About Lighthouse Transitional Care
Our mission is to equip and empower former foster youth to thrive in adulthood so that we can see a world without cycles of family separation and generational trauma, where foster youth can know they are deeply loved by God, heal from their wounds, and thrive in adulthood.
Our values
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![A former foster youth at Lighthouse Transitional Care.]()
Cultivating community
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![A volunteer and staff member at Lighthouse Transitional Care hug.]()
Building trust
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![A former foster youth holds out her hand to participate in a breathing exercise]()
Offering respect
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![Hands hold a bible and a cup of coffee.]()
Providing care
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![A former foster youth plays a game at Lighthouse Transitional Care]()
Playfully breaking down barriers
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![A cross in a field. Photo by Cristiano De Assuncao on Unsplash]()
Faith that points to Jesus
Everything we do happens in community
Founded in 2017, Lighthouse Transitional Care serves about 60 youth in Riga, Latvia. We’re a staff of three supported by a growing team of local volunteers.
Meet the Team
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Amanda Banister
FOUNDER + CEO
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Aaron Newton
DIRECTOR OF MENTORING
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Callie Newton
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Services
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One-on-one mentoring is the bread and butter of the Lighthouse. Research shows that aged-out youth are most successful when they have at least one positive, healthy relationship. We meet one-on-one for connection over coffee or tea as often as we can.
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Several benefits are available for former foster youth in Latvia. We aim to ensure our youth receive as many as possible.
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Our curriculum focuses on practical empowerment and spiritual enrichment. Our life-skills classes focus on teaching skills our youth didn’t learn while growing up in an orphanage. This includes everything from budgeting to cooking to hygiene.
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Our grocery program began after a generous donation at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. From April–August 2020, we provided all of our youth with groceries each week. After that, we switched to a need-based model. Youth must now apply to participate in the program and receive full (40 euros per week) or partial (20 euros per week) support.
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We offer our youth medical support up to 100 euros per month based on their need. This can go toward annual check-ups, urgent care visits, dental work, and vision check-ups. Youth may visit a Christian counselor or psychiatrist.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:15
Our partners
