Pathways to Independence is the inspiration and avenue for
individual empowerment, personal healing and scholastic growth
Our Mission
Pathways to Independence's mission is to assist young women in getting a education and becoming independent, self sufficient members of society by providing the love, support and resources they require to heal emotionally and live productively. Many of our clients come from alcoholic families. Many have experienced years of incest or other forms of abuse. Some spent years in foster care or even became indigent.
Pathways commits to helping our clients with:
Weekly interactions with a mentor and weekly counseling with a licensed therapist
A monthly stipend to help cover housing expenses
Full payment for the costs of tuition and books
Access to over 120 health care professionals who provide their services for free
Access to 4 mechanics, who donate all of their labor while the foundation reimburses for parts
Access to a wide variety of local professionals (lawyers, accountants, cosmetologists, etc. who donate their services)
Who We Are:
Pathways to Independence was founded in 1991 by educators, Dave & Joyce Bishop, and received 501(c)(3) status as a Public Charity in February, 1994. The Bishops initial goal was to help a former student, Monica, get advanced education and achieve self-sufficiency. Monica was the product of a dysfunctional alcoholic family and at age 19 had a 2 year-old daughter and no support. With the Bishops' help, Monica was able to get advanced training and a full-time job with health benefits for her and her daughter.
No Executives or Board Members receive any compensation whatsoever. In 2010, 92% of Program Expenses went directly to the girls in the program. Presently, Pathways has 16 Board Members and 300+ volunteers collaborating to execute our mission.
Client Criteria & Client Commitments:
Dave & Joyce Bishop briefly describe how the organization got started, what is required of clients and the overall objectives of the program.
Pathways assists a largely un-served segment of the population. Our clients are young women who: 1) are poor by state/federal standards, 2) come from backgrounds of significant abuse, 3) have a serious desire to get an education or job training which will make them self-sufficient, and 4) are becoming independent for the first time in their lives.
Pathways clients sign mutually developed contracts specifying their commitments to education and personal growth. Contracts contain clear requirements for counseling, mentor interactions, college credits to be earned, minimum grade point averages and weekly hours of part-time employment. Mentors and program coordinators hold clients accountable for their contractual commitments and monitor progress on a consistent basis.
Pathways To Independence: P.O. Box 43, Los Alamitos, CA 90720 | Phone: 562.221.7325
