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At Boys and Girls Haven the barn is not only a place for animals but a learning and living classroom. Foster youth and young adults (ages 16-24) can learn career readiness skills and practice vocational skills in a safe and secure setting. The Equine Vocational Training Program uses the horses and facility to help develop vocational training for abused and neglected youth and young adults who are disconnected in the community. The program utilizes horses, other animals, and barn management as a tool for helping youth develop vocational skills. The Junior Achievement Curriculum, Personal Success is used to prepare students to be college and career ready. The program integrates the curriculum from JA to insure coverage of all skills needed to be successful in finding employment and keeping employment. Life skills that are needed to gain and maintain employment are also focused on throughout the program. Equine assisted learning is used to help integrate skills they learn in the classroom and applies them to real life and work situations. Our goal is to help foster youth and disconnected and homeless young adults gain the skills and self-confidence to succeed in the workplace and in life. A CDBG and EAF grant with the City of Louisville makes it possible for us to provide this very needed service in our community. For more information, contact Jeannette Stratton at jstratton@boyshaven.org or 502-458-1171 extension 113.