Chafee Foster Care Program

Graphic of a leaf icon.

Here to support and empower foster youth By Providing a successful transition into adulthood

HRDC’s Chafee providers serve Gallatin, Park, Meagher, Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater Counties. These supports are generally available for current and former foster youth between the ages of 14 and 21. Please reach out for any questions! We would love to connect with you.

Chafee providers meet with youth in the community, provide one-to-one independent living skills training, connect youth to resources in their area, and walk alongside youth as they set and pursue goals for success.

Chafee services give eligible foster youth vital support while in foster care and beyond. We can help with essentially anything related to “independent living” – whatever interests or goals the youth may have. Chafee also offers financial support and we partner with Reach Higher Montana to connect youth to up to $5,000 yearly financial aid!

Some main areas we help with:

  • Career Exploration and Planning
  • Vital Documents
  • Driver’s License and Transportation
  • Housing and Home Management
  • Life Skills i.e. Cooking, Resume
  • Mentoring
  • Financial Assistance and Budgeting
  • Job Placement and Retention
  • Healthcare and Wellness
  • Family and Community Connections
  • Academic Support
  • Post-Secondary and Vocational Training
  • Education and Training Voucher – up to $5,000 per year for school!
  • Individualized, hands on support
  • Help with any questions youth may have as they transition to adulthood
  • Incentives for completing goals, and a special incentive for attaining a high school diploma
  • Access to the items Chafee has

Reach out to one of us to see about engaging! The program is entirely voluntary and youth can get involved at the level they would like.

Location

HRDC, Bozeman Office
32 S Tracy Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715

Contact Information


For more information, please call:
p: 406.585.4878
f: 406.585.5597

Newsletter Sign Up
    Please note, when you sign up for one of our newsletters, you may also receive periodic emails from us containing special messages which are time sensitive and not suited for monthly communication.
Brooke Poole

Public Sector

Since 2015, Brooke has been working with Allergan Aesthetics, Body Contouring. In 2018, Brooke began her role as Senior Manager of Training. Brooke graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Commercial Photography from Appalachian State University in 2011.

Brooke began her role on our Board in 2019. However, she feels it’s more fitting to say that she gets to serve on our Board. For Brooke, an evening at our Fork & Spoon was her first glance into our organization’s powerful work. As Brooke states, joining the Board has only expanded her appreciation for the caliber of people leading our mission and the impact of our vast ecosystem of services. While metrics alone are impressive, Brooke likes to visualize each number as an individual example of support – an extension of a helping hand, a moment of relief – given to one of our neighbors. She is grateful for the opportunity to participate in shaping HRDC’s future.

Although Brooke spends most of her volunteer time with HRDC, she was fortunate enough to build with Habitat for Humanity over the course of the summer in 2020. Her favorite place to spend time is anywhere under the Big Sky, although Hyalite may be her favorite place on Earth.

Ron Brey

Public Sector

Ron served as Bozeman’s Assistant City Manager from 1990 to 2008. After retiring, Ron joined our Board in 2011. Ron received his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Montana in 1977, and his Masters in Science in Rural, Town, and Regional Planning from the University of Montana in 1987.

During his time with the City of Bozeman, Ron saw the important role that HRDC has played in our community. Ron has seen that HRDC provides necessary social services to assure that all Bozeman residents could obtain housing, food, training, employment and the other necessities of life. He also came to understand that HRDC was always able to respond immediately as new community needs arose. Ron believes that the dedication, hard work, and compassion of HRDC’s staff make it a real honor to serve on the Board.

Ron also serves on the Trails, Open Space and Parks Committee for the City of Bozeman, and as a volunteer with the Red Cross. One of Ron’s favorite activities is walking his beloved dog every day, enjoying many of Bozeman’s trails and parks, like Burke Park, Bozeman Creek, and the Hyalite and Mount Ellis areas. Ron and his wife Claire enjoy spending their days with family, friends, and time outdoors.