Delaware Opportunities: Meeting Youth and Families Where They Are

Delaware Opportunities has served Delaware County families since the 1960s, meeting people where they are, whether that means a mother facing domestic violence, a family without steady meals, or a teenager in foster care looking for a mentor. In an interview with Kars4Kids, Janelle Montgomery, Child and Family Development Director at Delaware Opportunities, walked us through the organization’s range of youth programs, from Head Start and Big Buddy mentoring to parenting education and support for foster families. As she put it, the goal isn’t just to deliver a service. It’s to help each family move toward stability and each child toward their own potential.

Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” Kars4Kids took that idea to heart with this small grant to Delaware Opportunities. Rather than select the organization through the usual review process, Kars4Kids sought out a nonprofit doing meaningful work close to home, right in the community surrounding TheZone, its own summer camp. Montgomery and Delaware Opportunities Executive Director Shelly Bartow were invited to the girls’ campus of TheZone, where campers and counselors greeted them with song and shared what camp has meant to them. The visit ended with a giant check presentation, a chance for Kars4Kids to give back to an organization that spends its days giving to others.

The grant will support one of Delaware Opportunities’ newest efforts: a series of trauma-informed children’s books centered on resilience, meant to give kids something comforting to hold onto during their most difficult moments. It’s a fitting next step for an organization already known for turning hardship into hope. As Montgomery shared, one young person who spent years in foster care recently accepted a position as a Youth Support Intern with Delaware Opportunities’ own Family Support Worker Program, turning her own experience into encouragement for the next child who needs it.

Kars4Kids: Delaware Opportunities runs several youth-focused programs, from Head Start to Big Buddy to Independent Living Skills for older teens. Can you walk us through the range of young people you serve and at what ages?

Janelle Montgomery: Our programs serve children anywhere from prenatal through adulthood from all walks of life.

Kars4Kids: What circumstances typically bring a young person or family to your youth services? What are they facing?

Janelle Montgomery: We provide services to children and families for matters such as domestic violence, emergency services, food insecurity, housing, child care services, mentoring, parenting education, foster parent support, nutrition services and much more. In a nutshell, we meet people where they are at and assist them in working towards self-sufficiency and a better quality of life.

Kars4Kids: Can you describe a typical week for a child or teen enrolled in one of your youth programs?

Janelle Montgomery: Services vary by program and may include individual mentoring, group activities, or other supportive experiences that promote positive social and emotional development. For youth in foster care, staff may also provide temporary respite for caregivers while children participate in safe, engaging activities with positive adult role models or peers.

Kars4Kids: What does progress or success look like for the young people in these programs, and how do you see it show up over time?

Janelle Montgomery: In our various programs, the youth can set their own goals and work with their mentor towards achieving them. Some common examples of goals are things like getting better grades in school, following rules at home, learning new skills, and how to interact with their peers. While we use program outcomes to measure progress, the true success of our work is helping each child experience more positive days and reach their full potential.

Kars4Kids: Many of your youth programs also involve parents or guardians, like Parent Education and Healthy Families. How do you approach working with the whole family rather than just the child?

Janelle Montgomery: Our goal is always to engage each member of the family regardless of the services that are being provided.

Kars4Kids: What are some of the specific challenges facing youth in Delaware County right now, and how have your programs adapted to meet them?

Janelle Montgomery: As mentioned before, Delaware Opportunities strives to meet families where they are and provide support based on their individual needs. Families may be navigating challenges such as mental health concerns, substance use, housing instability, or food insecurity. By helping families overcome these barriers, we promote greater family stability, which in turn creates an environment where children are better able to succeed and reach their goals.

Kars4Kids: Can you share a story that illustrates the kind of change you see in a young person through your programs?

Janelle Montgomery: It’s difficult to pick just one. We’ve recently had a youth experience the joy of visiting an amusement park for the very first time. From the moment she arrived, her excitement was contagious, and every ride brought a smile to her face. After spending the entire day making unforgettable memories, she still didn’t want to leave. It’s a wonderful reminder of how meaningful new experiences can be. Additionally, another one of our youths, who has been in foster care for more than three years, reached an incredible milestone by accepting a position as a Youth Support Intern with the Family Support Worker Program at DO. It was inspiring to see them turn their own experiences into a source of hope and encouragement for other youth in foster care. Their journey is a reminder that resilience can grow into leadership and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Kars4Kids: How do your youth programs work together? Does a child or family often move between them as their needs change?

Janelle Montgomery: Youth and families are frequently served by multiple programs across our agency. Staff often communicate and collaborate on cases they have in common.

Kars4Kids: What role does the broader community, schools, local government, and volunteers play in supporting the youth you serve?

Janelle Montgomery: Delaware Opportunities partners with many local agencies such as Delaware County Behavioral Health, Department of Social Services, FORDO, local schools, Delaware County Business Alliance and more. These partnerships allow agencies to share knowledge and create solutions to best serve the people of Delaware County.

Kars4Kids: What’s next for Delaware Opportunities?

Janelle Montgomery: With the help of Kars4Kids, Delaware Opportunities is planning to create a series of children’s books that are trauma-informed and centered on resilience – something they can find comfort in and take home during their most vulnerable moments.