John Payne sits on the bed of his new apartment at East Ridge Residence, a new independent living option for former foster home residents who choose to continue to receive state services after turning 18. / Contributed photo by Kristin MooreDonning special T-shirts and waving pom-poms, residents of East Ridge Residence senior living community celebrated the recent arrival of a new neighbor - an 18-year-old who's aged out of foster care.
John Payne is living at East Ridge Residence through Victory Lap, a new model for independent living the state recently began offering to youth formerly in its custody who choose to participate in its Extended Foster Care program. He is the first local Victory Lap participant.
Having worked in senior housing for 15 years, program founder Rosemary Ramsey knew that assisted living facilities are always looking for ways to increase occupancy. The Nashville resident also volunteered at Monroe Harding, a Nashville facility offering services to young people in state custody or foster care. Her familiarity with the needs of both sides led her to develop the Victory Lap model, she said.
Victory Lap helps fill a gap in services for the 18- to 21-year-old population, said Sarah Elghalban, director of the local Partnership for Families, Children and Adults' River City Youth Collective and Building Stable Lives programs, which provide services to 13- to 24-year-olds previously in state custody. After hearing Ramsey speak about the program model at a meeting in Nashville, she decided it was something Partnership clients could benefit from.
"It's a good marriage of service programs," she said.
When children in state custody turn 18, they can either cut ties with the Department of Children's Services or live in an independent living facility such as one of the Partnership's group homes.
Many choose to stop receiving services, and those teens usually end up homeless or in a crisis situation, said Elghalban.
Payne chose to continue to receive services, and has been participating in the Partnership's Pathways program for about a year. Pathways participants are provided with life skills training and a case manager to help them get enrolled in school, find a job and find permanent housing later on.
Payne will continue to receive those services under the Victory Lap program model, which Elghalban said the Partnership recommended for him because they felt he'd be a good fit.
"He's very social and likes having that sense of community," she said. "We want them to be interested in interacting with the residents."
Elghalban said depending on how things go with Payne, the Partnership plans to continue to use the Victory Lap model. Future participants would also be placed at East Ridge Residence.
John Payne, the first local participant in the Victory Lap program for former foster home residents, shows off his new apartment at East Ridge Residence senior living community. / Contributed photo by Kristin MooreIn exchange for providing the youth a room and a part-time job, the facility receives a stipend from the state, plus the benefits of having an on-site employee. It's also fun for the residents, said Ramsey.
"It's a novelty to them, and they love being around young people," she said. "The residents are all anxious to get to know him."
Payne, who wanted to move into East Ridge Residence instead of staying in the group home where he lived the past year, said he's happy with his decision.
"I have more of my own space to do things I want to do," he said, adding that he no longer has to worry about other residents eating his food like he did at the group home.
He enjoys interacting with the residents, such as joining in to play card games.
"I like everyone," said Payne. "It's calm and it's fun to be around them. Work is fun. It's just a real nice environment."
To learn more about Victory Lap, visit thevictorylap.org.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.