NEWS

MNPS unveils new program to serve foster care youth

Joey Garrison
jgarrison@tennessean.com

Metro Nashville Public Schools announced a new initiative Wednesday aimed at helping children who are in foster care expand education, training and employment opportunities.

The program, dubbed United Project, will seek to identify, recruit and serve foster youth and then connect them to participating Nashville businesses.

According to the district, partnering business will provide students with work-based and service-learning opportunities, coach and train youth on appropriate workplace behaviors, and offer mentor experiences that support students’ personal and professional growth.

The new program will fall under Metro’s Academies of Nashville, the model of instruction for Nashville’s high schools. MNPS has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and the nonprofit PENCIL Foundation to make the initiative possible.

DSC serves more than 8,000 youth in Tennessee.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236 and on Twitter @joeygarrison.