Tailored Pathways

For Youth 12–21 and Justice-Involved Adults

Introduction

Valley of Hope is creating a statewide system of opportunity for Wyoming’s justice-involved youth ages 12–21 — transforming confinement into growth and supervision into purpose.

We are actively persuing engagement with the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) and Volunteers of America (VOA) – Northern Rockies to explore how the Tailored Pathways model can align with existing state and community initiatives.

This work is about compassion, accountability, and opportunity — not politics — ensuring every young person has a real second chance.

The Continuum of Care Pipeline

1. DFS Entry & Early Intervention (DFS lead)

Youth ages 12–21 begin receiving support while under DFS supervision. GED preparation, tutoring, and early trade exposure lay the foundation for success after release.

Valley of Hope supplements this phase through mentorship and life-skills instruction that prepare youth for transition.

 

2. Education & Vocational Certification (DFS + Valley of Hope shared)

Inside the Wyoming Boys and Girls Schools, participants earn GEDs or diplomas while training in trades such as welding, HVAC, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.

Instruction is delivered through community-college educators and Valley of Hope mentors using proven European rehabilitation methods built on dignity and structure.

 

3. Transitional Housing, Clinical Recovery & Trade Mastery (VOA territory with Valley of Hope collaboration)

After release, participants may enter VOA’s structured housing programs, gaining stability, supervision, and trauma-informed mental-health and substance-use treatment.

While VOA provides case management, therapy, and daily structure, Valley of Hope continues working side by side with participants to help them master the trades they began inside DFS facilities and start planning family-owned business ventures.

Together, VOA and Valley of Hope ensure youth:

• Strengthen trade skills through continued mentorship and practice
   
• Explore entrepreneurship connected to their chosen trade
   
• Develope early family-business concepts under Valley of Hope guidance
   
• Receive counseling, recovery support, and housing stability from VOA
   

This joint phase bridges recovery, skill advancement, and entrepreneurship readiness.

 

4. Mentorship & Workforce Pipeline (Valley of Hope lead / VOA support)

Once participants achieve full stability, Valley of Hope assumes primary leadership.

Each individual is paired with a lifelong mentor focused on employment, accountability, and purpose.

Valley of Hope operates nonprofit-owned businesses — construction, logistics, detailing, and more — where graduates earn stipends, build resumes, and practice real-world responsibility.

VOA continues to coordinate supportive-service referrals during this phase.

 

5. Ownership & Independence (Valley of Hope lead)

Revenues from Valley of Hope enterprises sustain stipends, micro-savings, and housing-assistance programs.

Participants receive practical training in budgeting, credit building, vehicle purchase, and homeownership — achieving long-term family and financial stability through family-owned business creation and generational wealth building.

 

Youth Pathway (Ages 12–21)

 

• Early intervention and family-strengthening supports for at-risk youth
   
• GED and vocational training matched to Wyoming’s workforce needs
   
• Mentorship and apprenticeship that build discipline and purpose
   
• Guided transition into VOA housing with continued Valley of Hope mentorship
   

Core Program Components

1. Educational Advancement

• GED and diploma completion
   
• Trade certifications in mechanics, welding, roofing, and construction
   
• Entrepreneurship curriculum with business-plan mentoring
   
• College-bridge programs through Wyoming community colleges
   

2. Paid Workforce Development

• Stipend opportunities through Valley of Hope businesses
   
• On-the-job training and resume support
   
• Local employer partnerships for direct hiring pipelines
   

3. Mentorship & Life Skills

• Personalized goal planning and mentorship
   
• Workshops in financial literacy, time management, and communication
   
• Procedural-justice training rooted in dignity, structure, and accountability
   

4. Mental Health & Substance-Use Support (VOA lead)

• Licensed therapy and trauma-informed care
   
• Peer recovery groups and 12-step integration
   
• PTSD, anxiety, grief, and relapse-prevention services
   
• Clinical oversight and case management by VOA, with Valley of Hope providing mentorship linkage
   

5. Family Engagement & Housing Stability

• Family therapy and reunification sessions
   
• Transitional housing coordination with VOA oversight
   
• Financial literacy and home-readiness education
   

6. Legal Advocacy & Reentry Support

• Record-expungement guidance for eligible participants
   
• Advocacy for restorative justice and alternative sentencing
   
• Referrals to legal, healthcare, and community resources
   
• Consistent with the Wyoming Constitution, Article 1, Section 15: “Reformation, not vindictive justice.”

Contact Valley of Hope

Temporary Contact Number: (970) 818-6962
Email: ehurtado@valleyofhopewy.org

Please note: There are no formal agency partnerships in place at this time. The program is under active development, and we welcome inquiries, collaboration, and community dialogue to bring this vision to life.