The Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI) provides Hamilton County foster youth an academic mentoring relationship that begins in high school and is focused on preparation for and completion of post-secondary education, job training, or military service.
Juniors and seniors in Hamilton County foster care work with mentors to create a life plan that includes improving academic outcomes, graduating from high school, and pursuing post-secondary options. HEMI mentors are volunteers from the community. They typically meet once a week to assist, guide and support their mentee, in both academic and personal endeavors.
Your support will help the vulnerable youth of our community increase their employability, so they can obtain better jobs, gain self-sufficiency, and break the cycle of poverty.
Foster youth often face challenging life circumstances and for many, education is not a priority, especially when they need to support themselves at 18-19 years old.
Ohio statistics for foster youth outcomes at age 19 are not encouraging:
- 53% had not completed high school/GED
- 36% had been incarcerated
- 26% experienced homelessness within the last two years
- 24% worked part-time; 12% worked full-time
- 14% had a child
Nationally, more than 80% of youth in foster care express a desire to attend college, but less than 3% earn a bachelor’s degree.
Tanisha Harris receiving the HEMI Scholarship
