Our Impact

The M&E Program is a job and life skills program that seeks to equip youth who’ve aged out of foster care with the tools necessary to make the transition to self-sufficient adulthood. Youth engaged in the M&E program are surrounded by a community of supportive adults that they can rely on both during and after their time in the program. Participants are employed at the M&E cafe while participating in the program.

What is Success

We realize to change the world and the system is going to take time. In the meantime, our focus is fully, thoughtfully, and intentionally serving the youth that make the journey through our program. This has resulted in much more stable lives once youth have graduated the program.

"The Monkey & The Elephant is a great example of an organization taking an innovative approach to creating opportunities for young people from all backgrounds."

Former Philadelphia Mayor, Michael Nutter

Why We Do What We Do

On average 250 youth age out of the foster care system in Philadelphia annually. They are no longer eligible for support services. These youth are resilient and full of potential. Our role is to support the realization of that potential. The below statistics are here to provide context to the realities many who experience foster care face.

*Statistics are only available for youth who have aged out of the foster care system. It is our belief that the numbers are greater than the available data shows. Youth who have spent time in foster care and do not age out of the system - due to reunification with their biological family, adoption or having run away - are often less connected to preventative services and resources.