Season 2 Episode 11 - Interview with Nicole Kuzma, Supervisor of independent living programs with Boulder County Housing and Human Services Artwork

Youth Empowerment Radio

This podcast was created by young people as a project of Youth MOVE Colorado, a youth-led organization. This is meant to serve as a fun, educational, and community-building resource for youth with lived experience. We will be having organic conversations about everything from making friends to advocating for change, and interviewing other changemakers along the way!

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Youth Empowerment Radio

Season 2 Episode 11 - Interview with Nicole Kuzma, Supervisor of independent living programs with Boulder County Housing and Human Services

January 22, 2025 • Next Gen Convos • Season 2 • Episode 11

Supporting Foster Youth: Insights from Boulder County Chafee Program

In this episode, Savannah interviews Nicole, her supervisor at Boulder County Housing and Human Services. Nicole discusses her role in supervising caseworkers who help 16 to 26-year-olds with housing resources, advocacy, and mentorship for independent living. She explains the federally funded Chafee program, its purpose, and how it benefits foster youth and those who have emancipated from foster care. Furthermore, they talk about the Pathways Program, designed to intensify support for youth in a coaching model to achieve their goals. Nicole shares her career journey in human services and provides advice on how communities can help the unhoused population and advocate for youth in challenging situations.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:19 Meet Nicole: Supervisor at Boulder County Chafee Program
01:25 Understanding the Chafee Program
02:26 The Role of a Supervisor in the Chafee Program
05:02 The Pathways Program Explained
08:58 Nicole's Journey into Human Services
11:39 Advocating for the Unhoused Youth
14:42 Effective Advocacy for Youth in the System
16:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts