Young people, ages 16-20, who are homeless, or aging out of foster-care/group homes and are committed and looking forward to being independent, contributing members of society should be residents of The Grip Project, a program of Justice Resource Institute, Inc.

The Growing Responsibility and Independence in People Project is a "by teens, for teens" young people's program with residential services as a foundation. We work hard, as a team, to teach our residents all of the daily life-skills that they will need to be on their own. In addition to being aggressively active in our community we ensure that young people have a voice, and are experiencing the benefits of service learning. GRIP teens are participants in every part of the GRIP, from making and upholding rules and values, to participating in the daily operations of our home and our place in the community.

What is "By Teens, For Teens"?
Teens who are in need of the GRIP support, have fine-tuned their "resourcefulness" skills. They have lived unconventional lives, many through their most critical formative years. At the GRIP we believe that our teens' resourcefulness is their strength to build upon, rather than demanding that they conform to a traditional residential model. This is why we have had tremendous success with our "by teens, for teens" model.

We know that youth want to be listened to; all projects related to the GRIP, (including the GRIP as a whole) are based on young people making the large and small decisions starting with program design that includes implementation and evaluation. This system embodies a self-policing, mini-community that insists on teamwork, accountability, dedication, and duty. Our model teaches young people that there is consequence and reward that can be controlled by the choices that they make in a world where they are expected to be self-sufficient adults. It encourages and creates passion focused on their roles as voters, leaders, employees, parents, and productive citizens.

What is life like for GRIP residents?
All residents are required to maintain educational and employment plans, make "life advancement" steps on a timeline tailored to their individual needs as established with GRIP staff. Weekly, residents meet with a GRIP "Youth Development Clinician" to review the "Strategic Plan", last week's goals, set new goals and problem solve. Common goals include completing a resume, obtaining a job, scheduling one's own appointment for a driver's permit, taking steps to enroll in an educational program, opening a bank account, or scheduling a doctor's appointment. Residents receive support to overcome roadblocks, and learn to problem solve and access resources for independence. The GRIP residents and staff meet as a complete team, weekly to hold house meetings (using Roberts Rules of Order), hold house court, interview candidates for hire, meet new residents, and complete workshops that often are enhanced by guest speakers/facilitators. This year we have added a "Real Life Coach" to the team, responsible for developing relationships with potential youth employers, teaching employments and training skills and accomplishing the tedious leg work of job hunting with teens who might be nervous, unskilled or unpracticed. The "RLC" also has community responsibilities as our teens enter the independent world of apartment living.

JUMP with GRIP:
Teens involved with the GRIP Project are all eligible for our on-site GED/Vocational/Employment training, funded by the Career Center of Lowell. Our GED teacher is an experienced teaching professional who not only facilitates the GED process for our young people but also tutors GRIP teens who have learning challenges, "English as a second language", and other needs. Last year, double the number of expected graduates received their diplomas.

GRIP in the Community
Our staff at the GRIP is made up of local talent. We are a proud group of bi-lingual/bi-culturally sensitive people who are committed to the success of marginalized teens; no matter what culture, race, religion or sexual orientation they identify themselves as. We speak Spanish, Khmer, Nigerian and Laotian. Through our partners we have access to Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Cameroonian speakers and supporters. The GRIP Project fills a gap in the community of Greater Lowell, and is embraced by neighbors and community institutions. Our young people, whether Lowell natives or not, are given extra consideration by community resources. We exercise the benefits of being on a "first name basis" with the institutions that our young people need to have relationships with.

Coming Soon... The Evolution Through GRIP Project:
Our newest enhancement is an unstaffed apartment system, which has continued support and supervision of a "Real World Coach". Teens who are ready for true independent living will receive support finding affordable housing. The Evolution Through GRIP will help the teen establish themselves in the apartment from the details of a lease, to food, to furniture, to balancing a budget. Careful care is taken that the cost and logistics of the apartment is sustainable for the teen. The Evolution will ease out of the financial support of the teen in the apartment, passing the responsibility of sustaining independence and fiscal management on to the young person in a manner that works toward permanent and realistic housing.

GRIP Project Contact Information

GRIP Project
35 Varnum Avenue,
Lowell, MA 01854
Phone (978) 458-3622
Fax: (978) 459-2049

Emergencies: (800) 636-1586

Rachel McNamara, Program Director