HIGHLAND PARK –
Ruth Ellis Center, one of the nation's three agencies dedicated to homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth, is receiving a $10,000 grant from the Metro Health Foundation to support a Health Care Navigator Program for residents of the Center's Transitional Living Program.
The TLP provides housing and life-skills training for LGBTQ youth between the ages of 17 and 21 years for up to 21 months as they work to establish a smooth transition from homelessness to independence. The Health Care Navigator Program will help African American males who are residents of the Ruth Ellis Center's TLP or participate in its drop-in center, identify and access medical case management services.
"Support from the Metro Health Foundation will allow us to connect with the health care system in a meaningful way and address or take preventative measures against health issues among Detroit's and Highland Park's LGBTQ homeless youth," said Ruth Ellis Center Executive Director Laura Hughes. "Many of these young men are forced to leave home before establishing themselves financially and are disenfranchised from the social service system. They are least likely to know how to navigate medical services that are so critical to their development and safety."
Ruth Ellis Center was incorporated in 1999 and is a youth social services agency that serves the needs of runaway, at-risk and homeless youth. The mission of the center is to provide short-term and long-term residential safe space and support services for those youth.
In 2009, the street outreach program and drop-in center had more than 10,000 contacts with youth and Ruth's House was home to 21 teens.
The Metro Health Foundation is a private Detroit grant-making foundation supporting Michigan organizations in healthcare and health-related fields.
For more information about the Ruth Ellis Center, visit http://www.ruthelliscenter.com.
