tuesday! 💙

Their team spent time with our youth talking about housing security, homeownership, and the importance of understanding the housing process while making topics that can feel intimidating, like mortgages, feel a little more approachable and exciting.

For young people preparing for adulthood, having the knowledge and confidence to navigate housing decisions is a powerful part of building independence. Sometimes, all it takes is someone willing to break down the scary stuff, answer questions, and show youth what's possible.

We’re so grateful to Hogan Land Title Company for investing their time, knowledge, and expertise into our youth and helping us build their social capital one connection at a time.

Your next job could make a lasting difference in a young person’s life.💙

I Pour Life is hiring a Part-Time Chafee Specialist to serve youth in Salem, MO or surrounding communities!

This role is about more than teaching life skills. It’s about showing up, building trust, opening doors, and helping young people believe in what’s possible.

Our Chafee Specialists support youth as they navigate:
🌱 Independent living
💼 Employment & education
🏠 Housing & community resources
🗣️ Self-advocacy
⭐ Confidence & goal setting

If you’re someone who is dependable, compassionate, relationship-focused, and passionate about helping young people succeed, we want to hear from you!

📍 Salem, MO
🕐 Part-Time Position

📩 Send your resume to [email protected] to apply.

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Creating Connections That Open Doors
Recently, one of our LifeCoaches, Parker, learned that a youth she was working with had a strong interest in journalism and dreamed of becoming a news anchor.

Instead of simply encouraging that dream, Parker asked, "Who can we connect you with?”

She reached out and helped arrange an opportunity for the youth to meet with Ethan Forhetz, who brings 25 years of experience in the news industry.

This wasn't just a meeting. It was an opportunity for a young person to sit across from someone who had walked the path they hope to pursue, ask questions, learn from experience, and begin building a connection within a professional field they are passionate about.

That's social capital in action.💙
Social capital is the network of relationships and connections that can provide young people with encouragement, knowledge, opportunities, and access to resources they may not otherwise have.

For youth who have experienced foster care or other significant challenges, those connections can be especially important. It's not enough to tell a young person, “You can do anything.” Sometimes we need to help them find the people who can show them *how*.

Parker saw a dream and helped create a bridge to it. That's what great coaching looks like.

It's listening.
It's asking questions.
It's opening doors.
It's making introductions.
And sometimes, it's helping a young person take the first step toward a future they can see for themselves.

Thank you, Parker, for recognizing a young person's potential and using your network to help expand theirs.

And a special thank you to Ethan Forhetz for taking the time to invest in the next generation and share your experience.

At I Pour Life, we believe relationships can change trajectories. This is what happens when we pour into a young person's interests, dreams, and future.

🎉 You’re Invited to the I Pour Life Backyard Bash! 🎉

Join us for an evening of food, fun, games, and community at the I Pour Life House! 💙

📅 September 17th
⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 I Pour Life House

Come hang out, connect with our community, and enjoy a fun evening together! This event is free and open to our youth, families, and community partners.

👉Please RSVP using the QR code or the link provided so we can plan accordingly!

Have questions? Contact Elisa at [email protected]

We can't wait to see you there! 🎉💙

WE'RE HIRING!

I Pour Life is looking for a Part-Time Chafee Specialist to serve youth in Salem, MO!

If you're passionate about helping young people build confidence, independence, and a future they can be proud of, we'd love to have you join our team. 💙

Our Chafee Specialists:
✨ Build meaningful relationships with youth
✨ Support independent living and life-skill development
✨ Help youth navigate employment, education, housing, and community resources
✨ Encourage self-advocacy and celebrate progress

📍 Salem, MO or surrounding communities
🕐 Part-Time

📩 Interested? Email your resume to [email protected]

Come pour life into the next generation with us! 💙

Happy first day of school!

For most kids, today might mean a new teacher, new classmates, a new backpack, and maybe a few first-day nerves.
But for a young person in foster care, the first day of school can mean something very different.

