Pitt-Johnstown Hosts Annual Older Youth Retreat

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown will host the annual Older Youth Retreat for teenagers in foster care or who have recently aged out of the system from August 7-11. The scenic, academic campus setting of Pitt-Johnstown has annually hosted this event since 2009. Pitt-Johnstown presents an ideal atmosphere for educational sessions, group talks, and social activities that enable these teens to bond with others who share similar situations. About 120 young people, ages 16-21, from 36 Pennsylvania counties are expected to attend. The retreat, held every August at Pitt-Johnstown, is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, which is part of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work. Participants form bonds with others in similar situations and receive advice that prepares them for adulthood as they transition from the foster-care system. They make these strides in a campus setting, sleeping in dorms, living with peers, and using the campus facilities, which may influence them to further their education. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown is marking its 90th anniversary well as the 50th year of the campus in its Richland Township location. Pitt-Johnstown was founded in 1927 and is the first and largest regional campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt-Johnstown is recognized by the Princeton Review as a “Best in the Northeast” college, by G.I. Jobs as a “Military Friendly School,” and by Pennsylvania Business Central as a "Top 100 Organization.” The distinctive combination of Pitt-Johnstown’s people, programs, and place results in exceptional performance in preparing students for career and professional success. Pitt-Johnstown is the regional leader, educating for success in the Real World.