Center for RENEW Implementation

Creating Hope, Building Futures, Changing Lives

Resilience, Empowerment, and Natural supports for Education and Work (RENEW) is a structured school-to-career transition planning and individualized wraparound process for youth who may be experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges, have a limited social support system, and need to figure out where they are headed. A trained RENEW Facilitator meets with the youth to visually map out their strengths, interests, dreams, and people in their life. This information is used to set specific goals, make a plan, and invite supportive people to help them achieve their goals. RENEW has substantially increased the high school completion, employment, and post-secondary education participation rates among youth. Developed in 1996 by staff at the Institute on Disability (IOD), RENEW is provided by schools, community mental health centers, community-based providers, residential treatment facilities, and IOD staff members to youth.