Research has found that youth in foster care can experience 3–6 school changes during high school, with roughly 1 in 3 experiencing five or more school changes.
Think about that for a moment.
While most of us remember the excitement of finding our classroom, seeing friends in the hallway, and figuring out our schedule, some young people in foster care are also trying to figure out:
Where do I belong?
Who can I trust?
Will I be here next year?
Will anyone notice if I’m gone?
This first day of school, let's remember that stability is more than a place to live. It's a teacher who knows your name. A friend who knows your story. A coach who notices when you're having a hard day. A school that feels like home.
For children in foster care, educational stability can be life-changing.
So as we celebrate the first day of school, let's make sure every child has the opportunity to feel like they belong.

A few words of encouragement can help a young person see what they are capable of. For youth, especially those navigating difficult circumstances, having a caring adult who believes in them can make a meaningful difference.

Research from the CDC shows that 79% of adolescents ages 12–17 report having at least one adult in their life who makes a positive difference. At the same time, only 58% report that they always or usually receive the social and emotional support they need. And according to the Search Institute, young people with strong developmental relationships are more likely to demonstrate qualities such as motivation to learn, goal orientation, perseverance, and emotional well-being.

Sometimes encouragement sounds like:
💬 “I believe in you.”
💬 “You worked really hard on this.”
💬 “It's okay if you don't get it right the first time.”
💬 “Let's figure this out together.”
💬 “You should be proud of yourself.”

For a young person, those words can be more than encouragement, they can be a reminder that someone sees their potential.

That's why relationships are at the heart of what we do at I Pour Life. Our LifeCoaches and Chafee Specialist don't just teach skills. They celebrate progress, encourage perseverance, recognize strengths, and walk alongside youth through the moments that feel difficult.
Because sometimes a young person doesn't need someone to fix everything. They just need someone who believes they can.

PourLife

Turning 18 or even 21 doesn't mean a young person suddenly has everything figured out.
For many young people who have experienced foster care, the transition into adulthood can come with big questions:

🏠 Where will I live?
💼 How will I find and keep a job?
💰 How do I manage my money?
🎓 What comes next after high school?
🩺 How do I navigate important appointments and services?
📋 How do I advocate for myself?
🤝 Who can I turn to when I need help?

That's where the I Pour Life Chafee Program comes in.

Through Chafee, young people can receive support as they work toward greater independence and learn the skills needed to navigate adulthood.

At I Pour Life, our Chafee team walks alongside youth, not just telling them what to do, but helping them practice, problem-solve, advocate, and build confidence along the way.

Sometimes success looks like getting your first job.
Sometimes it's learning how to budget.
Sometimes it's making an important phone call on your own.
And sometimes, it's simply knowing there's someone in your corner.

Every milestone matters.
Every skill learned builds confidence.
And every young person deserves the opportunity to build a future they are proud of. 💙

The Chafee Program isn't about preparing youth to do adulthood alone. It's about making sure they have the tools, support, and connections to navigate it successfully.
Because independence is a journey, and no young person should have to walk it alone.

On World Humanitarian Day, we celebrate the people who choose to see a need and respond with compassion, action, and hope.

At I Pour Life, that means showing up for young people who have experienced foster care, homelessness, instability, and other challenges.

It means being the person who answers the phone.
The person who listens without judgment.
The person who celebrates the first job, the first apartment, the first driver's license, or simply the courage to try again.

It means reminding a young person:
You matter.
Your story matters.
Your future matters.
Humanitarian work isn't always found in the biggest moments. Sometimes it's found in a conversation, a connection, a meal, a ride, a resource, or simply someone saying, “I'm here. Let's figure this out together.”
Today, we celebrate our LifeCoaches, Chafee Specialists, volunteers, community partners, donors, and everyone who continues to pour into the lives of young people.
Thank you for choosing compassion. Thank you for choosing action. Thank you for showing up.