Our History

The Residential Independent Living Skills Training Program offered by Avenues of Independence, Inc., was developed by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Marcy Pullard (formerly Higdon) who worked with children and adolescents placed in out-of-home care (foster homes, group homes, or relative homes) in communities throughout South Los Angeles and nearby cities. While providing home-based assessments and psychotherapeutic treatment she realized that upon reaching age 18, these youth will "age out" of "the system" and will be expected to live independently with little or no support from family, friends, and public welfare agencies. Without financial and emotional support these youth, many who have not completed high school, have extreme difficulty in the following areas: securing housing, completing their education, securing and maintaining employment, accessing mental and physical health care, and developing and maintaining a social support system. Such challenges create barriers to youth making a successful transition to adulthood, which unfortunately often results in homelessness and a lifetime of dependence on government assistance. Avenues of Independence, Inc. was founded specifically to address the crisis of homelessness and unemployment among older emancipated youth ages 18-25 in Los Angeles County.

Our Mission

To provide extended support for youth who are transitioning to adulthood, by offering a Residential Independent Living Skills Training Program that will empower participants and promote self-sufficiency.