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Jonathan's Path pitches Path Homes to help place hard-to-house teens
Summary
Carrie Gerard of Jonathan's Path described a Path Home model that keeps teens (13'23) in small, stable homes with live-in professional caregivers; the group said it has served more than 250 young people and is seeking state support to scale.
Carrie Gerard, executive director and cofounder of Jonathan's Path, told the committee her organization focuses on teens and young adults who are hard to place in traditional foster homes. Gerard described the Path Home model'small homes with no more than three young people, live-in professional caregivers, and a suite of supports to help youth obtain employment, transportation and stable housing'and asked the state to support launching the model more broadly.
Gerard recounted lived experience from her family and noted Jonathan's Path has served over 251 young people through nearly 800 service contacts; she said the program targets youth ages 13'23 and aims to keep them in their communities and schools. Committee members asked operational questions about caregiver composition and capacity; Gerard said the organization prefers two caregivers in a home when possible and expects to launch its first Path Home within months.
